Conference on housing and homelessness

The organisers of a housing and homelessness conference in the City of Moreton Bay next month hope participants will leave feeling informed, connected and energised.

The Chameleon Community Conference, on October 20 from 8am-4pm at North Lakes Hotel, is being hosted by Chameleon Housing – an organisation which provides youth crisis accommodation, support and living skills programs for young people.

Chameleon Housing CEO Carmel Riethmuller says the conference will shine a light on the ‘housing first’ model, with the keynote address being delivered by Professor Cameron Parsell UQ, discussing how to respond to people who are homeless.

Prof Parsell will draw a distinction between "housing first" at the principle level and "housing first" as a program.

The conference will also cover suicide gatekeeping and include a Queensland Police Service presentation called Working with Vulnerable Clients, a session on Worker Health and Wellbeing, and a courageous panel of people with lived experience of homelessness telling their stories.

Other highlights will be the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Dr Phil Crane and Indigenous Practice Consultant Tammy Wallace who recently presented at the International Homeless Conference in Denmark on an Indigenous led process called Youth CONNECT which enhances the connection to culture for young people leaving care.

There will also be fun activities, with a surprise to help balance out the day, and an opportunity to gather for a chat and sunset drinks overlooking the lake.

“We want to bring the community/region together. Chameleon is the only organisation in the region that holds a bi-annual conference. The feedback we get from other services and community groups is that it’s much needed for professional development and networking,” Ms Riethmuller says.

“Our focus is not only to deliver a world-class conference but to make the conference as informative and affordable as possible especially for professionals and our wonderful volunteers.

“Attendees can expect to hear from people with lived experience and hear what works, what we need more of and what needs to happen now.

“I’m especially excited at the scope this conference offers. There really is something for everyone. Attendees will love the sessions on health and wellbeing.”

Tickets to the conference are available now. To find out more, head to the website