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July 2025
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Young and Alone
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Youth Homelessness Matters Everyday
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The Young and Alone themed Campaign continues to be present on our airways and will be so until Homelessness Week. This is an impactful campaign aimed to increase community awareness of youth homelessness across Australia. The Property Industry Foundation (PIF) sponsored the Youth Homelessness Matters Day committee led by Yfoundations to create the campaign. PIF’s generosity, Yfoundation’s leadership and the $2.5 million in pro bono advertising expertise has led to a poignant campaign bringing the facts of youth homelessness and the associated trauma to the attention of the Australian public.
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You can watch the Young and Alone video below:
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This campaign remains important beyond Homelessness Week. Please continue to share it far and wide.
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You can access more details on the campaign here.
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Specialist Youth Homelessness Services can still sign up to receive donations.
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See our 'In the News' section at the bottom of the newsletter for a sample of the many recent news articles that Young and Alone and Yfoundations have featured in.
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Homelessness Week
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Alongside the Young and Alone Campaign continuing to air until Homelessness Week, the Youth Homelessness Matters Day committee will release its recommendations for a National Youth Homelessness Strategy.
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QYHC and Yfoundations presented a workshop - 'The case for ensuring youth homelessness as a national priority' - in preparation for the strategy at the recent Homelessness Australia Conference. Work has been underway since then in developing draft components of the strategy. This important undertaking intends to ensure national leadership overarching strategies in each state and territory focusing on the importance of prioritising evidence based youth homelessness responses for young people across Australia.
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In the meantime, you can sign the YFoundation petition for a child and youth homelessness strategy here.
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Homelessness Week is 4th to 10th August 2025.
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You can find the Homelessness Week Support Kit here. This can be used to help plan your own event, actions and materials.
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Don’t forget to load your events on to the Homelessness Week Events Page here.
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Join National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Australia (NATSIHA) and Homelessness Australia (HA) to launch Homelessness Week with a nationwide discussion on homelessness from the perspective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. All are welcome whether you're involved in housing, advocacy, policy, or community work.
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Online Monday 4th August 2025, 11am to 12:30pm. Register here.
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Have your say on social and affordable housing design in Queensland
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The Social Housing Design Guideline was published in 2021 after inviting Queenslanders to have their say on essential design elements in social housing. The guideline is currently being updated.
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It is important that the design of social and affordable housing supports and improves the lives of people with a diverse range of needs.
More information is available here.
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National NAIDOC Week celebrations were held from 6th to 13th July.
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2025 NAIDOC Week celebrated a significant milestone - 50 years of honouring and uplifting Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. This year’s theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy,” honours both the remarkable achievements of the past and the promise of the future. Youth organisations around Queensland were out in their communities celebrating.
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Ipswich Community Youth Service
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ICYS’s Lowood team had a fun time celebrating with other support services and the Laidley community by providing art activities, the chance for families to connect and a raffle.
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Mithangkaya Nguli YPA Indigenous Corporation
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Staff and young people from Mithangkaya Nguli YPA Indigenous Corporation joined hundreds of people at Mt Isa’s annual NAIDOC march. It was a great celebration of the connection within the community and showcased the strong First Nations people on Kalkadoon Nation.
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Roseberry Queensland
Roseberry gathered with their community on beautiful Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng and Taribelang Bunda country to march. People from across all generations walked in the sunshine, talked about what strength, vision and legacy means to them and felt connected to country and each other.
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YFS
YFS attended the NAIDOC 2025 Logan Family Fun Day, celebrating the next generation of First Nations young people with a vibrant day of culture, connection and creativity. The YFS crew made beaded bracelets and spoke with many community members about their strengths and the cultures which make them proud.
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Youth Advocacy Centre
The YAC team attended the Musgrave Park Family Fun Day to celebrate NAIDOC Week. They shared information about their free legal and social support services for young people in Queensland and chatted to the community about why it is essential to support the young people in our lives.
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Kalyan Youth Service
Staff and young people from Kalyan Youth Service manned a stall at the Mackay NAIDOC Family Fun Day. They shared information about their services and great fairy floss!
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TAIHS
The TAIHS team attended Townsville’s “Deadly Day Out” with over 100 community service stalls, live music, traditional dance and incredible energy. The team joined the community march to the event at Riverway and engaged with the community through their stall.
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Darumbal Community Youth Service and Girls Time Out
Staff from Darumbal Community Youth Service and Girls Time Out took part in the Rock NAIDOC March and Expo. This event brought the Rockhampton community together and included a Flag Raising Ceremony.
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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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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
- 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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Join BYS for Daggy Jumper Day on Wednesday 6 August. Businesses are invited to get daggy and raise vital funds for young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Find out more here.
