Ministerial Homelessness Reform Advisory Group – Communique April 2025

Victoria’s Ministerial Homelessness Reform Advisory Group (MHRAG) is an ongoing forum for the Specialist Homelessness Sector and people with lived experience of homelessness to collaborate with the Government to shape system reform, strengthen sector capacity and capability, and guide best practice evidence-based approaches to make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring.

The MHRAG includes representation from metro and regional SHS organisations as well as the Homelessness Lived Experience Reference Group. It’s co-chaired by the Hon. Harriet Shing, Minister for Housing, and Council to Homeless Persons CEO Deborah Di Natale, and meets quarterly.

Here’s a summary of the group’s latest Communique, released after its meeting in February 2025.

You can read the full Communique here.

Workshop on reform priorities

Following an all-day workshop, the Advisory Group recognised that self-determination and the voices of people with lived experience of homelessness must inform progress of any reform priorities.

Members also reiterated the importance of continuing current investment, noting that funding for several programs is due to lapse this year.

Self-determined Aboriginal homelessness service system  

The Advisory Group affirmed its commitment to the directions set out in Mana na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort and the Blueprint for an Aboriginal-specific homelessness system in Victoria.

Prioritising to need

The Advisory Group emphasised the importance of a consistent and streamlined approach to triage and assessment across the homelessness system. The current Opening Doors Framework has served Victoria’s homelessness service system but needs to be updated.

System leadership and co-ordination

The Advisory Group highlighted that effective local and statewide governance structures are vital to a contemporary homelessness service system.

The priority should be on strong local governance that gives homelessness agencies authority and accountability to tailor services to meet local needs. Another priority will be aligning the governance structures with Aboriginal system stewardship and governance as well as embedding lived experience.

Retiring member

The Advisory Group recognised retiring member Christine Thirkell’s contributions as a member of the Homelessness Lived Experience Expert Advisory Panel (HLEEAP). The Advisory Group thanked Christine for her valuable contributions since joining in June 2024.

Next steps

The Minister for Housing and Building has welcomed the Advisory Group’s work on reform priorities. The Minister will now consider the advice provided and next steps, including broader sector consultation in partnership with the Advisory Group.

Read the full Communique.