Introduction

Homes Victoria and Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) value the voice and experience of people with lived experience of homelessness and the importance of these voices informing homelessness policy and practice.

As such, we are working together to set up a Homelessness Lived Experience Reference Group (the Reference Group).

The Reference Group will be formally established by Homes Victoria and will meet every three months to provide advice based on the knowledge and expertise of the members on developing practical solutions and improving policies and programs related to homelessness to Homes Victoria and the Department Families, Fairness & Housing (DFFH).

CHP will assist Homes Victoria to set up the Reference Group with recruitment, training and support to the Reference Group members going forward in carrying out their roles.

About the Organisations

Home Victoria sits within DFFH. Homes Victoria works across government, industry and the homelessness social housing and broader social services sector to support all Victorians to have access to safe, secure and affordable housing.

CHP is the peak Victorian body representing organisations and individuals with a commitment to ending homelessness. CHP works to achieve this purpose through providing leadership in policy development, advocacy, capacity building and working in partnership with people who are or who have been without a home.

Expressions of Interest

CHP with Homes Victoria is seeking expressions of interest from individuals with lived experience of homelessness and being without a home to join the Home Victoria Homelessness Lived Experience Reference Group.

People who are or have been members of a peer support or lived experience group with homelessness service providers or peak bodies are strongly encouraged to apply.

Eight lived experience members will be appointed to the Reference Group. The aim will be to appoint eight members with diverse experiences, backgrounds, age, abilities, and cultural and gender identities.

Reference Group role and expectations

Reference group members will:

• Draw on their and other experiences of being without a home to provide advice and information aimed at:
  • improving the homeless service system and
  • delivering better outcomes for people without a home.
• Be appointed for an initial 18-month term
• Attend and participate in reference group meetings held quarterly
• Read meeting papers and undertake appropriate preparation prior to the reference group meetings.
• Participate in a post-reference group meeting debrief.
• As part of the Reference Group, present advice to Homes Victoria Executives and staff

Key Selection Criteria

1. Lived experience of being without a home
2. Ability to contribute to improvement of the homelessness service system by providing advice that draws on your own and others experience of being without a home
3. Ability to work with government and participate as part of a group that provides advice on proposals brought to the reference group by Homes Victoria.
4. Commitment to read materials and prepare for the reference group

Final selection of members will also look at the diversity of experience of being without a home, background and abilities, age, cultural and gender identities and other relevant matters.

Participants will be remunerated through CHP processes. ($80 per reference group schedule)

Applicants must also have

1. Availability to attend some meetings in Metropolitan Melbourne
2. Access to own computer and ability to join virtual meetings via TEAMS
3. Basic computer skills

For any questions, please contact Maria on [email protected] using the subject line: Homelessness Lived Experience Reference Group Members enquiry via EthicalJobs.