housing

February 2023 Edition

Queensland's Historic Path to Treaty
On Wednesday 15 February 2023, QYHC’s Executive Director, Lorraine Dupree and young person representative, Jordanah, had the pleasure of attending the Queensland Government’s Path to Treaty event. There was a sense of goodwill and hopefulness in the room, as Queensland’s long journey towards a Treaty with its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples took a major step forward. Key messages from the event included:
  • We need to go on this journey together
  • Treaty is the way forward in determining based in acknowledgement of the past
  • Truth and treaty propel young people into action
  • Get on the treaty train – we will achieve treaty in this state by generosity of spirit
  • Let us be the generator, be an advocate, start the conversation.
On Wednesday 22 February 2023, historic legislation was introduced into parliament which formalised Queensland’s Path to Treaty. The Bill seeks to establish a First Nations Treaty Institute and a formal Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry and amend existing legislation that reflects discriminatory policies of the past.
Read Premier Palaszczuk’s full speech here.

15th Anniversary of National Apology

Monday 13 February 2023 marked the 15th anniversary of the National Apology made by former prime Minister Kevin Rudd to the Stolen Generation. National Apology Day provides an opportunity to seek healing and pursue reconciliation in Australia. Furthermore, it emphasises the need to close the gap of discrimination, unjust treatment, racism and abuse of human rights towards First Nations people, families and communities.
On this anniversary the current federal government released its Closing the Gap Implementation Plan, with $424 million in new money to address Indigenous disadvantage across areas such as housing, food, education and water infrastructure. It was also highlighted that a Voice to parliament is fundamental to making change. The federal government has acknowledged there has been an "enormous failure" in attempts to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Get Smarter, Not Tougher

On Wednesday 1 February 2023, QYHC joined the many community organisations that came together to advocate for Queensland parliament to #getsmarternottougher on youth crime.

We congratulate Peakcare and YAC for the organisation of this event and the media attention it generated. QYHC fully agrees with their notion that “Queensland deserves a bipartisan approach that keeps communities safe, holds young people accountable for their behaviours in ways that actually work, and recognises that accountability is not one-sided but shared.”

Find media reporting on the call to Get Smarter, Not Tougher, here and here.

Find open letter here and how to join the campaign here.

More Severe Punishments Introduced

The Queensland government will take the unprecedented step of overriding human rights laws to rush through harsher youth justice measures it admits will imprison more children, despite less-restrictive options being available. Read more here.

Last Chance to Sign Joint Letter
on Homelessness Cuts

Homelessness Australia is grateful for the enormous response to the joint letter calling for continued funding for homelessness services. 170 organisations have joined this call to action. Pending further meetings with Federal MPs the letter release has been delayed.

You now have until March 2nd 2023 to sign on!

You can read the joint letter here, and sign it here.
To find out more about the proposed cuts, read Homelessness Australia’s briefing paper here.

Homelessness Policy Forum:
Update on ERO Funding Cuts

The first in a regular series of Homelessness Australia policy briefings and discussions with the sector and people without homes to share and discuss responses to major policy developments. The first policy briefing and discussion focuses on the Federal Government's planned cuts to homelessness services.

Thursday 9 March, 12.30pm (AEDT). Register here.

Future policy briefings will explore the process and content of the Federal Government's National Housing and Homelessness Plan.

Calling the Federal Government to Action

The Federal Government is set to cut $65 million dollars' worth of funding to homelessness services.
Sign the petition to save housing and homelessness services here.
This $65 million funding was agreed to by The Federal Government in 2012 when the ASU’s historic Equal Pay victory won dramatic wage rises for community sector workers. The Union stopped the Liberals from cutting this funding twice while they were in Government and now we need to join together again and save Equal Pay once more. Let’s ensure these services are properly funded, valued and respected.
Why is this so important:

Housing and homelessness services are already struggling to respond to everyone in need. Every single day, hundreds are turned away. These critical services support people who are without a home or at risk of homelessness, including vulnerable young people and women and children escaping domestic and family violence. If the Federal Government goes ahead and slashes $65 million worth of funding, then critical services will be closed, jobs across Australia will be cut and people in need will have less avenues for housing and support.


In the midst of a national housing crisis Tell the Federal Government to pay their fair share.

