Youth Homelessness Matters 2009 Conference Summary

George Mudford, Operations Manager - Youth Accommodation Association (YAA) provides a great summary below of the recent 2009 Youth Homelessness Matters Conference. Visit the conference section on the Clearinghouse for audio, powerpoint presentations and summaries of key notes and workshops from the conference.

150 people attended the YAA’s seventh youth homelessness conference at the Twin Towns Resort, Tweed Heads, NSW. Whilst the conference was not promoted as a “national” conference. There was a very  broad representation from around Australia, including participants from Northern Territory, Western Australian, Queensland, Victoria,  South Australia and of course New South Wales.

Following on the successful ‘Stop Revive Survive’ Youth Homelessness Conference held in Newcastle in August 2008, The timing of this conference was significant in that it presented an  opportunity to consider, prepare and position our work in relation to the rollout of and implementation of The Road Home and NAHA reforms within the contexts of the current policy and funding environment.

The conference also showcased new ideas, new research, and good practice to support / resource organsations and workers opportunities and challenges ahead for our work of ending youth homelessness in Australia.

This years theme took up the “Youth Homelessness Matters Campaign” Theme making the statement that in the design and delivery of homelessness policy and practice in Australia we need to ensure Youth Homelessness Matters and we take into account the needs of young people.

Furthermore, this years conference had a strong ‘theoretical’ underpinning ensuring that we really step back and think critically about our practice with young people, with leading academics in the field including Guy Johnson (AHURI/RMIT) who once again was inspiring and kicked off leaving a real buzz.

We were also able to consider where the Housing First approach fits in our work with young people thanks to Felicity Reynolds (Mercy Foundation) And then the practical How too? Of Stephanie Brennan (Nepean Campaign Against Homelessness) sharing her work and ideas and putting together regional plans to ‘end’ homelessness.

There were many great speakers and presenters, and this year in partnership with Council to Homeless Persons (Victoria) we are pleased to launch a special conference edition of parity to capture the ideas stemming from the conference. We hope this will be a good resource workers can draw upon long after the conference.

Whilst we are unsure when the next YAA conference will be, we are already back in the laboratory thinking of our next venue. Hope to see you next time!

In addition, the YAA team would like to thank you for supporting and participating in the YHM 09: Youth Homelessness Matters Conference.

Your help is needed to evaluate the event and assist us design future conferences and sector development projects. We would appreciate you complete this brief SurveyMonkey survey.

For all YAA members who did not attend, we will be sending you the "Youth Homelessness" Special Conference Edition of Parity along with out Annual Report in Mid Novemeber.

The YAA Team.