Train the Trainer program

The Housing First Train the Trainer program is a new initiative supporting advanced homelessness practitioners to become active Housing First trainers across Australia.

Led by internationally trained Housing First practice leaders, the program provides quality training in the skills and methodologies required to develop and deliver Housing First training to the Australian homelessness sector and beyond.

About the program

Homelessness Australia is working with the Housing First Europe Hub to develop and roll-out Housing First training across Australia. The program is funded by Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation and supported by Council to Homeless Persons.

The Train the Trainer program will result in approximately 30 specialised trainers in Australia, delivering Housing First capacity building within the specialist homelessness sector and beyond. The trainers will support advocacy for the expansion of Housing First programs and expand the sector’s capability in delivering Housing First programs.

As part of the program, the Housing First Australia Community of Practice provides an ongoing platform to share ideas, support implementation, develop practice, and embed Housing First as an evidence-based response to people without a home who have complex needs.

The Housing First Train the Trainer program is underpinned by the Housing First principles for Australia. The program involves an initial six-week training period, followed by an ongoing commitment (for a minimum of two years) undertaking program activities.

Training details

Delivery method: Online

Timeline: One day a week for six weeks

When: October – November 2021

Within groups of approximately 15 participants, training will be delivered online through a series of workshops, pre- and post-workshop learning activities, and showcases for participants to share training activities. Training includes the following modules:

• Housing First introduction
• Australian Housing First principles
• Barriers to delivering Housing First effectively
• Delivering Housing First training to different audiences, including managers, housing providers, and youth services
• Training theory
• Housing First practice, including recovery orientation, harm reduction, and trauma-informed practice

Timeline

Participant eligibility

To be eligible for the program, participants must:

• be an advanced homelessness practitioner with a deep understanding of the Housing First principles and their application in practice
• be passionate about Housing First and have a demonstrated understanding of Housing First principles, evidence, and implementation challenges
• have excellent training and/or presentation skills
• have approval and support from their employing organisation to participate in both the training and then the training delivery.

Organisational support

Participants must have the support of their organisation to take part in the program. Supporting organisations must have:

• a strong understanding of, and commitment to, Housing First programs and principles
• experience in delivering Housing First programs
• CEO-level support for the participant to commit to the program for a minimum of two years, and support the participant to play a leading role in developing and providing Housing First training for Australian practitioners. This includes releasing the participant on full pay to attend the Train the Trainer program and conduct training as detailed in the ‘Expectations’ section below.

Expectations

Participants and supporting organisations are expected to commit to the program for a minimum of two years. Once participants have completed the six-week training, it is expected that they will:

• use the concepts learnt to develop and adapt their own training package, tailored for delivery in their local context and consistent with Australian Housing First principles
• with support from the Australian Train the Trainer team, develop Housing First training
• with the support of the participating organisation, identify and recruit training participants (a minimum of 30 people) from across the local specialist homelessness sector, including employees of the supporting organisation and beyond.
• deliver Housing First training
• participate in Housing First Train the Trainer Community of Practice.

How to apply

To attract the highest standard of participants, and to maximise equitable access to Housing First training across Australia, Homelessness Australia is welcoming expressions of interest from participants and their employers.

Round one is now closed.

Round two is open for expressions of interest.

To apply for this exciting opportunity, download the expression of interest below. Please return the attached application form by Monday 6 September 2021 by email to sian@chp.org.au.

Before submitting your expression of interest, you are encouraged to contact Sian Mulgrew at Council to Homeless Persons in Victoria, to discuss the project in detail. Email sian@chp.org.au or call 0401 831 136.

About the Housing First Europe Hub

There is strong international evidence that Housing First programs end homelessness for most people with complex needs.

In support of international best practice, Homelessness Australia has been accepted as an Associate Member of the Housing First Europe Hub (the Hub). The Hub has the strategic aim of promoting and supporting the implementation of Housing First in Europe and beyond. It acts as a repository for Housing First research; supports practice through the Housing First Europe Guide and Housing First training; and develops resources to assist partners to advocate for Housing First.

The Hub is an activity of the European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless (FEANTSA) and is administered by the Y-Foundation in Finland.

In 2019, four experienced Australian Housing First practice leaders travelled to Europe to undertake specialised Housing First training and skills development with the Hub. In addition to the support from LMCF, in-kind support for these practitioners to participate, is being provided by Homelessness NSW, Launch Housing in Victoria, Micah Projects in Queensland and Ruah Community Services in Western Australia.  These experienced practitioners have now completed this specialised training and have designed and delivered the first round of the Housing First train the trainer program to Housing First practitioners in Australia.