Add your name now. P.S. Can you forward our petition to a friend or colleague? Let’s get the whole community to stand up for critical housing and homelessness services!
Youth Homelessness Matters Day (YHMD), our national day of action is 19th April this year. Whilst QYHC is busily preparing our Queensland campaign and poster, we’re also participating in our national campaign, focusing attention on the important call for a National Child and Youth Homelessness and Housing Strategy.
Sign the petition here. Find YHMD resources here.

Child Protection Act

On 21 May 2023, the second tranche of amendments to the Child Protection Act 1999 (Qld) will come into effect. Tranche 1 commenced in October 2022 and included streamlining the regulation of care, improving the operation of the Act and enabling information disclosure in additional circumstances.

The upcoming legislative changes aim to further reinforce children's rights; strengthen children's voices in decisions that affect them; improve how we work with First Nations children and families and streamline, clarify and improve the regulation of care.

Learn more about the amendments here.

Social Housing Wins

February saw several social housing wins:
  • Construction is complete at Brisbane’s newest social housing development in Windsor, with 80 tenants set to move in next month.
  • The Palaszczuk Government celebrated funding its 500th commencement by a community housing provider since July 2021, with a development at Kingaroy, in the South Burnett Region.
  • More social housing for residents on the Gold Coast, with the opening of a new seven-unit complex and construction commencing on a further 37 new homes.

Reforming Rent Assistance

Anglicare Australia has released 'Reforming Rent Assistance' noting rental stress is rife in spite of billions of dollars spent on Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

Of particular concern, two in three young people on rent assistance (60%) are in rental stress; Only one in ten young people on the JobSeeker payment is eligible for the payment (12%) and almost no rental vacancies are affordable for people who receive rent assistance.

The report was released at the same time as the latest numbers from the Productivity Commission, which show that the Government spends more than three times as much on rent assistance ($4.9 billion) than on social housing and homelessness services combined ($1.6 billion). Read the report here.

Impacts of COVID on Young Adults

One in four young Australians moved home during COVID restrictions. A report released by AIFS reveals the extent of social isolation and loneliness experienced by those in their early twenties and highlights the possible long-term health, social and economic implications of such severe disruptions.

Researchers say the report provides important insight into assessing how we can better support families - particularly as data continues to suggest that young adults are staying at home for longer for a myriad of reasons, including increasing cost of living pressures.
Read the report here.

Housing in the News

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Housing affordability is impacting the nation. With soaring house prices, rental hikes and a shortage of homes, it’s a national priority. It continues to be in the news more and more each month.

Read the following articles:

MOVING INTO MARCH

March 8th 2023 is #IWD2023

For International Women's Day and beyond, let's all fully #EmbraceEquity. Equity isn't just a nice-to-have, it's a must-have.

A focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society's DNA.

International Women's Day 2023's campaign theme aims to get the world talking about why "equal opportunities are no longer enough." Read more here.

March 20th is World Happiness Day

We can create a happier and kinder world together by adopting a simple, daily practice. There are three simple steps you can use anytime and anywhere to give yourself a boost and build your compassion for others: 1. Be Mindful. 2. Be Grateful. 3. Be Kind.
Read more here.

20th - 26th March 2023

Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.​

To participate, you can wear orange to show your support, or you can attend/host a Harmony Week event.

Read more here.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF

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Human Rights Training

The Queensland Human Rights Commission has a range of training sessions that can be provided both online and face-to-face. These sessions include:
  • Introduction to the Human Rights Act
  • Introduction to the Anti-discrimination Act
  • Human Rights Act for Community Advocates
Read more here.

Register Now

Registrations are now open for the QCYCN Improving safe transfers of care into an adult healthcare system: Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Transitions Workshop.

This in-person & virtual event will bring together professionals across Queensland to discuss opportunities to strengthen health transition pathways for young people 12 to 25 years old.

Register here.
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Upcoming Training

Introduction to the Nurtured Heart Approach: Two sessions are being run online on Tuesday 21 and 28 March; this webinar is for anyone living or working with intense children or young people – register here.
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Register for QShelter
Learning Exchange

You are invited to register for QShelter’s learning exchange. This series will be held online on the first Tuesday of every month – with the next one being on 7 March 2023.

A large portion of the social services workforce, including the housing and homelessness sector, are women. On the eve of International Women's Day join QShelter to discuss the gender pay gap, financial wellbeing and solutions to close the gap.

Register here.

CALLING FOR SUBMISSIONS

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Abstracts Now Open

The Call for Abstract submissions for the National Housing Conference 2023 – A Way Forward is now open.

