Independent review of homelessness responses in Queensland

Under the Homes for Queenslanders plan, the Queensland Government committed to an independent review of the response to homelessness in Queensland.

We have now commissioned this review, which is:

  • examining the way the Queensland Government and other support services currently respond to homelessness
  • assessing the effectiveness of the current response
  • identifying opportunities for improvement.

Rachel Hunter PSM is the independent reviewer and is consulting with key stakeholders, including people with lived experience of homelessness, communities, the homelessness sector, other sectors, peak bodies, government and industry.

Review update

The independent reviewer has provided initial findings in a review update: Independent review of the homelessness response in Queensland – review update June 2024 (PDF, 912.29 KB).

The review update:

  • summarises the approach that the reviewer has taken during the first phase
  • includes recommendations for short-term actions to improve homelessness responses ahead of longer term reforms.

The Queensland Government welcomes the review update and looks forward to working with stakeholders to implement the actions outlined in the Queensland Government response (PDF, 148.77 KB).

The reviewer will deliver the final report by January 2025.

Terms of reference

These are the terms of reference for the independent review of homelessness response in Queensland. You can also download a copy of the terms of reference (PDF, 93.5 KB).

Purpose of the review

  1. The purpose of the review is to provide a robust examination of homelessness responses in Queensland, including the Queensland Government’s responses to homelessness and the broader systemic factors affecting the incidence of homelessness, and to identify opportunities for improved outcomes for people at risk of, or experiencing homelessness through system and service reforms.
  2. The review is being conducted to ensure the Queensland Government’s response to homelessness aligns with the objective of working towards ending homelessness.

Terms of reference

  1. The review will inquire into and report on homelessness in Queensland. This includes analysing and assessing the efficacy of Queensland’s current response to homelessness and opportunities for improvement, including for people living in urban, rural, regional and remote Queensland and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
  2. For the purpose of the review efficacy will be measured by having regard to how efficient and effective the response is to homelessness.
  3. The review will inquire into and report on matters including:
    1. Prevalence and incidence of homelessness across Queensland’s diverse communities
    2. Risk and protective factors influencing the incidence of homelessness, including system factors and personal factors
    3. Opportunities for the prevention of homelessness, reducing the length of homelessness and breaking the cycle of recurrent homelessness, and early intervention for people at risk of homelessness
    4. The availability, accessibility and impact of services that support people who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness, including through specialist homelessness services and social housing for people experiencing homelessness with a specific focus on the following priority groups:
      1. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders
      2. Women and children
      3. People experiencing domestic and family violence
      4. Young people
      5. People with disability
      6. People with mental illness or health issues
      7. People aged 55 years and over
      8. People exiting care and other institutional settings
    5. How investment by the Queensland Government and other partners may be leveraged to prevent, reduce and respond to homelessness in Queensland, including partners across health and mental health, education, justice, community and human services and infrastructure, community development, arts and culture.
    6. Governance and funding arrangements for homelessness responses.
    7. How investment by the Queensland Government, Australian Government and other partners may deliver tangible actions to give effect to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap’s Priority Reforms outcomes and targets.
    8. Best practice approaches in Queensland, across Australia and overseas for preventing and responding to homelessness including, where possible, analysis of the relative costs and benefits and balance of these interventions and approaches, innovative service models, outcomes measurement frameworks, data collection and ongoing monitoring.

Commencement date

  1. The review commenced on 21 March 2024.

Reporting arrangements

  1. The independent reviewer will provide their Final Report to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Public Works within 10 months of the review commencement date.
  2. Interim findings may be provided to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Public Works at the reviewer’s discretion.
  3. Public release of the report will follow Government consideration of the Final Report.

Consultation

  1. The independent reviewer will consult with individuals, including those who have or are experiencing homelessness, communities, the homelessness sector, other sectors, peak bodies, government and industry as appropriate to inform the review.
  2. The type and format of consultation should reflect the need to consult directly with the priority groups listed in paragraph 5(d) of these terms of reference and will be at the reviewer’s discretion.