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October 2025
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Platform 1225 Conference, March 2026
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We are thrilled to announce esteemed Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick is headlining Platform 1225 in 2026. Professor Fitzpatrick is an expert in the interactions between homelessness and child poverty – a crucial requirement given its causal role in driving homelessness in young adulthood. 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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Professor Tim Prenzler will talk to - A space for all - policing public spaces - why highly organised integration with welfare services works.
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A panel of experts and young people will come together in a thought-provoking hypothetical. Join us in building a solid platform for young people aged 12 to 25! More information coming soon….
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Early bird tickets are AVAILABLE NOW.
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Click the image or
HERE to register!
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Join us for our Annual General Meeting
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Great news for Redcliffe
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Young people in Redcliffe will have access to a Youth Foyer after this month’s announcement by Minister O’Connor that Redcliffe is the location for the Moreton Bay Foyer, one of 8 new youth foyers planned across Queensland.
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Each foyer will have 40 apartments and 24/7 support for 16 to 25-year-olds experiencing or at risk of homelessness and in work, study or training.
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The Redcliffe site was purchased by the Queensland Government earlier this year, providing a central location for the youth foyer close to public transport, services, employment opportunities and TAFE. Brisbane architect Arkhefield has been contracted to design the project with 40 self-contained units.
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In the far north, construction is about to commence on the Cairns Youth Foyer at Manoora, which will also provide 40 units for young people.
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Planning is also advanced for Hervey Bay’s Youth Foyer, with the five other locations yet to be determined.
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Mental Health Week 2025
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4-12 October was Mental Health Week, an annual initiative aimed at raising awareness and promoting wellbeing across the community.
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The 2025 theme, “Connect for Mental Health,” emphasised the importance of human connection in supporting mental health. These conversations need to continue beyond the week itself. Support is available via the following services:
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CFCA highlighted important Resources including:
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Check out further resources on the mental health website here.
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Boost your 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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Anti- Poverty Week
2025
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Anti-Poverty Week took place from 12–18 October, shining a light on the ongoing issue of poverty in Australia. More than 3.32 million Australians are living below the poverty line, including 761,000 children - that’s 1 in 6!
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We know that childhood poverty is a significant precursor to youth homelessness. Addressing poverty for all is an essential step in ending homelessness and enhancing wellbeing.
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Now is the time to take action and show your support for these campaigns:
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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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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
- 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 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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Anglicare Southern Queensland – Reconnect Program
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ASQ’s Reconnect assists 12–18 year olds who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with housing stability, school or training engagement, and stronger family and community connections in the Inala, Ipswich and Lockyer Valley regions. Services include one-on-one support, practical advocacy, family mediation, and evidence-based group programs such as Feeling Fantastic, Love Bites, and RAGE.
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No waitlist - referrals welcome. Find out more here.
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Reconnect is a great program with staff attached to many youth support organisations around QLD.
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Find your local reconnect program here.
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Insight's new Trauma Informed Care online training package out now!
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Informed by people with lived experience alongside expert practitioners from government and NGO service providers, this new package contains 11 eLearning modules, 45 mini-videos, and numerous downloadable tools and other resources.
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You can access the package here.
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Resources for Schoolies Week
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With Schoolies Week just around the corner Dovetail has some great resources to support keeping young people safe. You can read more here.
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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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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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Talking to children and young people about consent
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In this episode of the Emerging Minds Families podcast practical tips for helping children make informed decisions about their bodies and relationships are shared. You can learn how to start these important conversations, model consent, and support children’s overall wellbeing.
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Celebrate 25 years of
Open Doors Youth Service
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ODYS is celebrating 25 years of supporting LGBTQIASB+ young people with Sparkle Saloon, a family-friendly event on Sunday 2 November, 2–6 PM at Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm. Enjoy queer line dancing with the Saddle Club, drag performances and plenty of glittering surprises in a joyful celebration of community, pride, and inclusion.
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Tickets are available here.
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Child Safety Commission of Inquiry
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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REPORTS, ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS
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Anglicare Rental Affordability
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Essential workers – people whose jobs keep hospitals running, classrooms open, and services delivered – are now among those hardest hit by the rental crisis. Poverty and rental stress are climbing the income ladder, spreading into jobs once considered secure and relatively well paid. The crisis is undermining the ability of essential services to function, as the workers who provide them cannot afford a secure home near the places they are needed most.
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This report marks the third release of the Rental Affordability Snapshot: Essential Workers Edition. A companion piece to Anglicare Australia’s annual Rental Affordability Snapshot, this report reveals just how pervasive and widespread the rental crisis has become. Anglicare calls for bold action. You can read the report here.
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Growing Up In Australia –
latest findings released
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This Longitudinal Study of Australian Children has followed 10,000 young Australians from childhood to adulthood, exploring development in Australia’s unique social and cultural environment. The latest 2023–24 data reveals fresh insights about 19–24-year-olds, now available for researchers, policymakers, and anyone curious about young Australians’ journeys.
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Suicidal thoughts and behaviours in adolescence
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Growing Up in Australia Snapshot Series – Issue 14
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Around one-third (34%) of young people ever reported having suicidal thoughts and behaviours by 18–19 years of age, with females (38%) more likely to have than males (31%) (Figure 1). These findings complement the findings of the 2020–22 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, which showed that younger people had a higher prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviours than older age groups and that females had a higher prevalence than males (ABS, 2020–22).
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You can read the findings and recommendations here.
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AHURI Report October 2nd
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This research looked at ways seasonal and vulnerable workers in regional Australia can be better housed.
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It provides a policy framework for government and industry stakeholders to ensure a healthy, safe and productive workforce.
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Understanding parents’ experiences of their child engaging in self-harm and/or suicidal ideation
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This article explores parents’ experiences when their children self-harm or have suicidal thoughts. It highlights what shapes their help-seeking and offers practical ways professionals can better support families during these challenging times. Read more here. A range of Webinar recordings are also available on the AIFS website:
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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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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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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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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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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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