Please note that the Call for Papers has now closed.

Our 2026 Conference will bring together a dynamic and diverse assembly of stakeholders, including lived experts, homelessness service providers, academics, government representatives, property sector professionals, advocates, philanthropists and the community to forge a collaborative and inclusive discussion aimed at addressing homelessness in NSW.

We are seeking your contributions to help make this conference insightful and illuminating, and are now calling for submissions for presentations.

Submission Information

We welcome submissions for presentations in a range of formats, including single-speaker presentations, panels, breakout sessions and in-depth workshops. We highly encourage joint presentations that showcase collaborative or cross-sector initiatives.

Themes

The 2026 Conference is focused on the theme A Place to Call Home: Strengthening Services, Sustaining Systems Change.

We welcome proposals on a range of subjects, including but not limited to:

• Changing the narrative on housing and homelessness
• Systems change
• Innovation in service design and delivery
• Connected systems and services for a holistic response to homelessness
• Alliances and local place-based collaborations
• Lived experience perspectives in systems change and service delivery
• Supporting Aboriginal leadership and Closing the Gap in homelessness
• Youth solutions for ending homelessness
• Service models including Housing First, supported temporary accommodation and other diverse housing options
• Sector development, training and capacity building
• The role of businesses and the private sector in ending homelessness
• New homelessness data and what it means for communities and services
• Effective advocacy for increasing service funding and government commitment.

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Submission and Selection Process

Please submit an abstract of no longer than 200-500 words, outlining:

• The topic and general detail of your presentation
• Proposed presentation format, including estimated/preferred time
• The intended audience
• Any organisation you will be representing, and any co-presenters.

All abstracts submitted to the Conference planning team will be considered in relation to the requirements of the Conference program as well as the quality of the submission. If we receive multiple submissions on similar topics, we may contact you to discuss collaborating with other presenters in a joint session. The Conference planning team’s decision is final.

If you have any queries, please contact Homelessness NSW at admin@homelessnessnsw.org.au. 

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Important Dates

• Opening Date: Thursday 7 August 2025
• Deadline for abstract submission: Friday 31 October 2025
• Receipt of abstracts will be acknowledged via email
• You will be notified of acceptance by Friday 28 November

We reserve the right to extend the deadline for abstracts and notification of acceptance.

Conference Speaker Registration

Speakers and co-speakers included in the Conference program will be able to attend the Conference at a reduced speaker’s rate. Homelessness NSW is a not-for-profit organisation, and as such is not in the position to cover airfares or accommodation for speakers. Please indicate if your expression of interest is entirely conditional on having some or all of your costs met or if you are a lived experience attendee.

The discounted Registration rate for speakers is:

Members

•     One Day Registration: $490
•     Full Conference Registration: $750

Non-Members

•     One Day Registration: $650
•     Full Conference Registration: $990

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