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March 2025
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Youth Homelessness Matters Day (YHMD) 16th April 25
The youth homelessness campaign event of the year!
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QYHC is a proud member of the National Youth Homelessness Matters Day (YHMD) Committee and Campaign. A day to highlight what we all know - youth homelessness matters every day!
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With Yfoundations at the helm and the very generous sponsorship of Property Industry Foundation (PIF), 2025 is set to be our best campaign yet! YHMD 2025 is a national 2-part campaign that will raise awareness around the issue of youth homelessness and help services raise much needed funds.
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The Activation phase will include:
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- A preliminary campaign kit to help you start planning and promoting events, the issue and the day.
- Updated social media tiles and posters for events
- Further assets to promote the day and events you’re running for YHMD including email signatures, social media banners, tiles and ads will be distributed
- For organisations who sign up for donations – you’ll feature on a donation platform on Yfoundations’ website
- Merchandise is also available for purchase here
The Awareness phase – is a $2.5 million pro bono advertising campaign, running across all states, to raise awareness of youth homelessness with the Australian public and drive donations to support the sector. We are urging the public to donate an hour of pay to fight youth homelessness. This will start closer to the day and will run beyond YHMD, including:
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- TV advertising
- Radio
- Social Media
- Print
- Outdoor
- Cinema
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Young and Alone is the theme for the Awareness campaign – it leverages the popularity of survival reality TV and draws on the lived experiences of Yfoundation’s Youth Homelessness Representative Council (YHRC) to show the plight of 43,000 children and young people presenting alone to SHS each year.
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The campaign will drive the public to a centralised YHMD fundraising page on Yfoundations’ website where they can choose any registered organisation to donate to. By registering and appearing on this page, your organisation will feature on the destination website of a $2.5million advertising campaign. Your organisation will have its own tile on the fundraising landing page that will include your logo and description of your organisation and link to:
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- Your own fundraising page on Yfoundations’ site
- A QR code so you can easily promote this page
- You can feature your fundraising events on your page
- Yfoundations will also promote your events via social media
This as an excellent opportunity for the sector to raise funds and awareness.
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The factsheet is here. The campaign kit is here. Access YHMD resources here.
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Queensland's Homelessness Ministerial Advisory Council
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Our Minister for Housing and Youth, Hon Sam O’Connor announced the establishment of the Homelessness Ministerial Advisory Council on Friday. This is an important initiative designed to bring together leaders from across government, councils, housing, health, and community sectors. It will aim to better target crisis response and drive sustainable, long-term solutions to homelessness. QYHC looks forward to meeting with Minister O’Connor and our colleagues next month.
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“The Homelessness Ministerial Advisory Council is about getting everyone at the table regularly – not just to talk, but to deliver action.
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“It will help us deliver practical solutions which work on the ground and ensure we’re co-ordinating our response to homelessness with both urgency and compassion.” Minister O’Connor said.
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The Minister also spoke of government’s partnership with Community Housing Limited and ANZ, offering “an effective and financially sustainable model to deliver desperately needed housing, with 156 dwellings already underway”.
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“This project has brought together Government, community housing providers and the banking sector to set a framework for future projects that will allow us to deliver social and affordable housing where it’s needed most. This is part of our target to deliver 1 million more homes, including 53,500 social homes, by 2044" said Minister O’Connor.
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Upcoming Federal Election May 3rd
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With the Federal Election on May 3rd, now is the time to lobby your local MPs and ask our political parties to put youth homelessness firmly on the agenda by ensuring dedicated funding for housing and support for young people experiencing homelessness.
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There’s plenty of opportunity to join in election lobbying: Home Time and Everybody’s Home are great campaigns.
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Home Time is supported by a national coalition of services, peak bodies and experts. including QYHC.
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Home Time are calling on all parties and candidates to commit to action for children and young people alone with nowhere to live. The next government has a chance to include young people in their housing policies. Home Time calls on all parties to:
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- Create 15,000 dedicated housing units for young people.
- Offer support services to help their independence.
- Remove the Youth Housing Penalty blocking access to social housing.
