Meet Dr Francesca Perugia – housing researcher on a mission to turn data into action, ensuring communities and policymakers are ready for the challenges of a changing world. Whether she’s diving into disaster-responsive housing or into the ocean as a marathon swimmer, she’s all about pushing boundaries and making real impact.
Describe your research in 3 words
People, housing, climate change.
Tell me briefly about your field of research?
My research looks at how risks brought on by climate change impact housing, including how communities understand risk and how this impacts their decisions. But it’s not just about identifying the risks, it’s about making sure that policymakers get the insights they need to create policies that reflect what people really need, rather than just one-size-fits-all solutions.
Research highlight
I enjoyed working closely with policymakers on our Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) funded national enquiry on disaster risk and housing to get a deeper understanding of how they make decisions. We always see the final outcomes of policies, but we don’t often get the chance to unpack the “why” behind those decisions. One of the most fulfilling aspects of this project was hearing from people who told us how our research has directly influenced their work. It’s such a rewarding feeling knowing our work didn’t just sit on a shelf somewhere but makes a real difference to the sector.
If you could sit-in with any Faculty for a day, which would you pick?
Faculty of Business and Law. There’s always conversation in my field about costs, value, and money. I’d love to sit down with economists and find some kind of middle ground where we’re not just thinking about financial profits but also considering the broader social and environmental values that matter.
What are your passions/hobbies outside of work?
I’m an ocean swimmer. I swam solo in the Rottnest Channel Swim three years ago, which I’m really proud of. Swimming is my way of getting out of my own head.
I’ve got a great swim group. We go for long swims which is followed by an even longer coffee session. It’s my favourite weekend ritual.
What’s a fun fact about you that your colleagues would probably not know?
I’ve actually worked at Curtin for 14 years but most people think I’ve only been here for about four or five. I started off developing online learning materials through OUA, so I wasn’t physically on campus at first. It wasn’t until 2021 that I became full-time staff.
What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learnt in your career so far?
Listen to people. Some of the most interesting and unexpected opportunities have come from conversations I never thought much of at the time.
What’s a piece of advice you would give your fellow colleagues, and students alike?
Know that resilience is everything. There are so many brilliant people in research, but what really sets people apart isn’t just being smart, it’s the ability to keep going, even when things don’t work out the first time. The thing about academia is you don’t always get the answers you want right away, and it’s frustrating, but if you stick with it, you’ll get there.
– – –
This piece was featured in Impact Focus – a quarterly newsletter bringing you the latest in Curtin research. Sign up here to get it delivered straight to your inbox!
