Sharing with Friends

What Sharing with Friends does

Sharing with Friends (legal entity: Older Women Co-Housing Association (Qld) Inc.) is an Australian Public Benevolent Institution founded in 2021 in Brisbane, Queensland, that develops and operates small-scale co-housing communities for financially vulnerable older women. The Foundation's core offering is a 5-woman co-housing model built to Liveable Housing Australia (LHA) GOLD standard: each resident occupies an independent ~35 sqm studio unit with private courtyard while sharing a central communal pavilion, with universal access features including 850mm doorways, 1000mm hall widths, accessible kitchens, and high-pan toilets. The first project, the Darra co-housing residence in Brisbane's southern suburbs on an 800 sqm block, is under construction with Ownit Homes as builder and Deicke Richards as architect, and is expected to complete in mid-2026 with five signed residents (Ann, Barbara, Jenny, Robyn, and Cari) under 50-year lifetime leases.

The Foundation's revenue model is non-commercial and combines philanthropic donations (from individuals, families, charitable foundations, and corporate partners), fundraising event proceeds (Turf Wars, Mother's Day Luncheons), a Patron Program requiring minimum AUD 10,000 contributions or significant interest-free loan pledges, and future resident-paid streams including a one-time Housing Contribution for the lease and approximately AUD 120 per week per resident into an Administrative and Sinking Fund. Critically, no government funding is received. Go-to-market is community-led: prospective residents are recruited through information days and a 10-module facilitated workshop series, where they self-select into compatible groups of five before entering into lease agreements. The Foundation also pursues a distribution channel of partner referrals via Zonta International, the Housing Older Women Movement, Brisbane Housing Company, and other community organizations, and holds pro bono support from Minter Ellison, Clayton Utz, and AECOM.

The organization is volunteer-governed with a Management Committee and a small staff (1-10, including part-time Executive Officer Alison Gray), has won the 2025 National Heart of Women Awards - Making a Difference Group Award, and has a research partnership with the University of Queensland. Strategic intent is to replicate and license the co-housing model across Australia, supported by active engagement with planning regulation through Minter Ellison.

Name

Sharing with Friends

Legal name

Older Women Co-Housing Association (Qld) Inc.

Website

https://sharingwithfriends.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sharing with Friends is an Australian non-profit foundation that develops co-housing communities for financially vulnerable older women aged 55+, built to LHA GOLD standard, using a workshop-based 5-woman self-selection model and 50-year lifetime leases.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Senior Housing

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Residential Care Facilities (623990)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB), Co-Living / Hybrid Extended-Stay Residences (THAGAEAK)

Keywords

• Co-housing communities
• Senior women housing
• Affordable housing nonprofit
• Ageing in place
• Community housing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Housing Contributions: One-time housing contributions from each resident in return for a 50-year lease. These contributions cover construction costs and are refunded (minus renovation costs) when residents exit, preserving their capital value.
2. Donations and Philanthropy: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, families, charitable foundations, and corporate partners. Land purchase at Darra was funded through philanthropy. No government funding is received.
3. Weekly Contributions: Each resident pays approximately $120 per week to cover Administrative Fund and Sinking Fund for general maintenance and utilities related to communal issues.
4. Patron Program: Minimum donation of $10,000 or significant interest-free loan pledge for future projects from patrons who wish to support the mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sharing with Friends develops and operates small-scale co-housing communities of five older women who live independently in private 35 sqm studio units while sharing a central communal pavilion. Designed for financially vulnerable women aged 55+ who are eligible for the Age Pension, the service provides 50-year lifetime leases with accessible design based on Liveable Housing Australia (LHA) GOLD standards.

