People Purpose Place

At People Purpose Place, we're solving the housing crisis one intentional household at a time. Discover some of our plans and examples in our PLACE discussion here.

Uncategorized

Purpose Takes Centre Stage at PeoplePurposePlace

Leave a Comment

2026 02 20 Media Release #38

Purpose Takes Centre Stage at PeoplePurposePlace

as Residents Settle In

MALANDA, QLD – Doors are open, the rooms are lived in, and the kettle is boiling at the newly completed Ginn Road collaborative living project in Malanda. But the real work is only just beginning.

This project was never just about walls and roofs. PeoplePurposePlace is shifting its focus from building to belonging — from premises to purpose.

“Creating the physical space was the easy part,” Jana Mueller, local Ambassador, said. “Now we turn to what really matters: rebuilding the art of communication and community.”

From left: First investor Christine Doan, Jenny Sader, and Jana Mueller, local ambassadors for PeoplePurposePlace, celebrating the next chapter of the Ginn Road collaborative living project in Malanda.

Relearning the Skills of Living Together

In a fast-paced, digitally driven world, many people have lost the practical skills needed to live well alongside each other. Misunderstandings escalate quickly. Assumptions replace dialogue. Conflict is often avoided — or handled poorly.

Community does not simply happen because people share a postcode. It must be nurtured intentionally.

Beginning in early March, structured support sessions will commence for the five residents now calling Ginn Road home. These sessions will focus on communication techniques, conflict resolution skills, and collaborative decision-making processes, including principles drawn from the Nonviolent Communication (NVC) framework. Residents will learn how to navigate differences without division and how to transform tension into growth.

“We don’t assume people automatically know how to live in community,” Mueller explained. “Most of us were never taught how to build agreements together, how to give feedback constructively, how to express needs clearly, or listen without defensiveness. These are skills — and skills can be learned.”

From Experiment to Example

What began as an ambitious local housing initiative is evolving into something deeper: a living laboratory for a modern community.

With the educational component now commencing, organisers believe it can become a replicable model for other regional communities.

“This is where the real juice of PeoplePurposePlace lies,” said Christine Doan, the first investor. “Not just in providing housing, but in teaching the human skills that make a house feel like home. If we can help five people build a healthy, communicative micro-community here in Malanda, we’re demonstrating something powerful. We’re showing that community can be learned, practised, and sustained.”

As the dust settles from construction and residents begin daily life together, one message is clear: this project was never just about walls and roofs. It is about rediscovering the lost art of communication — and proving that with the right tools and intention, community can thrive again.

For more information about PeoplePurposePlace or the Ginn Road collaborative living project, please contact:

  • Jenny (Ambassador):                 0458 928 344
  • Jana (Ambassador):                   0439 229 169
  • Christine (Ginn Rd Investor):    0419 656 247
  • Email: tablelands@peoplepurposeplace.com.au

The Ginn Road project is proudly supported by Start-Up and Innovations Tablelands (ST), underscoring its role as a leader in innovative solutions for the region.

Workshops to explore collaborative homes

Leave a Comment

Our local newspaper, The Express, ran this article on the 24th of May 2025.

A SERIES of public workshops are being launched next month by alternative housing solutions group PeoplePurposePlace (PPP), to explain both the concept and practicalities of collaborative living.

Organisers will initially be inviting the community to attend a free “drop in” session on 28 May at the Carrington Hotel from 5pm to 8pm, as a precursor to the workshops which begin on 4 June.

PPP is a charity made up of a group of professionals who have been working in the housing industry for several decades. They believe current housing options are not working for all members of the community and offer alternative affordable options.

In a Tablelands first, PPP has built its first home on Ginn Road in Malanda, which will offer like-minded people a way to live with each other in a different type of social housing.

The pilot project was founded by local land and business owners committed to offering homes for everyone from workers, the elderly, and those excluded by the current system.

A second project will be a house renovation based on PPP principles.

“As housing costs rise, collaborative living provides an empowering, affordable alternative,” a project founder and investor, Christine Doan, said.

“But it’s more than building a house, it’s about building the small group who lives there.”

The PPP works with both those keen to provide the housing – with guidance on project delivery, budget management, and sustainability; and those hoping to live in it – with advice on essentials such as decision-making, household rules, conflict resolution and effective communication.

“These all help build the skills to live in a close-knit, small community,” Ms Doan said.

“The workshops are based on a tried and tested framework and they are also custom-made for Tablelanders.”

The Malanda project home will provide stable housing for five individuals. Those who have applied to live there must attend the prerequisite 10 workshops.

The first two workshops, to be held at the Atherton International Club, are scheduled for 4 June (5.30 pm for a 6pm start), and 7 June (9.30 am for a 10 am start) and will run for two hours followed by a Q&A time.

Individuals and community groups curious about new ways to live are welcome. Future dates will be determined with attendees.

Bookings can be made at tablelands@peoplepurposeplace.com.au, or people can simply turn up.

Logical Thinking

1 Comment

Let no one ignorant of geometry enter here.

Plato’s statement wasn’t just about math—it was about the power of logic and reason.

Unlock the Power of Logical Thinking

These workshops are designed to challenge your thinking. This may be confronting and contradict some of your current thoughts. We encourage you to approach this with open-mindedness. You are not expected to accept everything we say as the only truth. We encourage you to engage your logical thinking and reasoning. Approach this work with curiosity and pragmatic thinking. Enjoy the journey.

In a world of misinformation, alternative facts, ethical dilemmas, AI-driven desicions and rapid technological change humans/the populatio is/are steering away from logical thinking. This chapter explores how logical reasoning shapes our world. If you want to think critically and make better decisions… Start with logical thinking!

Conditions for Safe Group Housing

Leave a Comment

Intention

Creating a safe and effective group requires both deliberate attention and good intentions. In the work of People Purpose Place, we have found that fostering safety in a group setting is fundamental to achieving shared goals, enhancing collaboration, and strengthening community bonds. A well-functioning group is greater than the sum of its parts, offering practical benefits and emotional and social rewards such as camaraderie, purpose, and support. Safe group housing can all provide this.

We are Social Beings

Recognising that humans are inherently social beings is at the core of group safety. Historically, cooperation was essential for survival through shared watch duties for protection or collaborative efforts to secure food and shelter. While society has evolved beyond basic survival, collective effort remains crucial, particularly in addressing large-scale challenges like the housing crisis. Safe group housing is required to offer alternative housing to the current investor model only.

Shelter a basic Human Need

Shelter is a fundamental human need that often results from collaboration. Modern housing construction, for instance, relies on the coordinated efforts of numerous professionals, from tradespeople to financiers. However, much of this collaboration is currently driven by financial incentives. If money were removed from the equation, the structures that house people would not materialise simultaneously. As housing affordability becomes an increasing concern, communities must explore alternative ways to foster cooperation and create safe, functional living spaces.

The conditions for a safe group can take many forms—shared family responsibilities, faith-based communities, or collective efforts to support essential workers. The key to sustaining these groups lies in establishing clear agreements. Whether simple or complex, these agreements define the group’s purpose, outline expectations, and set measurable standards for success. By consciously creating and documenting these conditions, groups can foster trust, ensure safety, and maximise their collective potential.

The Power of Collective Effort

At People Purpose Place, we deliver housing solutions at the individual project scale, where this change must start.

People Purpose Place. Home