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September 2025
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Platform 1225, March 2026
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Professor Fitzpatrick will also share the wisdoms and warnings gleaned from the Scottish approach to ending homelessness including the benefits of cross-party political commitment and the blight of insufficient protections for women and children who have experienced Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) and are seeking safety.
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Join us in building a solid platform for young people aged 12 to 25! More information on further keynotes and expert panels featuring young people coming soon…. Early bird tickets are AVAILABLE NOW.
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Click on the image or HERE to register!
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Queensland Child Protection Week
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September is always a great celebration of child protection. Queensland Child Protection Week (QCPW) began on Father’s Day – 7th September and was an action-packed week of celebrating children and young people alongside showcasing organisations, innovative practice and individuals working tirelessly to improve the life circumstances of children and young people.
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The week kicked off with an Awards/Launch ceremony at Parliament House with a slew of worthy recipients recognised.
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For every person holding an award we know there are hundreds more busily doing the important work that QCPW celebrates. Throughout the week over 100 events were held around the state from south of the border to the cape. All sharing the essential messages of child protection, family wellbeing, relationships and connection.
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QYHC is pleased to be part of the QCPW Committee. We’re also thrilled to see some of our services recognised!
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Photos by Lachlan Douglas
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QYHC Congratulates the 2025 QCPW Award Recipients!
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- Professional Government
Debbie Jones - Queensland Police Service
- Professional Non-Government
Conrad Townson - Integrated Family and Youth Service (IFYS)
- Media & Communications Award
2024 Stadium of Hope Campaign by Act for Kids
- Our Children Our Future
SafeKids Far North Queensland - Act for Kids
- Thriving Communities Initiative Award
Brisbane Youth Service
- Child Safe Organisation Award
Life Without Barriers
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- Regional Program
Kambu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health
- Volunteer
Kathryn Rodda, Foster Carer - Churches of Christ & Hope in Suitcase Volunteer
- Youth Participation Award
2025 Youth Summit – Queensland Family & Child Commission
- Education Initiative Award
Children's Rights Queensland
- Transition to Success
Our Neighbourhood (NBHD)
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Child Safe Organisations
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The Queensland Family and Child Commission (the Commission) has published its Regulatory Approach for implementing the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (the Act).
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Best outcomes for children occur when organisations:
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- Understand their legal and ethical responsibilities.
- Have the capability to meet Child Safe Standards.
- Are held accountable when risk or harm is not appropriately addressed.
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QFCC encourages you to review the Regulatory Approach and consider your organisation’s role in preventing harm before it occurs, as part of Queensland’s broader child safeguarding system.
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You can access the publication on the Commission’s website here.
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This international day serves as a platform to celebrate good work, benchmark progress, advocate for improved policies and funding that can help prevent and end homelessness. World Homeless Day also aims to raise awareness about the needs of people who currently experience homelessness and promote work in local communities to alleviate suffering and prevent death. You can read more here.
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Find out more and register here
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Queensland Mental Health Week, 4th – 12th October
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Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW) is an annual awareness week that aims to shine a spotlight on individual and community mental health and wellbeing.
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Funded by the Queensland Government through the Queensland Mental Health Commission, 154 community organisations have received grants to host mental wellbeing events throughout the week. The initiative is linked to World Mental Health Day, on 10 October. Resources are available here. Check out the amazing events around Queensland here.
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24/7 Intake and support ISAs
for young people
Five Immediate Supported Accommodation (ISA) services are available to enhance service delivery and address regional needs. These feature 24/7 on-site support with two workers at peak service times and 24/7 intake services for improved accessibility.
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These programs are located in the regions of Cairns, Logan, Mount Isa, Moreton Bay, and Rockhampton. In Cairns, where two ISAs operate, each site continues to have a single overnight worker and does not offer 24/7 intake services.