Keep young people on the federal agenda! As part of the Platform launch, Home Time supporters were encouraged to send a message to their local candidates. So far 2,000 emails have been sent to candidates and the campaign is still ongoing. Take action and share the action link with your networks and on social media to help amplify the voices of homeless young people during this election.
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Everybody’s Home is calling on all politicians, parties and candidates to:
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- Scrap unfair tax handouts for investors
- Build more social housing
- Ensure real protections for renters
- Raise Centrelink payments
These reforms are not only crucial, they are backed by voters too.
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This election is predicted to be incredibly close, with minor parties and independents set to play a pivotal role. That’s why it's essential for your candidates to hear from you.
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We are at a critical moment - this election will determine the future of housing in this country.
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Together we can ensure the next parliament delivers housing that is fair, decent and affordable for everyone.
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2025 Federal budget
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The Government is providing $9.3 billion to states and territories to help maintain and repair social housing. This includes the doubling of funding for homelessness services to around $400 million a year. This Budget also provides $6.2 million for peak bodies to undertake homelessness research, advocacy and coordination.
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Federal Housing and Homelessness
March 6 saw the Federal government announce more support to tackle homelessness and assist Australians in housing distress. They progressed their plan to offer additional support to homelessness with a focus on women and children escaping domestic violence and young people at risk of homelessness.
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Housing Australia launched the NHIF Crisis and Transitional Housing Program, a $1 billion program to provide more crisis and transitional accommodation for women and children fleeing family and domestic violence and for young people. Read more here.
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Queensland Youth Week
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Get Crafty at Visible Ink!
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Join us for a fun and creative day at our FREE Youth Week event for ages 12-25. Let your imagination run wild as we provide all the materials you need to get crafty and express yourself. We'll have:
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- T-shirt, friendship bracelet & tote bag making
- Mandala colouring
- Chill out zone
- Free food and merch
Come hang out with other young creatives and make some new friends while you unleash your artistic side. See you there!
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Location: Visible Ink Youth Hub
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Moreton Bay Online Song Competition
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Celebrate Youth Week by showcasing your talent in the Online Song Competition for a chance to win exciting prizes! Open to young artists aged 12 to 25 living in Moreton Bay, this competition is your stage to shine. Choose from three categories:
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- Best original song - share your own lyrics and melody.
- Best cover song - show off your voice and musicality.
- Best rap song - drop your best bars (we can even supply the beats!).
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You can enter one, two or all three categories. Winners will share in a $1,000 prize pool to spend at local music stores. You can send in your entry between 6 and 12 April 2025.
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More information can be found here.
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Check out some Youth Week events happening below!
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24/7 Intake Immediate Supported Accommodation sites are an exciting addition to Specialist Youth Homelessness Service responses!
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As a part of Towards Ending Homelessness for Young Queenslanders 2022-2027, 5 Immediate Supported Accommodation (ISA) services were funded to enhance service delivery and address regional needs. The funding enables:
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- 24/7 on-site support with two workers available during peak service times.
- 24/7 intake services for improved accessibility.
- Increased capacity to support young people with multiple and/or diverse needs.
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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) 5438 3000
- 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
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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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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
- People who need housing help can go to qld.gov.au/housinghelp, call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or the Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753.  
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Youth Housing Essentials supports young people (25 and under), who are transitioning from government services. It offers short-term, practical, tailored brokerage assistance of up to $5,000 per household to address their essential housing needs.
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It provides access to essential goods and services that are necessary for securing and maintaining housing, such as:
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- furniture, fridge, washing machine and other essential home items
- education or work necessities, such as school stationery and work clothing
- transport and moving costs, such as vehicle registration, Go Cards, removalists and identification
- mobile phone and prepaid phone credit.
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To access Youth Housing Essentials, a young person must be supported by a service provider, support agency or Housing Service Centre – young people are not able to apply for the funding without support.
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Youth Housing essentials can be used in conjunction with other departmental products and services. As an organisation, supporting eligible young people, you can apply for this assistance on behalf of any young people you support who are transitioning from services, such as:
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- living in care (child safety)
- youth justice
- corrections
- temporary supported accommodation
- youth foyers.