The National Housing Conference (NHC23) is the largest cross-sectoral housing event in Australasia and this year will be the first time that the conference has been held in Brisbane since 2012.
Submissions are invited for abstracts that are aligned with the following major themes:
  • Community and wellbeing
  • Investment and supply
  • Innovation and collaboration
The Call for Abstracts will close on Sunday 5 March 2023.
Read more here.
Calling for contributions to the April 2023 “Towards a New Child and Youth Housing and Homelessness Plan” edition of Parity. The plan is to launch the edition on Youth Homelessness Matters Day on Wednesday April 19 2023. Contributions can be up to 1600 words and need to be submitted by Friday 17 March 2023. Read more here.

GRANTS/EVENTS

BCC Pathways Program Open

The Pathways out of Homelessness Grant Program provides funding to external organisations to bolster sector capacity, collaboration, and innovation in supporting Brisbane residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness to achieve sustainable tenancies.
Applications are now open and will close on 15 March 2023. Read more here.

Register Your Event Now!

April is fast approaching! Local councils, schools and youth organisations across the state are now well underway with planning for Queensland Youth Week celebrations.
The Queensland Youth Week website would like to help promote your events to young Queenslanders. To add your event to the online events calendar, complete the events registration form by Tuesday 28 March 2023.

INFORMATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

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QDN-Y Online Support Group is on!

Queensland Disability Network is inviting young people with a disability living in Queensland to participate in their QDN Y online peer support group. This support group will be held on the last Monday of the month from 3pm to 5pm on zoom – with the next group being held on 27 March 2023.

RSVP to QDN on 1300 363 783 or peersupport@qdn.org.au.
The Financial Information Service (FIS) provides free, independent and confidential education and information. FIS can help you make informed decisions about your finances and show you how finances and government services work together.

You can access information online or talk to a FIS officer about social security, tax, wages and salaries, superannuation, budgeting or credit, loans and debt. Read more here.

There are also financial webinars available. Find a recent webinar for young people on superannuation here.

Headspace LGBTIQA+ Resources

Check out Headspace’s new video series, Out-Spoken, where they talk sexuality, gender identity and everything in between with young people in the LGBTIQA+ community – here.

Join the QHeadspace community to discuss all things LGBTIQA+ and come along to weekly online chats on Tuesdays from 6:30m to 9:30m AEDT – here.
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Upcoming Nature Freedom Events

Nature Freedom is all about inclusion and creating positive and meaningful opportunities for participation in the natural environment. Their programs are designed with a focus on the lived experiences of young people with disabilities and/or mental health issues. Various events and activities are offered both indoors and outdoors in locations around Brisbane City, Moreton Bay and Logan. The programs are all about getting together to help each other experience the joys and benefits of being in nature.
Register for upcoming events here.

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN!

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The campaign to Raise the Rate for Good is key to reducing poverty and inequality in Australia. The goal of this campaign is to raise Australia’s social security safety net to keep people out of poverty.

QYHC is consistently reminding government that poverty is the main precursor to homelessness. Income support for young people that keeps them above the poverty line is essential. QYHC is a proud supporter of the Raise the Rate for Good campaign as this is key to reducing poverty and inequality in Australia. The goal of this campaign is to raise Australia’s social security safety net to keep people out of poverty. This requires an income of at least $70 a day. You can take action by signing up to the campaign to raise the rate to above the poverty line.

More information here
Six months ago, Raise the Rate for Good released an explosive report that showed that two thirds of people on income support were regularly skipping meals and almost all in private rental were experiencing rental stress.

Since the research was completed, the cost-of-living has increased. To ensure that there is consistent media coverage highlighting that people on income support are being hit hardest by this crisis, the research is being updated.

If you are receiving a Centrelink payment, please complete the survey here.
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Everybody’s Home is a national campaign to address the housing crisis. It focuses on working together to call on Australian governments to bring balance back to the system, so that everybody has a place to call home.

QYHC is consistently reminding government that everyone needs to be safely housed. QYHC is a proud supporter of the Everybody’s Home campaign as this is key to stopping young people being locked out of all housing options.

More information here

Call to Half Child poverty by 2030

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Poverty affects far too many Australian children and families, diminishing their lives now and in the future. As one of the wealthiest countries in the world, it’s just not right that 1 in 6 of our children grow up in poverty.

The campaign calls upon all politicians to commit to halve child poverty by 2030. QYHC is consistently reminding government and other stakeholders that childhood poverty is strongly connected to homelessness in later life and that if we work to prevent this, we change the course of a person’s life.
More information here.
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