Housing and Homelessness Services jobs in Australia

Licensing

Licensing by state

There is no registration for housing and homelessness workers themselves. Two compliance layers apply. First, child-related clearance: refuges, family violence services and youth homelessness services routinely involve children, so the clearance issued by your state or territory is a standard condition of employment. Second, property licensing: where a role involves letting or managing property on behalf of an owner, some states require a real estate agent's representative registration, though community housing providers are often exempt or hold an organisational registration — check the fair trading or consumer affairs regulator in your state. Community housing providers are separately registered under the National Regulatory System for Community Housing in most jurisdictions, and in Victoria and Western Australia under their own state schemes. A National Police Check and driver licence are near-universal.

the Australian Capital Territory

Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration from Access Canberra. Because the ACT scheme covers vulnerable adults, it captures most homelessness and crisis accommodation roles, not only those involving children.

New South Wales

Working With Children Check (WWCC) clearance from the NSW Office of the Children's Guardian for child-related services, verified online by the employer. NDIS-funded accommodation supports need an NDIS Worker Check from the same body. Property work is regulated by NSW Fair Trading.

the Northern Territory

Working with Children Clearance (Ochre Card) through SAFE NT, valid two years. NDIS-funded supported accommodation also requires an NDIS Worker Screening Check through SAFE NT. Remote housing roles commonly require a permit to enter Aboriginal land.

Queensland

Blue Card from Blue Card Services (Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety) for refuge, youth and family homelessness roles under 'no card, no start'. NDIS-funded supported accommodation also requires an NDIS Worker Screening Check via the Queensland Worker Screening Unit. Property management activity is regulated by the Office of Fair Trading.

South Australia

Working with Children Check from the DHS Screening Unit, valid five years with continuous monitoring. NDIS-funded supported accommodation requires an NDIS Worker Check from the same unit. Property activity is regulated by Consumer and Business Services.

Tasmania

Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (RWVP) from Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS), Department of Justice, under the child-related and, where applicable, NDIS categories.

Victoria

Working with Children Clearance from Working with Children Check Victoria (Department of Justice and Community Safety). Victoria runs its own community housing registration through the Housing Registrar rather than the national system. NDIS-funded supported accommodation requires a Victorian NDIS Worker Screening Check.

Western Australia

Working with Children (WWC) Check through the WWC Screening Unit, Department of Communities — also the agency responsible for public housing in WA. WA administers its own community housing registration scheme. NDIS-funded accommodation supports require an NDIS Worker Screening Check, also via the Department of Communities.