Overview

The APS Interest Group on Psychology and Homelessness holds online peer consultation groups on the first Wednesday of each month.

Your participation, whether discussing your own practice or listening to others, will contribute to meeting your annual continuing professional development requirements and benefit your practice. Groups will have a maximum of 10 attendees.

Discussions will focus on assessing and treating mental health conditions in people experiencing homelessness, contributing social factors, and resources available to support this cohort.

Peer consultation will be ideal for you if you have an interest in homelessness, practice in the public or homelessness sector, or if in the regular course of your work, you have clients at risk of homelessness (e.g., living in unstable or unsafe accommodation), or presenting with a mental health condition prevalent among people experiencing homelessness, such as complex PTSD. Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples may also be a focus of discussion as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are over-represented in the homeless population.

Monthly Schedule for 2026

This is one of a series of monthly sessions. Please book separately into other peer consultation session using the links below.

• Wednesday, 4th March
• Wednesday, 1st April
• Wednesday, 6th May
• Wednesday, 3rd June
• Wednesday, 1st July
• Wednesday, 5th August
• Wednesday, 2nd September
• Wednesday, 7th October
• Wednesday, 4th November
• Wednesday, 2nd December

Please note: This Peer Consultation Session has a strictly limited number of available places. If you are no longer able to attend, please kindly cancel your registration well in advance.

Please be advised that sensitive topics will be discussed. Accordingly:

• Sessions will not be recorded.
• All participants are required to introduce themselves to the group.
• All participants are expected to have their cameras on, wherever practicable.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this event, participants should be able to:

• Have enhanced knowledge and understanding of the impact of homelessness on the mental health of individuals and their families.
• Have enhanced knowledge and understanding of additional considerations and challenges in the assessment and treatment of individuals affected by homelessness.
• Have an improved understanding of the mental health conditions that are prevalent among people experiencing homelessness, such as trauma related disorders and substance-related disorders.
• Have awareness of homelessness services available in your local area that provide support and accommodation.

Presenter(s)

About the presenter(s)

Erin Fearn-Smith is a psychologist, rehabilitation counsellor, and lecturer at the University of Sydney, undertaking PhD research identifying cognitive impairment and brain injury in people experiencing homelessness. Her experience of working with people experiencing homelessness in clinical, service management and policy roles spans 25+years in not-for-profit and local government environments in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Locally, she contributed to the establishment of key innovative Housing First programs in Sydney, Platform 70 and Common Ground. Alongside teaching and research, Erin operates a small private practice delivering supervision to people working in the community sector, and supporting NGO providers towards best practice in service design, service delivery, data collection and impact measurement. Erin is passionate about homelessness resolution, and sees a leading role for psychologists in this space.

Notes

Target Audience

This event is aimed at psychologists and others working in, or interested in, homelessness.

Duration of Access

This event will not be recorded. 

Please note:

• This is a Member Groups event. All communication will be sent to the registrants’ registered email address. This includes event reminders with details (such as the Zoom link) and any pre-event or post-event resources, if provided by the facilitators.
• A post-event email will be sent within two weeks of the event’s completion to each registrant’s registered email address. This email will include the CPD certificate, and any additional resources shared during the session.

CPD

It is up to attendees to assess and determine how learning from this event aligns with the requirements of their learning plan. The providers accordingly do not make any representation that the event counts towards attendees’ CPD learning requirements. If an attendee determines themselves that the learning they complete aligns to their learning plan, then they can decide to count those hours towards their CPD requirements for the registration cycle.

The information in this presentation has been prepared in good faith and for educational purposes only. Therefore, the information is general in nature and should not be relied upon in the treatment of any condition and you should seek your own independent professional and/or legal advice concerning any specific issue. The APS accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or decisions relating to the information. The content should not be reproduced without permission or unless permitted by law.

If you are experiencing registration difficulties please contact APS Events Support.