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Young people can contact these services for support at any time on the numbers below:
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- Insync Beenleigh, Anglicare SQ:
(07) 3386 2000
- Mithangkaya Nguli - Young People Ahead - Mt Isa: (07) 4749 0840
- Darumbul – Rockhampton: (07) 4927 5715
- IFYS – Caboolture: (07) 3888 9355
Mobile: 0422 003 971
- Anglicare North Queensland, Cairns:
St Margaret’s – (07) 4033 2678;
St John’s – (07) 4032 4971
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Important Housing Products for young people
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Youth Subsidy for CHPs
The Youth Subsidy is available for registered community housing providers to find more opportunities for young people to move out of crisis accommodation into long-term, stable housing.
Read more about the Youth Subsidy here.
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You can read more updates here.
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Youth Essentials
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Youth Housing Essentials supports young people transitioning from government services. It offers tailored brokerage assistance of up to $5,000 per household to address their essential housing needs. It provides access to essential goods and services such as: furniture, white goods, education or work necessities. To access, a young person must be supported by a service provider, support agency or Housing Service. Find out more here.
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Renters Relief Package
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The Renters Relief Package has expanded eligibility for a range of products and services to help customers find and apply for a place to rent, help to get a rental, and help to keep their place if they’re having financial difficulties.
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- For more information visit The QLD government website here
- Or get in touch with your local Housing Service Centre Contact here
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Need housing assistance? Go to qld.gov.au/housinghelp, call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or the Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753.  
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YAC’s latest innovation
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YAC’s latest innovation YAC is proud to share their new animated video designed to support and empower children and young people navigating the children's courts in Queensland.
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This free animation provides clear, accessible information to help young people understand what to expect when they attend court, their rights, and how to get support. In addition to reducing confusion, fear, and anxiety in young people facing court, it aims to empower young people to do everything they can to influence a positive outcome.
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The animation is part of YAC’s broader commitment to increase young people's access to legal and social justice in Queensland. It was funded by the Community Legal Education (CLE) Collaboration Fund and inspired by a resource developed by the Youth Justice Legal Centre UK.
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Managing Young Tenants
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This resource provides a deeper understanding of working with young tenants, to assist property managers in feeling more equipped and confident in their work with young people. It includes trauma-informed and mental health aware tenancy management as well as available subsidies and support services. Read more here.
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Open Doors celebrated 25 years of supporting LGBTIQA+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy young people by expanding its support services. It continues to be Queensland’s sole youth service specifically for LGBTIQ+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy communities.
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Ruby’s Reunification Program supports young people and their families to rebuild relationships and stay connected, with the aim to prevent involvement in the child protection and homelessness systems. The program offers short-term, home-like accommodation where families can take a break and focus on reuniting. There is a 4 bed property in North Brisbane and another on the Southside.
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Child Safety Commission of Inquiry
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On 18th May 2025, the Queensland Government announced a Commission of Inquiry into the Queensland child safety system.
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The Commission led by Hon. Paul Anastassiou KC, commenced on 1st July. On 23rd July, The Commissioner formally opened the Commission of Inquiry and provided the public with an overview of how it will be conducted.
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More information including how to make a submission is available here. The final report to government is due 30th November 2026.
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Children’s Rights and the Law
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Southern Cross University is hosting a forum on 23rd and 24th October 2025 on the Gold Coast.
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Children’s rights and the Law Conference will focus on family law, child protection, and youth justice. The event will feature diverse perspectives to encourage discussion on how the legal system can better respect the rights of children and young people. Register here.
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Headspace Day 2025 Events Nundah & Woolloongabba
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Both events are free and packed with creative activities, food, and chill vibes.
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REPORTS, ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS
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First-time fathers & health outcomes
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This report takes a life course approach to examine how being a first-time father affects key health outcomes as well as the factors associated with these outcomes. It also looks at the use of health services among first-time fathers and any associated barriers to use. Amongst the key messages:
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Read the report here here.
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Where to build social housing
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Modelling shows that changing investment approaches in high-value, high-amenity urban areas could increase total social housing supply by 20%.
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This increase would be paid for by selling 30 percent of existing low-density social housing to private buyers. The funding would be used to develop medium-density social housing. Retaining social housing in high- and medium-amenity areas is preferable to building new social housing in low-amenity areas. Read the report here.
