2200 people without a safe place to call home

6 August 2025

CEO Update

In social services, so much data gets thrown around that one can get overwhelmed and stop seeing the people behind the statistics. But when you get a number like the one Homelessness NSW released this week, you have no option but to stop and deeply engage.

According to the latest NSW street count, almost 2,200 people across New South Wales go to sleep every night without a safe place to call home.

That is almost 2,200 individual stories about trauma, neglect and systemic failure across the state, marking a 50 per cent increase in the number rough sleepers over the past five years.

This is no longer a Sydney issue. More people are finding themselves displaced across Byron, Coffs Harbour, Lismore and Tweed Heads. Overstretched services are chronically underfunded.

Notably the fastest-growing groups seeking housing support in NSW include young people, employed individuals and those escaping domestic and family violence, all suggesting different cracks are emerging in the system.

This Homelessness Week let’s really look at the people who are sleeping rough. For the NCOSS family, that includes our friend and lived experience advocate, Amir Bodenstein, who passed away last year while sleeping rough.

It's also the people in the state’s Northern Rivers who’ve faced one natural disaster after the other. The camps popping up under the eaves of CBD buildings where vulnerable people attempt to shelter from the harsh winter weather. The older women shuffling between temporary emergency accommodation, couch surfing or camping in their cars because rents are too high and the social housing waiting list is too long.

If we see it, we must resolve to act. Let’s lean into Housing First initiatives that acknowledge that only when someone has shelter will other challenges ever be addressed. Let’s call out the crisis in crisis care funding that sees people turned away from shelter every night. And let’s demand that social housing is not a long-term aspiration but a critical piece of our social infrastructure.

In last year’s Budget, the NSW Government made an historic $5.1 billion investment in social housing, to build 8,400 social homes. This was a welcome step and laid important groundwork for future reforms.

But, this year’s shift in focus toward fast-tracking private rental supply missed the mark. It prioritised ‘pipes and poles’ rather than the critical social infrastructure needed to prevent more people from falling into poverty and homelessness.

Then truth is homelessness is not just about houses. Safe, accessible homes should not be a jackpot for those navigating complex trauma or disadvantage. They should be a basic right.

NCOSS spoke to Jillian Knight-Smith, Executive Officer of Women Up North Housing.

Tell me about Women Up North and its origins.

Women Up North was established in Lismore in the mid 1980s by a group of wonderful women. It was all about women helping women. They would find out somebody was having a hard time, and they might help them find a house, or they might go and help them clean their house, lend them a lawnmower, help them get some food, or just support each other.

It grew out of community need and then became established through linking in with the women's refuge movement. Since 1987, when it registered and received funding, it has offered transitional housing and case management.

Women Up North has always been passionate about people having a safe, secure home, where they know their children can keep going to the same school and have the opportunity to rebuild their wellbeing for themselves and their family and start a chapter of safety and success.

How big of an issue is lack of housing and homelessness in the Northern Rivers? Is the problem getting worse?

Northern Rivers hasn't caught a break in the past few years. Our area is incredibly beautiful, and so it was a great place for people to retire to. And then people moved here during Covid, and then there has been several major floods.

Because of that, thousands of people became homeless — people that would never have been homeless. Places that might have been available to them stopped being available to them. So, we already had a crisis, and then we had the flood. So now it's just a tragedy.

We still have big issues with mouldy houses because we’re still trying to respond to the flood. Even houses that didn't get flooded, they had leaks and they've got mould problems and foundation problems. Climate change events have had a massive impact on the wellbeing of our houses, as well as the wellbeing of our people.

Give me an example of a service or a program that you’ve run that you’re excited about

I would say there's a couple of things that I'm really proud of, starting with our board. In our community, a lot of people who are suffering the impact of the housing crisis are Aboriginal women. We have always had First Nations board members but recently the board committed to a majority First Nations board. I’m really proud to have a First Nations woman as our chair.

