Training: Housing First 101 – Practical skills for impact

Housing First is more than a program – it’s a proven, person-centred approach to ending homelessness.

This interactive training session is designed to deepen your understanding of the Housing First approach, whether or not you work in a formal Housing First program. You'll gain insight into its history, principles and evidence base, while also developing practical tools you can apply in your day-to-day work.

Delivered by Leah Watkins and Fiona Hopper, this session will explore how the Housing First philosophy can inform frontline practice, service coordination, system design and advocacy.

What will be covered?

Through case examples, discussion and reflection, participants will leave with:

• A clear understanding of Housing First philosophy and principles

• Insight into applying a Housing First lens in a range of service or advocacy roles

• Practical, evidence-informed tools and techniques

• Skills to support housing stability, recovery and wellbeing for people experiencing homelessness.

This is a must-attend session for anyone committed to housing-led, person-centred practice and looking to embed Housing First approaches into their work.

Who should attend?

This session is designed for:

• Frontline workers, case managers, tenancy support workers, service coordinators and outreach teams

• Program leads, team managers or system planners wanting to embed Housing First into their work

• Anyone working in or alongside homelessness, housing or mental health systems.

About the facilitators

Leah Watkins is one of Australia’s few internationally accredited Housing First trainers, with more than 30 years’ experience across frontline work, program design and systems reform.

Leah helped develop the Housing First Principles for Australia and currently works on advocacy and practice improvement with Housing Choices Australia. Her training style is grounded, practical and deeply informed by real-world experience.

Fiona Hopper, Team Leader of Adelaide Common Ground, will be co-facilitating the session. Fiona has over 25 years’ experience in both government and non-government settings and is part of the Australian Housing First Trainers’ Community of Practice.

Event details

🗓️ Date: Friday 24 October 2025

🕤 Time: 9:00am–4:00pm ACDT

🍽️ Lunch, light morning tea and afternoon tea included

📍 Location: Flinders University City Campus

🎟️ Price: $121 (incl. GST)

Part of SA Zero Homelessness Summit Week

This session is part of a three-day series of events dedicated to ending homelessness in South Australia:

• Workshop: Advancing local government’s role in ending homelessness (Oct 22) – exploring the role of councils in community-led responses. Book here

• South Australian Zero Homelessness Summit 2025 (Oct 23) – the main event, focused on collaboration, advocacy and lived experience. Book here

Tickets are sold separately – attend the event most relevant to you, or join us across the whole week. Learn more