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Resuscitating the
Great Australian Dream and a Vision of Housing Security
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What then do we need to do to resuscitate the Great Australian Dream of homeownership and a vision of housing security?
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A thumbnail sketch of several big ideas outlined below offer a pathway forward. These ideas need deep and sustained commitment from governments:
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- Establish Hard Housing Supply Targets
- Enhanced Security of Tenure
- Enhanced Supported Housing for Vulnerable Groups
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Safeside Prevention
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Professor Pat Dudgeon, the first Aboriginal psychologist in Australia and a global voice for First Nations mental health describes how confronting the racism in the system sparked her mission to “decolonise” psychology and build a new framework called Social and Emotional Wellbeing, a model that places self, family, community, culture, and Country at the centre of healing. Watch here.
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Rent assistance giving hope for better futures
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This latest research looked at the effects of Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) on low-income families who rent privately, focusing on housing, money, health and wellbeing outcomes for parents and children.
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It also unpacked the role of CRA in reducing disadvantage passing from parents to children. The forms of disadvantage considered in the report include poor housing, financial, wellbeing and health outcomes.
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Read the report here here.
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Latest Everybody’s Home publication
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Australia’s housing affordability crisis has deepened over the past decade, with rents rising faster than incomes and more households than ever experiencing rental stress, insecurity, and displacement. In this context, there is growing scrutiny of the policies and tax settings that shape access to housing and determine how it is used.
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The High Cost of Gambling
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National Gambling Prevalence Study Pilot 2024 notes that gambling affects the health and wellbeing of many Australians, who collectively lose $32 billion on legal forms of gambling annually (Queensland Government Statistician's Office, 2025). These are the largest per capita losses of any country in the world (H2 Gambling Capital, 2025).
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National Youth Justice Report
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According to AIHS, the majority of young people do not return to sentenced supervision.
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The vast majority of young people have never been under sentenced youth justice supervision (AIHW 2025), and most young people who had a supervised sentence did not receive another supervised sentence before the age of 18. About 3 in 5 (59%) young people under sentenced youth justice supervision at some time between 2000–01 to 2023–24 did not return to sentenced youth justice supervision.
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AIFS webinar recordings
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Specialist Counselling
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Living Authentically Counselling provides LGBTQIA+ and neuro-divergent affirming counselling services for anyone aged 16+ seeking support with sexuality, gender identity and expression.
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Services are available Australia-wide through telehealth, with discounted rates and flexible appointment times. Read more here.
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Boost Youth Mental Health Skills
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Are you a youth worker supporting young people facing mental health challenges? Youth Affairs Network of Queensland (YANQ) and the University of Adelaide offer free online training that includes:
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- Engaging video content that breaks down key mental health concepts in an accessible way.
- Reflective exercises.
- Practical templates that guide decision-making when working with young people experiencing distress.
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Access the training resources here.
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New resources from WellMob
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WellMob has launched a new "Workplace Wellbeing Resource Sheet" aimed at supporting workers and promoting culturally safe workplaces.
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This resource provides a curated selection of links to practical tools and guidance on various topics, including self-care at work, managing cultural load, racism, addressing isolation, and preventing black burnout. Access resources here.
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How to work with men & boys to create violence-free communities is a one-day event in Brisbane featuring internationally recognised speakers Matt and Sarah Brown (She Is Not Your Rehab) and Jase Williams. The day will focus on trauma-informed practice, redefining masculinity, healing childhood trauma, and breaking cycles of harm.
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Monday 24 November 2025
9:00am – 4:30pm (lunch included) BTP Conference & Exhibition Centre, Eight Mile Plains
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Tickets: $269 pp | $249 each for groups of 5+
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More details & tickets: here.
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Cyber Safety
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ThinkUKnow Australia provides guidance on how to stay safe and seek help via free online safety presentations for parents, carers, educators, and students. Delivered by law enforcement and industry volunteers, the sessions cover online risks such as grooming, privacy, and sexual exploitation. Request a presentation here.