We also have lots of fantastic partners. We went into partnership with Lismore Family Support and we ran a project called Enhancing Workforce Responses to Sexual Violence and that’s been incredibly successful and really taken up with community. It’s been a blessing to have that funding and to have been able to get that message out into community about sexual violence, what does sexual violence look like, and what does consent look like.

There are calls to increase funding for Specialist Homelessness Services. If you had increased funding, how could you use it to help women in your region?

It would be so fantastic to know that we had the money to do the work that we're doing. We have been supported by some catch up funding that has kept us going. This has meant that even though we're funded for approximately 440 people, we have responded to 900 people affected by domestic and family violence. It’s nerve racking thinking about what happens in 2026 when that funding runs out. The pressure on our service and our workers will be huge when that runs out. It’s a tough call to say no to people who are seeking help from violence.

If you were the New South Wales Premier, what would be the first thing that you would do?

I would give a lot more for housing and homelessness and domestic and family violence and make sure that there was enough money to pay people well, so that they stay in the sector.

Women Up North fundraised and got a grant to start doing some refurbishment on our Aboriginal Women's Refuge Bugalma Bihyn. It’s an old building and we needed to repair it and make it accessible. Because of Covid and the floods, we weren’t able to start the build. Now we need to raise another $200,000 to complete it. We’re saying our prayers that we get the money and we can create something beautiful. If I were the Premier, I’d fund this.

In April 2025, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) found evidence of gender-based undervaluation in several SCHADS Award classifications. It released a discussion paper outlining provisional steps to address this issue.

As reported in the May edition of NCOSS e-News, aspects of the proposed changes have raised significant concerns among stakeholders. Notably, the FWC has proposed replacing the current SCHADS Award classification structure with a single new framework based on the Aged Care Award benchmark. This proposed structure includes revised classification levels, translation options for existing workers, and the removal of the Equal Remuneration Order (ERO). Despite assurances from the Commission that no worker will be worse off, the proposed structure could result in lower pay for some current and future workers.

Despite calls from many stakeholders including employers for more time to consider the sector’s work value and complexity to ensure a fair and accurate wage structure, the FWC has decided to proceed with the review without delay.

Key Dates:

5 September 2025 – Interested parties may lodge submissions, including comments or alternative proposals on the SCHADS Award provisions outlined in the FWC’s discussion paper.

27–31 October 2025 – The FWC will hold hearings specifically focused on the SCHADS Award.

What has been done:

The Councils of Social Service (COSS) Network, including NCOSS, made a joint submission to the FWC in May, calling for:

Protection of ERO and wages, to ensure no worker is worse off under the new structure

Extensive sector consultation, and

Adequate resources to support implementation.

NCOSS and the ASU also held a joint briefing on 15 July, attended by over 90 participants, to share information and gather feedback.

Next Steps:

NCOSS is continuing to work closely with the ASU and other Councils of Social Service to assess the implications of the FWC’s decisions and advocate for fair outcomes. We will keep you updated as further developments unfold.

In the meantime, we strongly encourage you to review the documents below and consider lodging a submission to ensure the FWC understands how the proposed changes may impact your organisation and your workforce.

FWC Directions Gender undervaluation – priority awards review 18 July 2025:

FWC Draft Determination SCHADS Award 2010 25 July 2025

We are looking for young people to join the NSW Council of Social Service First Nations Partners and Advisors Group (PAG).

NCOSS is uniquely placed to work together with community sector organisations, government, business and other stakeholders to strive for a more equitable and inclusive society.

Now more than ever, NCOSS is committed to being a stronger ally to First Nations peoples and communities, and to embed First Nations perspectives, voices, and research in our work.

The First Nations Partners and Advisors Group (PAG) was created in 2022 as part of NCOSS’s Reconciliation Action Plan, to challenge NCOSS to do more to support First Nations communities in their fight for self-determination and justice. NCOSS is now looking to refresh the role of the PAG and grow its membership.

We would love to hear from young people across the state who would like a chance to help drive NCOSS’ priorities and actions and influence policymakers in the community sector and government. People with a disability, living in regional and remote areas, members of the LGBTQIASB+ community are encouraged to apply.