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Homelessness Australia Conference on the Gold Coast
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Researchers, government and non-government organisations, policy makers and young people from around Australia will join in sharing research, policy and practice wisdom, including many informative sessions for the youth sector. The conference is 17th and 18th June. Read more here.
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Logan’s new Youth Centre
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Logan's first dedicated youth space, the Wilbur Street Youth Centre, is open for business with a huge array of activities for young people. With Rekon Youth at the helm, this Council-owned facility is located next to the Logan Central Library.
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The centre features a range of spaces including a 'hang-out' zone, indoor multi-purpose court, quiet room, rehearsal studio, dedicated First Nations space, creative maker space, technology space, commercial kitchen, laundry, and other amenities.
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REPORTS, ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS
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Priced Out - An Index of Affordable Rentals for Australian Voters
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The third issue of Priced Out explores how individuals earning between $40,000 and $130,000 are impacted by rising rents in both regional areas and capital cities.
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The report reveals that rental stress is no longer limited to lower-income earners; it's now affecting professionals, essential workers, and middle-income families who are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing rents. Read more here.
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The Right to Housing in Australia
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This report begins with the premise that housing provides and protects some of our most fundamental human needs. Too many Australians live in unsafe or insecure housing. Violence in the home is the number one reason for homelessness for women and children.
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The report notes the necessity to enshrine a right to housing as a human right in Australian law. Recognising a right to housing acknowledges and protects the importance of housing to safety, dignity, privacy and autonomy. It recognises housing’s role in providing the material goods that make these things possible, and its inclusion in our laws can lead to a fairer and more equal Australia now and into the future. Read more here here.
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First Nation’s Housing Crisis
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This research provides the first comprehensive review of First Nations housing governance, resources and regulation in Australia, and an up-to-date assessment of their unmet housing needs. Read more here.
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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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Movement to regional Australia is a long term trend - and it’s not the people you thought who are moving
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According to new research, since 2007, every year except one has seen more people leave Australia's state and territory capitals for regional or rural areas than move in. This research explores factors that drive population changes and movement between urban and regional areas, while also looking at ways to predict and support local growth. Read more here.
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Specialist homelessness services annual report 2023-2024
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The Specialist Homelessness Services Annual Report outlines the key characteristics of clients receiving support in 2023–24, detailing the services they sought, the outcomes achieved, and any unmet service requests.
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As of March 2025, a new report has been introduced focusing on clients who are employed while also accessing specialist homelessness services.
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This survey reveals the significant pressure the housing crisis is placing on frontline service providers and their clients. Across various sectors -homelessness, domestic violence, financial counselling, and emergency relief - organisations are facing unprecedented demand, with 98% reporting higher workloads over the past year. Soaring rental prices, insufficient income support, and a shortage of affordable housing have combined to push more Australians into housing distress, overwhelming service providers. Read more, including recommendations to alleviate the pressure here.
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Homes for living not wealth creation
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ACOSS is calling for reforms to negative gearing and the 50% capital gains tax discount, with the funds directed to social and affordable housing. This report reveals that the wealthiest 10% own most investment property, and that these policies have driven higher home prices, worsening the housing affordability crisis. Read more here.
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Queensland drug trends: 2024
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The Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) is a national monitoring program that has been conducted annually since 2000 as part of Drug Trends. It gathers data from people who inject drugs (PWID) across major Australian cities, analysing trends related to illicit drug use. The 2024 IDRS report presents the latest findings from interviews conducted with regular drug injectors in Brisbane/Gold Coast, Queensland, covering data from 2000 to 2024. Read more here.
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Is your organisation Child Safe?
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Every child has the right to feel and be safe at all times. Safety requires active effort. The implementation of child safe standards is happening across Queensland – dates are highlighted in the image. Find out more here.
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Accessible Pathways Home Project - tender now open
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The Accessible Pathways Home Project tender is for $5,499,143 (GST inclusive) over three years, for the successful supplier to establish the service and provide tailored, person-centred support, information, referral and capacity building for people with disability, their supporters, and the social, community, housing and homelessness service sectors.
