Agenda

Day One | Tuesday | 26 May

Registration open – light breakfast provided

7.45 Welcome to Country

8.40 Chairperson introduction

8.50

Join Stephen Simpson, CEO Homelessness QLD, as he opens the conference with reflections on this year’s theme, advancing change through prevention, partnerships and practice.

Stephen Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, Homelessness Queensland

Policy to Practice

Government address

9:00

Exploring the tangible progress made since the government’s landmark funding commitment to specialist homelessness services in Queensland and a reflection of where we go from here.

The Hon. Samuel O’Connor MP, Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Youth, Queensland Government

Keynote: Building community-controlled pathways: First Nations leadership in homelessness

9.20

How the Queensland First Nations Housing & Homelessness Partnership shares authority with government and embeds Closing the Gap Priority Reforms in practice
How we are building sector capability and co-designing reforms with communities and government
Scaling culturally led Housing First, tenancy sustainment, and home-ownership pathways

Neil Willmett, Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Queensland

Housing and Homelessness Perspectives in Queensland

9.50

How the record 2025–29 uplift for specialist homelessness services translates locally
Transitioning to multi-year, outcomes-based funding
Building a more connected system through single front door, shared data, and integrated supports with housing

Mark Cridland, Director-General, QLD Department of Housing and Public Works

Morning tea

10.20 Creating Impact with System Reform

Australia’s national directions in housing and homelessness reform

10.50

The need for targeted prevention at scale
Backing a First Nations-led housing and homelessness plan
Closing the service gap and strengthening the safety net

Kate Colvin, Chief Executive Officer, Homelessness Australia

Roadz Of Life

11.15

Join Michael Houston as he takes you on his journey of recovery and healing and explores the intersection within social services including disabilities, mental health, AOD, homelessness, family and youth. Journaling the recovery from his severe disability on camera, he inadvertently created the documentary 'Roadz Of Life', also interviewing strangers experiencing extreme life circumstances, giving a voice to those who are often left out of the conversation.

Michael Houston, Founder, Roadz Of Life

Concurrent sessions

11.50

*Attendees can move between the sessions in the following streams*

Prevention in Practice

Case study: Tenancy Skills Institute

11.55

Exploring tenancies at risk and the importance of building positive and purposeful relationships with property manager in the real-estate industry

Paul Tommasini, Chief Executive Officer, InCommunity

Bridging Systems

12.20

Collaborative pathways to prevent youth homelessness and incarceration

Lauren Ivanyi, Executive Director, Disability Housing Solutions

For the Love of Good

12.45

Leading community engagement for at-risk tenants

Jayden Battey, Co-Founder, For the Love of Good; National Engagement Manager, Baptist World Aid Australia

Mikyla Battey, Co-Founder, For the Love of Good; Head of Tenant Services, Victorian housing provider, Servants Community Housing

Partnerships that Work

11.55 Shaping our Future

Building the roadmap for CHP growth and Sustainability

Julie Saunders, Chief Executive Officer, CHIA QLD

12.20 The Bridges We Cross

Multi-sector collaboration for a veteran homelessness response

Jonathan Dyer, Veteran Support Team, The Salvation Army

12.45 From Collaboration to Keys

Supporting First Nations home ownership

Jenny Pepper, Senior Manager Business Development, Home Ownership, Indigenous Business Australia

System Reform

11.55 Bridging Shelter, Housing, and Health

Ensuring continuity of care rather than silos

Frances Cieslak, National Head of Partnerships and Service Innovation, One Bridge

12.20 Advancing Zero in Regional Queensland

Bringing a proven methodology to an unproven setting

Fabian Webber, CQ Zero Community Lead, Roseberry QLD

Hayley Starr, CQ Zero Service Coordinator, Roseberry QLD

12.45 South Australian Homelessness Outcomes Framework

Lauren Moulds, Director Homelessness Systems and Partnerships, South Australian Homelessness Outcomes Framework, Department of Human Services

Rob Smart, Senior Project Officer, Systems and Partnerships, Department of Human Services

1.10 Lunch

Person Centred Service Design

2.10 Lived Experience/expertise responses: Opportunities, early identification and intervention, with us, not without us

Practical insights to strengthen early identification in frontline practice
A clearer understanding of how to engage people earlier with dignity
A reminder that effective prevention must be designed with people, not without them

Marty Wright, AOD Outreach Worker, QuIHN

Duncan Bainbridge, Progressive Communications and Social Impact Professional

Katie Shields, Lived and Living Experience Leader, Project Officer, Connector, Impact Network