In acknowledgement of the expertise that members bring, PAG members are remunerated for their attendance and collaboration, and reciprocity will be at the heart of our way of working with the PAG.

If you are interested and would like to discuss this further, please email Michelle Shackleton michelle@ncoss.org.au or call 0402 013 597.

Have you used the Child Dental Benefit Schedule to access dental care for your child? Or has your child been admitted to hospital for a condition related to their teeth that wasn't picked up earlier?

NCOSS is looking for people who would be happy to talk to the media about their experience accessing dental care for their children.

Dental conditions are now the leading cause of preventable hospitalisations in NSW. NCOSS is researching how much these preventable hospital visits costs the NSW health system. Our aim is to create broader awareness of the Child Dental Benefit Schedule and improve access to oral health prevention.

Sharing your experience will help our research reach a wider audience and strengthen our advocacy to the NSW Government. In acknowledgement of your time and expertise, NCOSS offers remuneration and support for people sharing their lived experience with the media.

Please get in touch with Elyse at elyse@ncoss.org.au by 29 July.

Jobs and Skills Australia is seeking your feedback on phase 1 of the Jobs and Skills Roadmap for Regional Australia.

Have your say and help shape the future of regional jobs and skills.

The Roadmap provides a framework for strategic analysis, evaluation and advice on regional Australia’s employment, education and training system.

Your experiences can help shape a stronger, fairer system.

By making a submission, you can:

share what’s working well in your community
highlight local challenges
suggest new ideas or approaches
help make sure regional voices are part of national decisions.

Contribute by following these 3 steps:

Download the Roadmap report
Write your response
Email it to: regionalworkforceassessment@jobsandskills.gov.au

Submissions close at 5pm (AEST) Thursday 2 October 2025.

For questions or assistance, email: regionalworkforceassessment@jobsandskills.gov.au

Shelter NSW is inviting photographers to take part in a competition for their 50th anniversary with the hopes of raising awareness of real experiences of the housing crisis through art.

They are encouraging photographers to make it personal – to capture a story, a moment, an experience, an object, that speaks to you and your experiences.

30 images will be selected as a short list and printed to form an exhibition for public display with details to be announced.

Entries close on Friday 8 August 2025.

Read more information here.

The Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW has launched You're Not Alone, a campaign aimed at increasing awareness of our free, fair, and independent dispute resolution services among multicultural and multilingual communities across New South Wales.

The initiative, developed in collaboration with a Multicultural Community Advisory Board, features videos, postcards, factsheets, and social media tiles in Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Hindi, and Korean, showcasing community members discussing how they use energy and water at home.

They offer in-language support to help customers with common issues they can't work out with their provider, including:

high or estimated bills

payment difficulties and disconnections

switching retailers and finding the best deal

accessing rebates and payment plans

navigating embedded networks and digital meters.

Find out more at this link.

Playgroup NSW is proud to announce the launch of the Playgroup Collective, a new initiative that unites the sector to strengthen and advocate for playgroups across the state.

The Playgroup Collective will bring together NSW leaders, practitioners, and partners to drive coordinated policy, practice, and development efforts ensuring playgroups are recognised and resourced as a vital part of the early years ecosystem.

Playgroups matter. Often the first point of contact for families, playgroups offer inclusive, low-cost, place based, community-led environments across NSW that support early childhood development, boost carer wellbeing, and build social connection.

Playgroups play a critical role in protection, prevention and early intervention — particularly in the first 2,000 days of life, a formative period for lifelong health, learning, and wellbeing.

Find out more about the Playgroup Collective at their website or join the Playgroup Collective here.

The NSW Women of the Year Awards recognise and celebrate women and girls who inspire us with their actions, whether they are ground-breaking thinkers, everyday heroes, social reformers or innovative role models.