Product overview

Sharing with Friends is a not-for-profit organization offering a single, unified co-housing service for vulnerable older women in Australia. The core offering consists of small-scale co-housing communities where five women live independently in private studio units (approximately 35 square meters each) while sharing communal spaces. The Darra Project represents the first operational co-housing community, currently under construction with expected completion in mid-2026. Residents access housing through a Shared Equity Model involving a 50-year lifetime lease. The Foundation Workshop Series supports prospective residents in self-selecting compatible neighbors and understanding the model's legal and financial structures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Co-Housing Communities for Older Women Small-scale co-housing communities of five older women who live independently in private studio units while sharing communal spaces including a central courtyard, kitchen pavilion, and laundry facilities. Designed for women aged 55+ who are eligible for the Age Pension, do not own property, and have modest savings.
• Darra Co-Housing Project The first co-housing community under development at One Darra Avenue, Darra (Brisbane), comprising 5 independent studio units (approximately 35 sqm each) with private courtyards, plus a shared central pavilion on an 800 sqm block close to public transport, shops, and medical facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% of single older women in Australia live below the poverty line - highlighting the urgent need for affordable housing solutions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Deicke Richards ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural firm designing the co-housing communities. DR Director Eloise Atkinson has been involved since the foundation's launch, developing initial design concepts. They have advocated and designed social and affordable housing for government and community organisations for 29 years.
• Ownit HomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome builder contracted to construct the Darra co-housing residence. Working closely with Deicke Richards architects to deliver the project. Has shown exceptional commitment beyond their normal role of building family homes.
• AECOMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides town planning expertise. Matthew Rolley from AECOM has taken the lead in town planning needs for the Darra project and is part of the Project Control Group.
• Minter Ellison LawyerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPro bono legal support throughout the organization's development. Partners Matthew Glenn, Nicole Gordon and others developed legal documents including Residents Agreement, Community Lease Agreement, and Agreement for Lease. Working on proposed planning regulation amendments.
• Brisbane Housing CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQueensland's largest not-for-profit housing developer. Serving as a supportive partner, mentor, and champion for the Sharing with Friends model. Formerly chaired by Eloise Atkinson for 18 years.
• Housing Older Women Movement (HOWM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy partner supporting the Sharing with Friends Foundation since its inception. Recognizes SWF as one example of new and diverse models needed to meet housing aspirations of older women.
• Zonta International District 22majorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal service organisation supporting women's empowerment. Zonta Club of Brisbane has been a huge supporter and advocate. Recognizes SWF's alignment with goals to build a better world for women and girls.
• University of QueenslandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of Queensland Department of Architecture, Planning and Design, and Institute of Social Science Research. Provides evidence-based research outcomes, continuous improvement of planning and development, and demonstrates positive outcomes of the SWF Model.
• Clayton UtzminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvided pro bono legal advice to prospective residents reviewing the Residents Agreement, Lease, and Community Agreement documents.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Wintringham: Australian NFP specialist in providing housing and aged care for older people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Closely comparable mission, target population and supported-independent-living model, though operates at much greater scale across Victoria and beyond.
• Community Housing Limited: One of Australia's largest community housing providers, delivering affordable rental homes for low-income Australians including seniors. Comparable NFP governance and affordable-housing mission.
• Brisbane Housing Company: Queensland's largest not-for-profit housing developer providing affordable rental housing, including for older women. Sharing with Friends' board chair (Eloise Atkinson) formerly chaired BHC for 18 years, and BHC is a named strategic mentor/partner.
• Housing Choices Australia: National community housing provider delivering affordable rental housing, including specific programs for older women and other vulnerable cohorts. Operates a comparable NFP model with government and philanthropic funding.
• Sapphire Community Housing: NSW/ACT-based community housing provider offering affordable rental housing to low-income households including seniors. Closely comparable NFP housing-provider model and target demographic.

Broad incumbents

• The Benevolent Society: Australia's oldest NFP, providing aged care, housing and disability services including programs for older women at risk of homelessness. Operates at much larger scale across multiple states.
• Uniting (UnitingCare Queensland): Large NFP delivering aged care, retirement living and community housing across QLD and NSW. Overlapping mission of affordable housing for older Australians at much greater scale and geographic reach.
• Mission Australia: Large national NFP providing housing, homelessness and community services including for older Australians. Much broader portfolio, but directly comparable vulnerable-cohort housing mission and government-funded service model.

Regional players

• Launch Housing: Specialist homelessness and affordable housing provider based in Victoria, serving older women and other vulnerable cohorts. Comparable supported-housing model but primarily Victorian footprint.

Emerging players

• ElderSpirit Community: US non-profit cohousing community specifically designed for older adults on low-to-moderate incomes. Closely comparable co-housing-plus-mission model, though operating model and jurisdiction differ materially.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/821207472091664
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/remaxbythelake
• Instagraminstagram.com/sharing_with_friends_cohousing

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sharing with Friends