an affordable housing milestone investment for members

How your super is helping address access to affordable housing.
 

We’re excited to share a significant milestone for a HESTA investment and the broader Melbourne community: the opening of Swift Walk in Kensington, Victoria. 

This precinct demonstrates a new model for delivery of large-scale social and affordable housing through a partnership between Assemble, Housing Choices Australia, and HESTA (and supported by Housing Australia Future Fund Facility (HAFFF) funding). It brings 362 new, professionally managed rental homes to Melbourne, including 272 affordable and social homes for Australians on lower and middle incomes.
 

Helping house more Australians

Swift Walk showcases the power of collective action for tackling systemic issues. As a HESTA member, your super is helping make a real difference in addressing one of Australia’s biggest challenges: access to affordable housing.

HESTA’s investment in Swift Walk reflects our commitment to strong long-term returns for members while supporting essential workers and families who need secure, affordable homes closer to work, transport, and community services.
 

What makes Swift Walk special?

Stable, secure homes

With one, two, and three-bedroom rental apartments across five buildings, the buildings will be managed by Assemble in partnership with Housing Choices Australia in close collaboration with specialist community housing provider Aboriginal Housing Victoria. This ensures long-term stability for residents, including nurses, aged-care workers, and early childhood educators. Stable tenancy reduces vacancies and helps keep long-term returns on this investment steadier.

Community-focused design

Residents benefit from publicly accessible green spaces, a supermarket, retail outlets, co-working spaces, a gym, rooftop BBQ areas, and more, creating a vibrant neighbourhood.  

Built for living

Swift Walk is within close proximity of public transport, employment hubs, and major hospitals, making it easier for essential workers and families to live near where they work and access key services.

Focus on affordability

Thanks to HAFFF funding and debt funding from Treasury Corporation of Victoria, the project was able to increase the number of affordable homes, directly benefiting those who need it most.

Earning returns alongside a contribution to systemic issues

HESTA CEO Debby Blakey says: “We are committed to delivering strong long-term returns for our members while helping address an issue that greatly impacts them, with many of our members providing critical services and needing affordable housing near work.”

Swift Walk is part of a larger Assemble strategy to deliver 17,000 homes — including social and affordable housing — by 2034. This investment is one step towards helping address the systemic risks the housing shortage can have on economic productivity, not just for your financial future, but for the communities we all belong to.