Through Pathways Home, Disability Housing Pathway Navigators will work directly with individuals and their support networks to explore suitable housing options, develop personalised housing pathway plans, and connect them with appropriate supports and services to achieve their housing goals.
The service will also provide peer worker support, outreach and mobile support as required.
Read more here.
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For more information and to submit an offer to deliver the Accessible Pathways Home Project, click here.
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GCBF Funding Rounds Announced!
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In 2025, the Gambling Community Benefit Fund will have 3 funding rounds (2 are still available):
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- Round 124: $100,000 Super Round - opening mid-May and closing 30 June
- Round 125: $35,000 Standard Grant - opening mid-September and closing 31 October
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Child Safeguarding Grants Program: Apply Now!
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The Child Safeguarding Grants Program is now accepting applications.
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This program offers grants to support organisations in meeting the requirements of the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024. The funding will help eligible applicants enhance their ability to implement the Child Safe Standards and Universal Principle.
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There are three grant categories available and applicants can only submit one application:
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Learn more about the application process here.
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RESOURCES AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
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Young People and Drugs - Resources, Webinars and Training
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Dovetail’s resources to support those working with young people using alcohol and other drugs are great! Check out the toolkit here.
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Upcoming webinar - GHB: Euphoria to emergency
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Associate Professor Katherine Isoardi is an emergency physician and clinical toxicologist based at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and the Medical Director for the Queensland Poisons Information Centre. The webinar is on Wednesday 2 April at 10am (Queensland time). You can add it to your calendar or sign in on the day here.
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Amplifying the voices of people with disability
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Explore resources that promote the inclusion of people with disability and how practitioners can reinforce their voices.
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Talking about 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.
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Student workshops, Staff PD and Parent Webinars are available. Find more here.
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Updated eLearning:
An introduction to working with young people and drugs
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Dovetail has launched an updated 45-minute eLearning module, "An introduction to working with young people and drugs" aimed at workers engaging one-on-one with young people. It covers the context of young people and AOD use, identifying problematic use, effective communication, and response strategies, along with resources for enhanced interventions and treatment referrals.
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There’s also online courses to do:
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Self-paced online modules covering introductory to advanced level content are available here.
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Recent research such as this important study is also available on the Dovetail site here.
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Spotlight on resources for working with CALD young people and families for Harmony Day:
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Working with CALD populations - this course helps workers reflect on how culture influences views on substance use and treatment, while offering practical tools and strategies for effectively engaging with diverse communities – access here.
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Understanding children’s mental health in culturally diverse communities - Examines the principles of culturally responsive and inclusive practices, especially in situations where there is no common language or cultural understanding – access here.
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Culturally responsive practice strategies for children’s mental health - this practice-based course introduces five essential skills for working with CALD children and families and emphasises a curious, collaborative approach to foster respectful, culturally-informed care – access here.
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Alcohol treatment in Australia: Client characteristics and patterns of service use - the report analyses the use of alcohol and other drug services, focusing on clients who received non-recurring, recurring, or intensive treatment for alcohol or alcohol combined with another primary drug. The findings offer key insights for AOD service planning and policy development – access here.
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Nicotine Exposure from Smoking Tobacco and Vaping Amongst Adolescents – investigates how nicotine exposure varies among adolescents who vape, smoke, both vape and smoke, or neither – access 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. 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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OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
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There’s many services available at Indooroopilly Headspace:
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- A dietician can help with meal planning and fostering a positive relationship with food – find poster here.
- Alcohol and Drugs Counselling provided by Clarence Street and helps with making positive changes to drug and alcohol use – find poster here.
- Dungeons and Dragons, all players are welcome to join an original campaign created by experienced masters – find poster here.
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Visible Ink Youth Hub has the following available for young people aged 12-15 years:
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- Sound Sessions – this includes open mic nights, jam sessions media studio inductions – find poster here.
- Art Sessions – exploring visual arts skills in a relaxed environment – find poster here.
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Take it to the Streets is a free sports program for 13 to 18 year olds being offered in various locations on the north side of Brisbane. Sign up for your chance to play basketball, soccer, pickle ball and more! Info here.
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