Introduction
Co-operation Housing is a not for profit company limited by guarantee. We were established in 2010 to support and grow Western Australia’s housing co-operative sector. We are the only registered community housing provider in the State that specialises in housing co-operatives.
We predominantly operate under a delegated management model. Each housing co-operative is a registered entity in its own right. The co operatives work with Co-operation Housing to support and manage tenancies under the Residential Tenancies Act and ensure the ongoing maintenance of their properties.
Co-operation Housing is governed by a Board of Directors which comprises both Elected Directors representing the housing co-ops and Technical Directors appointed for their particular expertise and experience.
Vision, Mission, Values
Our vision - Strong Communities through co-operative living.
Our mission - Representing and growing co-operative housing as a way of building empowered and sustainable communities.
Our Values & Principles - We subscribe to the international co-operative framework of values and principles. Learn more.
Our Board
Co-operation Housing is a not-for-profit organisation governed by a Board of Directors who are responsible for the strategic management and financial performance of the organisation.
The Board is made up of Five Elected Directors, and Four Technical Directors.
Elected Directors are elected by our member co-operatives and bring to the Board their experience of co-operative living, community values, co-operative leadership and skill and experience in the management, development and capacity-building of co-operatives.
Technical Directors are appointed to bring specific technical skill and expertise to the Board in areas such as property development, financial management, law, planning, regulatory compliance and organisational leadership and development.
The Board may also convene subcommittees, for example, governance, development and growth.
Co-operation Housing holds an AGM each year to receive the Company report for the year ending June 30, consider any motions and elect and approve the membership of the Board.

Peter shooter
Elected Director and Chairperson
Peter has been living at the First Fremantle Housing Collective with his partner and daughter for the past twelve years. An experienced industrial electrician with an interest in electronics, he also has a degree in mechatronic engineering. Other interests include cycling, building recumbent bicycles and yoga. Peter is committed to the co-operative model and to working together to achieve what would be unachievable individually.
'I've always been interested in looking at how we can make housing more affordable for people, and in how people can work together to achieve home ownership. I think the traditional model of one family, one house, one quarter-acre block is very isolating - apart from which it's unaffordable for so many people. I think the First Fremantle Housing Collective co-op model works well - we share a lot of work together, but we don't live in each other's pockets.'

Heidy Tiebosch
Elected Director
Originally from the Netherlands, Heidy moved into co-op housing in 2013. She has experienced living in a couple of housing co-ops across the Fremantle area and appreciates the diversity they offer. Heidy raises her two daughters in the co-op. The kids appreciate the sense of belonging the community provides. Heidy was trained and working as an ICT professional in the Netherlands. She retrained and obtained an Advanced Diploma of Accounting while raising her two children.
'Through co-op living I have experienced that the saying, it takes a village to raise a child, is very true. Living abroad and away from family, co-op residents play an important part in my life and my daughters. Someone taught them how to knit, someone bakes biscuits with them, the list goes on. My reason for joining the board is that I would love to see more people being able to experience the benefits of community living.'

Angela Howie
Technical Director
Angela is a senior government lawyer, with extensive experience in managing legislative reform projects and as in-house counsel providing advice to Departmental staff. She has worked in several Government Departments and has experience in administrative, environmental, planning, property and resource management law. Her main interest is in environmental law, and in supporting communities to move to a more sustainable way of living. She is eager to bring her skills to assist the Board in building a stronger organisation and co-operative housing sector.

Olwyn Maddock
Technical Director
Olwyn has been a director since Co-operation Housing’s foundation. She is an AHPRA registered psychologist and an associate member of the Australian Psychological Society. She has worked as a TAFE lecturer and is currently a registered school working in the Wheatbelt. She lived at Pinakarri Community from 2000 to 2008, was trustee for the Co-op Maintenance Trust from 2001 to 2010 and was active with FOHCOL in a number of roles from 2003 to 2009. She has also represented the co-op sector as a tenant on the Community Housing Code of Practice Western Australia (2002–2004), and was a sector development worker with the Community Housing Coalition of Western Australia (2004–2005).

Kara Tripp
Technical Director
Kara is an experienced corporate management consultant, specialising in real estate and property development. Currently employed full time as financial controller for an entrepreneurial group with diverse real estate and business interests, Kara is responsible for all senior accounting functions as well as coordinating property sales, acquisitions, leasing, finance and capital raising functions for a portfolio of more than 50 companies. Kara held a real estate agency license for more than 15 years, is certified as a company secretary, and currently volunteers on the boards of three other charities. In addition to her employment and charity work, Kara co-owns a laser studio in Fremantle specialising in laser skin aesthetics, scar removal and anti-aging treatments.
Kara previously held a board position for Co-operation Housing between 2017 and 2018, transitioning into the role of Operations Manager in 2019 where she was instrumental in re-registering Co-operation Housing as a Community Housing Provider with the Department of Communities.
Our Staff / Organisational Structure
Eugenie Stockmann - Development Manager
Melinda Marshall - Operations Manager
Anthony Rizzacasa - Project Manager

Eugenie Stockmann
Development Manager
Eugenie is the Development Manager for Co-operation Housing, a registered community housing provider specialising in the co-operative model. Her work with Co-operation Housing builds on her knowledge and experience as a sustainability educator, developer and consultant.
Eugenie’s work has a strong focus on community living. She successfully completed two small, and now multi-award-winning developments, in the Town of Victoria Park. She worked closely with Co-operation Housing on the development of new housing co-operatives prior to being appointed in the CEO role.
Eugenie’s qualifications include a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainability and Advanced Diploma in Accounting. She brings experience in property development and the social and affordable housing sector and is an affiliate of an international network of cohousing professionals. She has previously served on not for profit boards and has completed relevant training facilitated by the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

melinda marshall
Operations Manager
Melinda is a senior town planner with over a decade of experience in undertaking a variety of strategic and statutory projects, including urban design guidelines, structure planning, subdivision, development assessment and advocacy. She brings to the team her knowledge and experience of planning for a range of different development types, such as renewable energy projects, medium and large-scale mixed-use developments, nursing homes and retirement villages and affordable dwelling projects. She has also been a member of the City of Fremantle Innovative Housing Design Panel and has owner built her own home.

Anthony Rizzacasa
Project and Development Manager
Anthony joined the team as Senior Development Manager in October 2020. Anthony aims to deliver genuine affordable housing. His approach to affordable housing is innovative and he explores shared equity potentials as well as utilising community land trusts for example. Prior to this he was the Director of Property Development with Access Housing Australia Ltd. He is Director of North Point Property Group. He predominantly operates in the apartment market and has experience with delivering multi-storey buildings.
Our registrations and memberships
Co-operation Housing is:
Registered as a Community Housing Provider (CHP) with the Department of Communities (WA).
Registered as a charity (public benevolent institution) with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
Endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) by the Australian Taxation Office.
Memberships

Australian Co-operative Housing Alliance (ACHA)
An alliance of Australia's co-operative housing peak bodies.
Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM)
Australia’s only peak body for co-operatives and mutuals across all industries.
Shelter WA
An independent peak body, based in Perth Western Australia, that advocates for social and affordable housing and ending homelessness.
Strata Communities Australia WA (SCAWA)
The peak industry body representing strata management firms, businesses that service strata schemes and owners of strata-titled property.
Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA)
The peak industry body for the Australian community housing industry.
Publications
Below are links to our latest publications, including strategic plan, annual reports and our constitution.
latest strategic plan