2.45 A systems change approach: Prevention, intervention, supported housing pathways

Developing a framework for the systematic change
Coordinated system-building across communities
Early learnings from developing a shared reform roadmap

David McKenzie, Chief Executive Officer, Upstream Australia

Evidence Based Principles and Practice

3.20 Transforming correctional approaches: What we’re learning in Queensland

Breaking intergenerational cycles of disadvantage with trauma informed practice
Developing an evidence based holistic system of practice
Continuity of therapeutic care for mothers exiting correctional facilities

Susan Dennison, Professor of Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University

3.55 Afternoon tea

4.25 International Keynote: Housing first, adopting principles that create tangible outcomes – supported by inCommunity

Join Anke Jansen, a thought leader in housing first principles, as she unpacks the tangible changes housing first can make and the lessons learned in the Nederland.

Anke Jansen, Chief Executive Officer, Housing First Nederland

5.10 Chairperson closing comments

5.15 Networking reception and entertainment: Unwind with food, drinks and entertainment as you continue to connect with your peers in a more relaxed setting.

Day 2

Day Two | Wednesday | 27 May

8.30 Registration open – light breakfast provided

9.00 Chairperson opening address

Begin the day with reflections on the learnings from day one and ground yourself ready for another day of expert insights you can take back to your organisations and communities.

Stephen Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, Homelessness Queensland

Social Determinants of Homelessness

9.10 Opening Keynote: System change and prevention through addressing social determinants of homelessness

How QCOSS and partners are shaping a new peak body to strengthen the DFV sector
integrating services, and advocating for systemic reform that keeps people safely housed
Looking at homelessness from a human rights perspective

Aimee McVeigh, Chief Executive Officer, Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS)

9.40 Pathways to safety: Responding to domestic and family violence through housing

Establishing community housing providers to build and operate affordable housing for women and gender diverse people
Addressing the stark correlation between domestic and family violence and homelessness
Working with families and children to support positive family functioning in the home

Kate Whittle, Executive General Manager of Advocacy and External Affairs, YWCA Australia

Shaping the Future to End Homelessness

10.05 QLD road map: From crisis to prevention

Learnings from a co-designed model that shifts housing responses from reactive to proactive.

Stephen Hawkins, Head; Strategy, Systems and Project Delivery, Homelessness QLD

Dr Tammy Hand, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Upstream Australia

10.45 Morning tea

11.15 Concurrent Sessions

The Intersection of Homelessness and Family and Domestic Violence

11.15 Housing Connectors

How upskilling and funding the DFV sector enables impactful housing outcomes

11.35 Developing Supports for Homelessness Services Working at the Intersection of DFV

Dr Rebecca Wilcoxson, Psychology Lecturer, CQUniversity

Mandy Thompson, General Manager, Family Emergency Accommodation Townsville; Learning and Development Practice Lead, Homelessness QLD

11.55 Domestic and Family Violence Women’s Centre

Exploring how the DFV women’s shelter is offering fundamental safety for women

Karyn Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, Micah Projects

Early Intervention Supports to Address Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing

11.15 From Plan to Place

Delivering accommodation through collaboration with State Government

Suzanne Caren, General Manager Youth, Wellbeing and Accommodation, Mercy Care

Kirsty McGeachy, Manager Tenancy and Accommodation, Mercy Care

11.35 Health at the Table

Building a better system through integration, prevention and partnerships

Jodi Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Wheels of Wellness

11.55 Working Collaboratively Exploring Health and Flexible Engagement

Jocelyn Harrison, Community Development Specialist, Homelessness -

Social and Community Mission, The Salvation Army

Giang Nguyen, Team Leader, Brisbane City Women’s Homelessness Services

Janet Maher, Area Manager, Homelessness Programs – South East Queensland, Mission Australia

Rebecca Wilson, Area Manager, Buranda Housing Service Centre

Jade Kozionas, Sustaining Tenancies Coordinator, Street to Home, Micah Projects

Rowena Mooney, Program Support Coordinator, Churches of Christ

Fostering Identity and Belonging

Veterans: Homeless Because of Service

11.15

Exploring the complexity of Veteran housing issues

Robert Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Veteran Housing Australia

