Looking for a career that does more than pay the bills, but gives back to your community and has genuine impact? Right now, organisations across Queensland are working hard to support people experiencing unmet housing need and homelessness, and they're looking for skilled and passionate people like you.
HomeNow is your first step to discovering more about what our sector has to offer.
Work collaboratively within the Asylum Seeker & Refugee Assistance consortia and with other housing services to provide tenancy support for clients.
Key attributes: Solution-focused, flexible and analytical thinking. Passionate about providing assertive outreach and stakeholder collaboration.
New to the sector? Get FREE training online!
Get a head-start on your new career with free online training from HomeNow delivery partner Q Shelter. Gain a better understanding of the sector and enter the sector workforce armed with knowledge on terminology, key organisations and contributing factors to unmet housing need. You can even build towards a larger qualification in the future. Find out more by clicking on the banners below.
The Responding to Homelessness micro-credential has been developed in collaboration by TAFE Queensland, Q Shelter and its members, and is proudly funded and supported by the Queensland Government.
Stay in touch!
The HomeNow campaign is coming to an end in September, meaning this is the second-last HomeNow monthly newsletter you'll receive.
But, we'd love to keep you updated with what's happening in the housing and homelessness sector, including job vacancies, training opportunities and news from organisations across Queensland working towards every Queenslander having a home, through HomeNow delivery partner Q Shelter.
We invite you to subscribe to Q Shelter's mailing list to receive the fortnightly Home Matters and Events and Training newsletters, so you won't miss an opportunity.
Our HomeNow updates regularly feature a key role in the housing and homelessness sector, showcasing the variety of available career pathways.
This month, we look at roles in Social Work.
Being a social worker requires more than just professional training; it calls for qualities that can make a lasting impact in people’s lives, including:
Empathy
Cooperation
Being pro-active
Good communication skills
Critical thinking
Adaptability
Accountability
An advocate mindset
Resilience
Patience and understanding
Social workers are often the bridge between crisis and stability. In the housing and homelessness space, they walk alongside individuals and families, helping them navigate not only the immediate challenges of finding safe shelter but also the deeper structural barriers that contribute to homelessness. Their role is as diverse as the people they support, working across personal, family, and community levels to restore dignity, hope, and opportunity.
A degree or background in social work can lead to a whole range of different roles in the homeless and housing sector, work types and career paths, both on the frontline or in sector support roles:
Facilitating group programs and community development – creating safe spaces for people to connect, share experiences, and reduce isolation.
Delivering case management – developing housing plans and coordinating services such as mental health care, employment support, substance use programs, and trauma-informed care to build resilience.
Providing crisis accommodation support – assisting individuals or families already experiencing homelessness with immediate needs including shelter referrals, food access, and safety planning.
Advocating and engaging in rights-based work – standing beside people to challenge unfair systems, influence policy, and amplify their voices.
Responding in emergencies – connecting people with safe housing quickly while coordinating wrap-around supports to meet urgent needs.
Offering one-on-one counselling and casework – supporting individuals to recover, stabilise, and rebuild after crisis.
Building education and capacity – mentoring, training, and equipping communities and frontline workers to respond effectively to homelessness, while also addressing stigma and advocating for inclusive solutions.
At its core, social work is about standing with people when they need it most, offering both practical solutions and compassionate support. This combination makes the profession essential in supporting people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Source: AASW
Sound like a career that would suit you? The Australian Association of Social Workers website has a wealth of information, including study pathways and accredited courses. Ready to see where this career path could take you? Explore some of Queensland's housing and homelessness service providers on the HomeNow Opportunities page.
Several study pathways incorporate or require work placement as part of the qualification, with Social Work being just one of them. Third-year Bachelor of Social Work student Zara recently began a work placement in the sector, and chatted to us about her experience and how it's shaping her career goals.
What drew you to studying social work? I’ve always been passionate about helping people and making a real difference in their lives. What drew me to social work is its breadth and possibilities, there are so many ways to support people. If someone feels unseen or unheard, I want to be the person who shows up and stands with them.
Was homelessness and housing your area of interest in social work? I grew up differently to most, my parents run an organisation supporting people experiencing homelessness and substance use. Being surrounded by this work my whole life has shaped me deeply. With the housing crisis escalating, my passion is to stand alongside families and individuals who already have nothing and to create change from within the system.
Where are you doing your placement? How did you find out about it? Because of my frontline experience, I wanted a placement that matched my passion. When an opportunity came up for placement with a sector peak body, I was immediately drawn to it. After researching, I knew it was a meaningful organisation where I could grow my skills and contribute to important work.
What have you learned during your placement that surprised you? I’ve learned that frontline workers aren’t the only ones doing the hard yards. I’ve seen the vital role of advocacy, supporting organisations, influencing systems, and reforming outdated policies. Being in high-level forums has shown me that leaders genuinely care and want to drive positive change. It’s been powerful to witness collective conversations about barriers and solutions, and to see that real change happens one step at a time.
"Homelessness and housing is an incredible sector to be part of. It’s a space where you can be both an advocate and a voice for change, while also walking alongside people on their journey.
It challenges you, grows you, and reminds you why social work matters."
What’s the best thing about studying social work? The people. Everyone is there to create change and improve the lives of others. That sense of purpose translates into the values, kindness, and passion of both students and staff. The tutors and lecturers are committed to shaping the next generation of social workers in Queensland, and it shows.
What are the challenges? One of the biggest challenges is the stigma and bias surrounding homelessness. Many people hold prejudices that are simply untrue. People experiencing homelessness have often been through immense life challenges that shaped their circumstances. These harmful narratives only make the system harder to change, but they also fuel my determination to challenge them.
What advice would you give people considering a similar path? Do it! If you’re passionate about making a difference, if you care about people and want to help them succeed, then this is the path for you. Choose placements that align with your passions but also be open to new experiences. Build strong relationships and rapport with the people you meet, because these are the networks you’ll carry with you after graduation. Social work is tough, but it’s incredibly rewarding and so needed. You could be the person who lifts someone up when they’re at their lowest.
Provide a broad range of services to tenants and stakeholders including lease sign-ups, inspections, personalised tenancy plans, managing portfolios, collaborating with support services, and case management. Your focus will be to help people have a voice, be supported, and succeed in their tenancy.
Key attributes: Suitable for those with Real estate/Property Management or Social Work/Human Services backgrounds.
Video: First Nations peoples working in our sector
First Nations voices are creating meaningful change in Queensland's housing and homelessness sector. With deep cultural knowledge, strong community connections, and a unique understanding of Country, kin and identity, First Nations peoples bring valuable strengths to this work. When First Nations peoples are part of service delivery, design, and leadership, housing outcomes become more inclusive, respectful, and effective for everyone. In this video, real people from our workforce share their experiences working to help more Queenslanders find a place to call home.
The HomeNow campaign showcases rich and rewarding career pathways in Queensland's housing and homelessness sector, to attract dedicated, passionate and skilled people. The HomeNow website and project is delivered by Homelessness Queensland and Q Shelter under the Workforce Connect Fund. This project is funded through the Workforce Connect Fund, powered by the Queensland Government’s Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032.
HomeNow and the project delivery organisations do not manage and are not responsible for the content of any third-party websites linked on this email. For any specific opportunity enquiries, please contact the listed organisations directly.
HomeNow acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