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Relationships Matter Webinar
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Storytelling is at the heart of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. For tens of thousands of years, the practice has sustained communities, nurtured relationships and highlighted the interconnectedness of child, family and community. Although Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and caregivers have many stories of resilience, in a practice setting the space to share and reflect on these stories doesn’t always exist. The ability to create this space is crucial to working with these families.
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This strategy outlines a comprehensive approach involving the entire government and community to incorporate trauma-informed practices throughout Queensland. Over the next five years, it aims to foster optimal conditions for individuals, families, caregivers, and communities to access the right support as early as possible. Read here.
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The Elephant in the Room
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Elephant Ed’s vision is to build a world where every individual is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary to make informed, healthy, and respectful decisions about consent, relationships, and sexuality. Student workshops, Staff PD and Parent Webinars are available. Find more here.
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GCBF Funding Rounds 2025
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In 2025, the Gambling Community Benefit Fund has one round remaining:
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- Round 125: $35,000 Standard Grant - opening mid-September and closing 31 October
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Find more information here.
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Dylan Alcott Foundation Grants
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Young Australians (26 years or under) living with disability can apply for grants to support personal, professional, vocational, or sporting goals. Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents. The funding aims to boost confidence, unlock potential, and help them achieve their dreams. Applications are accepted all year round.
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Find more information here.
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In case you missed last month’s features
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Special feature on unaccompanied children receiving specialist homelessness services - August 26th, 2025
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As part of a feature analysis of specialist homelessness services this article on unaccompanied children demonstrates the harsh reality for over 13 thousand young Australians aged between 12 and 17 who presented to specialist homelessness services in 2023-2024. 2,443 of these children were between 12 and 14 years of age. Most alarmingly 3 in 4 of these children were homeless after their support ended. Here are the key findings:
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Around 13,300 children (17% of all SHS clients who were children) were not accompanied by an adult parent or guardian when SHS support began.
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Most unaccompanied children sought SHS support alone (94%), while a small proportion (6%) were part of a group of children.
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More unaccompanied children were female (63%) than male (37%).
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About 2 in 5 (42% or 5,600) unaccompanied children identified interpersonal relationships as the main group of reasons for seeking SHS assistance.
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Unaccompanied children 12-14 years
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Unaccompanied children 15-17 years
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About 1 in 5 (19%) unaccompanied children who were experiencing homelessness when they began a SHS support period were housed when their support ended; around 3 in 4 (77%) remained without secure stable housing.
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Short-term or emergency accommodation was needed by unaccompanied children in 6,600 periods of SHS support; this service was directly provided by agencies in around half (50% or 3,200) of the periods of support.
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You can read the article here.
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In total, more than 92,000 people in families with children received homelessness support in 2023-2024, and of the 87,800 people in families with children who sought specialist help, 39,000 – or 45 per cent – had already lost their homes.
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This report analyses data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to investigate the extent and impacts of family homelessness in Australia, and recommends a suite of policies the government can implement immediately to address this escalating crisis. You can read the report here.
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Which level of government holds the keys to housing policy in Australia?
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Australia’s housing crisis has become a ‘wicked problem’ for policymakers at all levels of government.
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Through a short overview of who is responsible for what in several key areas of housing policy in Australia, this policy brief demonstrates that in most areas the Commonwealth is generally a ‘minor player’ in housing policy in Australia.
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Read the policy brief here.
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What happens when healthcare teams up with housing? This new AHURI research looks at the lessons learned from collaborations between health and homelessness services during COVID-19. The report identifies how the sectors could continue to work together moving forward.
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A key lesson is that health agencies and services must take an active role in addressing homelessness as an urgent and ongoing public health crisis - not just as a social issue,’ says Dr Chris Hartley, lead researcher from The University of New South Wales. Read the report here.
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The Everybody’s Home report shows rising rental prices across all Australian capitals over the past decade, with increases over 60% in many areas. This trend is driven by a long-term decline in social housing — now just 4.1% of homes — and minimal government intervention, overwhelming the private rental market. Rising rents means affordable housing is increasingly out of reach. Read the report here.
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