Building and retaining an effective homelessness sector workforce

/in

Low remuneration, short term contracts and competitive funding models are resulting in experienced staff leaving the specialist homelessness services industry, new AHURI research warns.

The research, ‘Investigative Panel into building and retaining an effective homelessness sector workforce’, investigates what is needed to build a strong Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) sector workforce that will give people experiencing homelessness greater access to accommodation and ongoing support. The research was undertaken for AHURI by researchers from Curtin University, University of Sydney and University of Queensland.

The research identifies priorities for Government policy to improve the situation for workers, including reforming the way SHS funds are delivered by the states and territories.

Key Points

  • This project adopted an organisational psychology perspective to explore the effective workforce preparation, attraction, recruitment and sustainment strategies required to deliver a better developed and supported specialist homelessness services (SHS) sector workforce.
  • The work undertaken within the SHS sector is increasingly complex and places high demands on staff, presents challenges with respect to meeting the physical and psychological needs of staff, and has weak employer brand awareness. In combination, these pressures contribute to staffing shortages and worker retention issues. Meanwhile, the demands for these services are continuing to increase.
  • SHS agencies are aware of the challenges and have implemented a range of strategies to improve financial security, motivation and the recruitment of a skilled workforce. However, given the resource constraints these organisation.

Report

Read Investigative Panel into building and retaining an effective homelessness sector workforce.

You might also like
Everybody’s Home Pledge
Changed patterns of dwelling demand and supply
Research into funding of homelessness services
Australian Homelessness Monitor
Birdiya Maya Homelessness Research Project
Specialist homelessness services client pathways: analysis insights
© 2026 Shelter WA. All rights reserved. ABN 43 436 576 540. Shelter WA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their ongoing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to the Elders past and present and emerging. We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and our recognition and acceptance of your invitation to walk with you towards a movement of the Australian people for a better future.
Skip to content