Nominations are open for the following categories:

NSW Premier's Woman of Excellence Award
NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year Award
NSW Community Hero Award
NSW Regional Woman of the Year Award
NSW Young Woman of the Year Award (ages 16-30 years old)
Ones to Watch (ages 7-15 years old)

The recipients of the awards will be announced at the NSW Women of the Year Awards ceremony on Thursday 5 March 2026, as part of NSW Women’s Week 2026 which will run from Monday 2 March to Sunday 8 March.

Find out more here.

Building Strong Foundations: Housing First Approaches for NSW
Homelessness NSW
7 August, Sydney
$50 | Register here

As part of Homelessness Week 2025, Homelessness NSW is hosting a special event focused on strengthening Housing First approaches across our sector.

This event will explore how informal alliances, local systems, and culturally-adapted models are supporting more effective responses to complex homelessness — especially in regional and Aboriginal contexts.

Disaster Adaptation Plan Guidelines Launch
NSW Reconstruction Authority
13 August, Parramatta
Free | Register here

The NSW Reconstruction Authority is holding an official launch of the Disaster Adaptation Plan Guidelines, a major step forward in reducing disaster risk across NSW.

Hear from the Minister for Recovery, Janelle Saffin, RA CEO, Mal Lanyon, and Head of Adaptation, Mitigation and Reconstruction Amanda Leck, GAICD, as they unveil a new framework designed to help regions prepare, adapt, and invest ahead of disasters.

New findings from the Australian Early Development Census: Implications for policy and practice in NSW
FACSIAR
26 August, Online
Free | Register here

The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) collects data on five key areas, or ‘domains’, of early childhood development.

In this webinar, Dr Mary Taiwo, AEDC NSW state Coordinator, will present the 2024 AEDC findings for NSW and explore how they can be used by practitioners in early intervention and family strengthening programs.

Self-Care for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Workers

LEAD Professional Development

27 November, Seven Hills
Free - $45 | Register here

From an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective, health and wellbeing are more than just about your own physical wellbeing. It includes the social, emotional and cultural wellbeing of the whole community.

During this workshop we will explore the risks of compassion fatigue, burnout and vicarious trauma with a view to growing your resilience and strength in ways that will help you keep track of, account for and assist in resisting the negative outcomes of working with people experiencing trauma.

2026 NSW Women's Week
Closing Date: 19 August 2025

The aim of Women’s Week Grants is to support events which empower women, uplift focus communities and challenge gendered norms, roles and expectations during Women’s Week from 2 – 8 March, 2026.

Women’s Week Grants seek to fund innovative events that increase the empowerment and participation of women and girls in our communities, thereby advancing gender equality in the longer term. The funding provides Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisations and not-for-profits with an opportunity to give back to their communities by delivering events or activities that benefit local women and girls.

For more information, please visit the grant information page.

Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grant
Closing Date: 30 September 2025

The Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grant adopts a number of strategies to develop and support Aboriginal people through the creation of training and employment opportunities.

Promoting diversity, innovation and service responsiveness in the NSW workforce, the Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grant subsidises the salary, development and support costs of Aboriginal employees in public service agencies, local government authorities and Aboriginal community controlled organisations.

For more information, please visit the grant information page.

Some of the latest from our Jobs Board:

Criminal Solicitor, Women’s Homelessness (Sydney CBD) Justice and Equity Centre - VIEW JOB

Director, QLife (Sydney CBD) LGBTIQ+ Health Australia - VIEW JOB

Intake Case Worker (Greater Blue Mountains) Blue Mountains Women's Health & Resource Centre - VIEW JOB

Policy and Engagement Officer (Sydney) Council On The Ageing (NSW) - VIEW JOB

Operations Manager (Sydney CBD) Detour House Inc - VIEW JOB

Director - Policy, Research and Communications (Sydney CBD) LGBTIQ+ Health Australia - VIEW JOB

Policy Officer – Energy and Water Justice (Sydney CBD) Justice and Equity Centre - VIEW JOB

Targeted Earlier Intervention Caseworker (Inner City Sydney) Weave - VIEW JOB

Communications Coordinator (Sydney CBD) LGBTIQ+ Health Australia - VIEW JOB