Looking for homelessness or housing support? Find Help

Connect Respect

Tailored training for local councils, businesses, and employees

Connect Respect is a resource and training package to inform local councils, business, and employees who have direct contact with people without a home.

It has been developed with Victoria Police, Melbourne CBD businesses, specialist homelessness service providers, and people with experience of being without a home.

To enquire about Connect Respect or for more information, email [email protected]

Who is it for?

This training is designed for people and organisations who have direct contact with people who are without a home.

This can include local councils, large or small businesses, and employees of organisations whose work brings them into contact with people who are without a home.

It is recommended that all local council staff complete the Connect Respect training. This includes customer-facing staff, policy decision-makers, managers, and councillors.

What does it involve?

The training involves two components:

a self-paced eLearning module that is specifically re-developed for each council region, according to local information, data, and needs.

Time: approx. 2.5 hours

a follow up live session (either virtually or in-person) led by a Council to Homeless Persons Peer Education Support Program (PESP) team member. All PESP members have a lived experience of being without a home.

These sessions offer attendees the opportunity to solidify their online learning, ask questions, and discuss key issues in their area. Each council is offered five dates for their workers/ managers/ Councillors to attend one session from.

Time: 1.5–2 hours

What are the outcomes?

Connect Respect training will support attendees to connect with people with the experience of not having a home, to support the growth of knowledge and confidence within teams to respond to homelessness in an inclusive and respectful way.

It has been developed with Victoria Police, Melbourne CBD businesses, specialist homelessness service providers, and people with experience of being without a home.

Connect Respect team

Meet some of our PESP members who lead Connect Respect sessions

Learn more

Find more opportunities to learn from people without a home.

Subscribe to CHP eNews

Get the latest homelessness insights and updates straight to your inbox with Council to Homeless Persons eNews.