Are you looking to combine your skills and experience with your passion for social justice and creating better communities across Queensland? A career in the housing and homelessness sector is calling your name!

Ending homelessness requires a team effort, and we need people from all backgrounds and experiences with diverse skills to join us. 

You might have amazing problem-solving and people skills, which are great for roles in frontline homelessness response services. Or you might prefer to work behind the scenes, using your strategic and organisational talents in governance or administration roles. Everyone has a part to play in Queensland's housing and homelessness sector.

HomeNow is your first step to discovering everything our dynamic sector has to offer with careers that help improve our communities.

Role opportunity: Client Housing Worker

Mangrove Housing

Full-time, Permanent. Beenleigh.

Undertake a range of tenancy support, community assistance referral and property management activities to support and facilitate sustainable tenancies for clients.

Key attributes: Works collaboratively, demonstrates empathy and resilience, and contributes positively to supportive workplace culture. Prior community housing, crisis support, and/or community support services experience will be highly regarded.

New to the sector? FREE training launching soon! 

HomeNow project partner Q Shelter, in collaboration with the Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works, will soon be launching new FREE online training specifically for new workers in the housing and homelessness sector.

This at-your-own-pace training aims to increase understanding of the housing and homelessness sector, including key influences on unmet housing need and homelessness. If you're new to the sector or looking for a career in homelessness and housing, it's a great way to boost your knowledge and understanding. 

The Sector Orientation Training will be launching soon in early April on the Q ShelterLearn website - where you can also find other at-your-own-pace training modules relevant to the sector. Keep an eye out for updates! 

Role spotlight: Communications and Marketing

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 Communication and Marketing roles - a space that thrives on creativity, adaptability, clarity and a passion for storytelling.

Careers in the marketing and communications space can take you just about anywhere, and require skills that are highly sought-after in the housing and homelessness sector. It's a great area if you are passionate about social justice and making a difference for vulnerable communities, but you prefer to be behind the scenes telling the stories that need to be heard rather than working on the frontline.

Key skills include:

• Communication skills: An excellent command of the English language and strong ability to write and communicate messages clearly is essential. Many marketing and communication roles involve creating and publishing content on websites, social media, brochures and other publications, and broadcast and print media. You may need to rewrite or communicate complex information such as new regulations for renters into a social media post of less than 100 words, or provide journalists with key information and statements on homelessness issues in the news.
• Creativity: If you have a flair for graphic design, videography/photography, or you love to write - this is an area where you can really shine! Being able to grab and hold people's attention to communicate your message is what this role is all about, and being able to think outside the box and create engaging content is key.
• Adaptability: Many communications and marketing roles in this sector, particularly when working for smaller organisations, require working across a wide variety of tasks and disciplines. Many find that no two days are the same, and situations can change quickly - requiring you to constantly jump in and out of different projects. Great for those who love variety!
• Accuracy and attention to detail: These roles are often the 'voice' of your organisation, so it's critical that every item produced is correct and accurate before it's presented to the public. If you have a talent for spotting small details that others miss, like spelling mistakes, you'll be an asset in a communications and marketing role.

Keen to get involved? While communications and marketing roles may not always be advertised frequently in our sector, this skill area is in great demand and needed by many organisations. A good idea to get a foot in the door is to volunteer with a small not-for-profit organisation—perhaps by offering to help them out with their social media or newsletter.

Check out the Opportunities page of the HomeNow website to browse key organisations in the Queensland housing and homelessness sector and discover what career or volunteer opportunities may be available. 

Role opportunity: Crisis Support Worker

St Vincent de Paul (Qld)

Full-Time, permanent. Toowoomba.

Provide assistance to clients who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness to access safe, affordable, and stable accommodation. Work with families and adults with complex needs to increase skills to sustain tenancies and improve overall quality of life.

Key requirements: Cert III Community Services or related. Experience in Support Work in homelessness or similar field.