Homelessness Prevention Forum 2025: Breaking Barriers, Designing Solutions

This forum, as a key part of Shelter WA's events for Homelessness Week 2025, will explore and promote the implementation of evidence-informed, proactive strategies to prevent homelessness before it occurs. It aims to drive a shift from reactive crisis responses to systemic, coordinated approaches that support housing stability across the life course. The event will connect thought leaders, service providers, practitioners, and community members to inspire change and inform future service delivery and policy in WA.

To help everyone feel comfortable, a chill out space and wellness support are available. Lunch and afternoon tea will include vegan, vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free food for those coming along in person. When you register, please let us know of any other ways we can support your participation. 

During the event we will collectively:

• Explore and share universal, targeted, and recovery-focused approaches to homelessness prevention.

• Highlight promising practice and innovation from WA, across Australia, and internationally.

• Engage a broad mix of stakeholders in identifying systemic gaps and co-designing solutions.

• Generate a summary resource that captures insights and can inform advocacy and sector capacity-building beyond the event.

Date: Wednesday August 6

Time: 11:30am - 5pm

Cost: Free to attend.

Registrations are required.

Lunch and afternoon tea will be provided.

Who is the event ideal for?

Government representatives (local and state), housing and homelessness services, community sector organisations, advocates, academics, and people with lived or living experience of homelessness or housing insecurity.

Program for the event:

• Event open, Welcome to Country, Recognition of Lived Experience

• Keynote (International Perspective):
  Prof. Peter Mackie (Cardiff University) – exploring prevention models used overseas.

• National Perspective Presentation:
  David Pearson (Australian Alliance to End Homelessness) – exploring prevention models used in Australia.

• Lightning Round:
  Short, sharp 2–3 min presentations from sector representatives showcasing local WA examples of effective prevention strategies.

• Interactive Workshop: Identifying Gaps and Co-creating Solutions

• Event Summary and Close

A photographer will be present and he will check with you before taking a photo. You are welcome to say you would prefer not to be included, and this will be respected. Photos may be used in our social media, on the Shelter WA website and in our marketing, e-newsletters and annual reports. There may be some whole of event photos taken from behind that will not identify individuals.   

You are welcome to attend with a support worker. Please ask them to register separately so that we can provide enough seating and catering for everyone. If registering your support worker, you can use Support Worker in place of their name if you don’t have their name as yet. Please include any dietary requirements for them.   

If you plan to attend more than one Shelter WA event, please register for each individual event hosted for Homelessness Week.  

The venue accessibility guide is available here on the Shelter WA website.

To view the venue visit: https://www.beaumondeotp.com.au/ 

We are delighted to be able to bring this event to you for Homelessness Week 2025 with the support of Lotterywest. Thank you to Homelessness Week 2025 sponsor, the Department of Communities, Event Sponsor, Parkervillle Children and Youth Care, and Keynote Sponsor, MercyCare.