Dr Eileen O’Brien is a Professor of Law in the School of Law, Adelaide University. She teaches and researches in ageing and law, real property law (with a particular interest in housing and tenancy law), and consumer law. Eileen is a former academic member of the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia.
Eileen is passionate about housing issues affecting vulnerable members of our society and her research focuses on people experiencing housing stress and homelessness. She has written widely on security of tenure for older people, particularly how the operation of existing laws may make older people susceptible to financial exploitation. She has also examined how revised property and planning laws could facilitate more downsizing options for Seniors, canvassed the necessity for law reform to address the contentious issue of assets for care arrangements and considered whether property law and human rights principles could assist in alleviating the plight of older women who have become homeless.
Eileen has been a member of several national AHURI projects examining housing vulnerability (with a focus on older people) and has completed research projects for Commonwealth and State governments in her areas of interest. She is the co-editor of 'The Age-friendly Lens (Routledge, 2023).  Eileen is presently involved in a pilot program with Relationships Australia trialing Eldercaring Coordination.
Eileen co-ordinates and teaches in Adelaide university's Property Law and Ageing and the law units. She is a foundation member of the Australian Research Network on Law and Ageing (ARNLA), a member of the Australian Association of Gerontology, including the Housing and Built Environment and Elder Abuse special interest groups, the Advisory Board to Elder Abuse Action Australia (EAAA) and a consultant to Aged Care Justice.