As homelessness rises across NSW, Sydney leaders to focus on what works
Community Media Release
Posted 16 january,2025
As homelessness and housing insecurity continue to intensify across Sydney and broader New South Wales, local leaders from housing, health, local government and community services will come together in Sydney next month for the Leadership Academy on Ending Homelessness, a three-day program designed and delivered by international homelessness expert Iain De Jong.
Taking place from February 10-12, the Leadership Academy on Ending Homelessness is designed to equip leaders with the skills, tools and confidence to drive systemic change – moving beyond crisis responses towards approaches that are proven to reduce homelessness over time.
The Sydney Academy is hosted by the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness, sponsored by Neami National and Social Futures, and will be facilitated by globally recognised homelessness and leadership expert Iain De Jong, founder of OrgCode Consulting and author of The Book on Ending Homelessness.
Since 2015, De Jong has delivered the Leadership Academy to over 1,000 leaders across the United States, Canada and Australia, supporting people to strengthen how they lead themselves, lead others and influence systems to drive an end homelessness. The program was first delivered in Australia in Adelaide in 2023, receiving strong demand from leaders across the sector.
In Sydney and across NSW, recent homelessness data reflects ongoing and growing pressures on services and supports. The 2025 NSW Street Count recorded 2,192 people sleeping rough across the state, with the City of Sydney recording a 24% increase in people sleeping rough in the inner city compared with the previous year.
Against this backdrop, David Pearson, CEO of the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness, says strong, coordinated leadership across sectors is essential to addressing the complex and multi-faceted issue of homelessness.
“Homelessness is solvable, but it requires leadership that’s informed, courageous and focused on what actually works,” said Pearson.
“The Leadership Academy is about building that leadership capability in Sydney, so local communities are better equipped to create lasting change.”
As part of the Academy, participants will explore:
-
what effective homelessness leadership looks like in practice
-
how to shift systems towards prevention and housing-led responses
-
practical tools leaders can apply immediately in their own organisations and communities.
The program is open to leaders and emerging leaders from across all sectors, including local government, community services, housing, health and allied fields.
Social Futures CEO Tony Davies says the Leadership Academy plays an important role in strengthening collective leadership to address homelessness.
“In our work, we see every day the human cost of housing insecurity and homelessness, and we know that lasting change requires strong, values-driven leadership.
“Social Futures is pleased to support the Sydney and Brisbane Leadership Academies as a Major Sponsor, alongside others committed to learning and collaboration.
“Investing in shared leadership capability helps communities focus on what works and create lasting change for people experiencing homelessness.”
The Leadership Academy on Ending Homelessness will be held at Rydges Sydney Central, with limited places available. Organisers note
Registration closes at 5pm AEDT on Monday, January 19.
Tickets and further information: https://events.humanitix.com/