Culturally Informed Solutions to Address Homelessness in Aboriginal Communities

11.35

Advocating for self-determined solutions and genuine partnerships

Alisi Tutuila, Chairperson, Aboriginal Housing Company

Veteran and Family Homelessness

11.55

How Veteran homelessness is more than an individual issue

Martin Shaw, Veteran Advocate, Wounded Heroes Australia

12.20 In conversation: Data with dignity: How measured outcomes can shape real change

The importance of program measurement and reporting frameworks
Balancing evidence-based decision making with measured innovation
‘Advance to Zero’ using real time data to drive targeted reductions in homelessness

Moderator: Stephen Hawkins, Head; Strategy, Systems and Project Delivery, Homelessness QLD

Shane Frost, Service Integration Facilitator, Encircle Community Services

Fabian Webber, CQ Zero Community Lead, Roseberry QLD

1.05 Lunch

2.00 Concurrent Breakout Discussions

Breakout 1: Cross-sector partnerships: Shared systems of care to address homelessness: Cross-sectoral partnerships are fundamental in addressing homelessness. This discussion will explore how partnerships function not simply as referral mechanisms, but as shared systems of care that provide continuity that is achieved and sustained through the recognition that housing, health and social inclusion are fundamentally interconnected. This session will encourage discussion around the role of trust, continuity, and co-location in enabling early intervention, sustaining tenancies, and supporting people to navigate fragmented systems. Join us for this breakout discussion to share insights and explore what works and what doesn’t and what we can learn from each other to build sustainable change.

Facilitator: Frances Cieslak, National Head of Partnerships and Service Innovation, One Bridge

Breakout 2: Practice Innovation: Exploring new models and tools for connected outcomes-focused practice

Facilitators:

Shane Frost, Service Integration Facilitator, Encircle Community Services

Dean Cotter, Housing Sustainment Coordinator, Encircle Community Services

Melanie Tettey, Intake & Allocation Lead- Homestay, Encircle Community Services

Breakout 3: Innovative Ways to Deliver More Homes for the Most Vulnerable: A unique housing model which brings the property and construction industry together in a collaborative way to build more homes for homeless youth.

Facilitator: Antoinette Rusby-Perera, QLD State Manager for Homelessness Youth, Property Industry Foundation

Breakout 4: Advance to Zero: This interactive session explores the Advance to Zero methodology and how communities can use real-time data to drive coordinated, measurable reductions in homelessness.

Facilitator: Taylor Grills, AtoZ Practice and Improvement Lead , Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (AAEH)

3.05 Afternoon Tea

Raising our Voices: Changemakers in Action

3.20 Homes that End Homelessness

Join Sue Pope, Common Ground Queensland, to discuss supportive housing - the principles, practice & pathways for Regional Queensland.

Sue Pope, Chief Executive Officer, Common Ground Queensland

3.55 Panel: Where we are and where we need to be: Learning from our lived experience leaders

Join this critical discussion with lived experience leaders as they address system change, prevention and best practice. Gain insight from people who have experienced the system and know what works well and what is missing to get Australia on track to eliminate homelessness.

Moderator: Stephen Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, Homelessness Queensland

Duncan Bainbridge, Progressive Communications and Social Impact Professional

Katie Shields, Lived and Living Experience Leader, Project Officer, Connector, Impact Network

4.40 Chairperson closing comments

4.50 End of conference

Day 1

Workshop Agenda

Agenda

​

​

Day One | Tuesday | 26 May

Registration open – light breakfast provided

7.45

​

Welcome to Country

8.40

​

Chairperson introduction

8.50

​

​

​

Policy to Practice

Government address

9:00

​

Keynote: Building community-controlled pathways: First Nations leadership in homelessness

9.20

​

Housing and Homelessness Perspectives in Queensland

9.50

​

Morning tea

10.20

​

​

​

Creating Impact with System Reform

Australia’s national directions in housing and homelessness reform

10.50

​

Roadz Of Life

11.15

​

Concurrent sessions

11.50

​

​

​

​

Prevention in Practice

​

​

​

Case study: Tenancy Skills Institute

11.55

​

Bridging Systems

12.20

​

For the Love of Good

12.45

​

1.10

Lunch

Person Centred Service Design

​

​

​

2.10

Lived Experience/expertise responses: Opportunities, early identification and intervention, with us, not without us

​

2.45

A systems change approach: Prevention, intervention, supported housing pathways

Evidence Based Principles and Practice

​

​

​

3.20

Transforming correctional approaches: What we’re learning in Queensland

​

3.55

Afternoon tea

​

4.25

International Keynote: Housing first, adopting principles that create tangible outcomes – supported by inCommunity

​