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This important workshop is taking place on 28-29 August at Windsor Community Centre. Register here.
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Expressions of Interest are now open for young people aged 15 to 25 years to get involved in improving healthcare.
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- No experience is needed — just a willingness to share ideas and make a difference
- Remuneration: $50 per hour for meeting time and preparation
- Location: A mix of online and in-person meetings in the Metro South region
- Closing date for EOIs: 5pm, Sunday 10 August 2025
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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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Bright Futures National Symposium
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The Daniel Morcombe Foundation is holding a National Symposium on the Sunshine Coast -
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From neighbourhoods to devices: Contextual prevention in action
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For information on the Symposium, including the overview and presenters, please click here.
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Tickets are available 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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Neurodivergence Wellbeing Conference
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This conference honours the experiences of neurodivergent individuals and the professionals who support them, creating space for shared challenges, successes, and future progress. Register here.
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11th and 12th August 2025 on the Gold Coast.
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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. 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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Submissions have been called for regarding the complaints system, due 1st August 2025. 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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REPORTS, ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS
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State of the Housing System
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The 2025 State of the Housing System report highlights a worsening housing crisis in Australia, linking rising rental stress to mental health decline and homelessness. The National Housing Supply and Affordability Council urges immediate action, including increasing social housing to 10% of total housing stock. Read the report here.
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Rewriting the playbook
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What happens when healthcare teams up
with housing?
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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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When governments reshuffle, housing policy can suffer. Here’s how to keep housing policy on track
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While some Australian departments, such as Defence, have remained stable for a long time, responsibility for housing policy has often shifted between various departments across the federal and state governments. These changes lead to fragmented and fractured housing policy, despite strong and ongoing debates about housing policy.
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Understanding age of consent
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This guide outlines the legal age of consent across all Australian states and territories. It also addresses frequently asked questions to assist practitioners.
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Understanding and responding to parents of transgender and gender diverse young people
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Parents play a key protective role in reducing some of the health and wellbeing challenges commonly experienced by transgender and gender diverse young people. This article explores how parents navigate their child's identity and highlights the importance of parental support for the child's wellbeing. It also offers guidance for professionals working with families. You can read the article here.
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Out of Reach
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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.
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Rethinking Social Housing
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Rising living costs and rents in Australia are increasing demand for social housing, but supply isn’t keeping up. From 2016 to 2022, waitlists grew by over 26,000 households while fewer people gained access. New AHURI research urges both expanding and rethinking how social housing is provided, especially for vulnerable groups. Read the report here.
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The use of intimate partner violence among Australian men
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According to the Ten to Men survey, over 35% of Australian men aged 18–65 have engaged in intimate partner violence at some point in their lives. The study investigates contributing factors—such as the quality of father-son relationships—that may influence the likelihood of such behaviour. It recommends policies that promote integrated mental health care, foster social support networks, and support men in becoming positive, involved fathers. Read more 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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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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RESOURCES AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
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Dovetail’s Alcohol and Drugs
in Schools Guide
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Have you used Dovetail’s Best Practice Guide to Policy, Prevention and Planning for Alcohol and Other Drugs in Schools? It is currently being updated. Please take a few minutes to complete the short survey—feedback on what’s useful, what could be improved, and what additional resources might help schools respond more effectively to AOD issues is requested. Take the survey here. Find the guide here.
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On-demand webinar series
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From July to December register for one of AIFS’s on-demand replays and experience the full webinar at your own convenience. Find the schedule here.
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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. Services are available Australia-wide through telehealth, with discounted rates and flexible appointment times.
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Workshop calendar
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Insight’s Semester 2 training calendar offers various workshops, primarily held in Brisbane between July and September. Sessions will take place across Queensland for the remainder of the year.
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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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Language Matters
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The Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (NADA) has updated their popular resource “Language matters”. It advocates for the use of person-centred language that focuses on the person, not their substance use, as an effective way for workers to show respect for a person’s agency, dignity and worth. Access Language Matters here.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives on what works in social and emotional wellbeing programs - March, 2025
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Social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) is a holistic concept that is the foundation for mental and physical health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It recognises the importance of connection to Country, culture, spirituality and ancestry. This paper summarises the evidence on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s experiences of a range of diverse programs and looks at what the success factors were for participants in these programs. The paper provides some considerations for practitioners and other professionals.
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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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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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Good for Good Community Grants
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Eligible not-for-profit organisations in Queensland can apply for grants of up to $30,000 to fund community-focused projects that improve people's lives. The initiative supports practical programs that help individuals participate, connect, grow, learn, and feel safe. Apply here.
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Applications close 31 August 2025.
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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.
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Applications are accepted all year round.
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Find more information here.
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GCBF Funding Rounds 2025
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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Young and Alone Campaign news
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