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Report Community and place Homelessness Housing assistance and policy Housing aspirations and careers Indigenous housing

Long-term impact of Cairns homelessness services project – participant interviews

Date Published: 01 Jan 2026

Authors: AHURI

Share your experiences as someone who has previously received support from Going Places Street to Home, Douglas House, or Woree Supported Housing Accommodation.

What is this research about?
Mission Australia has asked the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) to look at the housing journeys of people who were supported by Mission Australia’s homelessness services in Cairns. The study will explore what happened after leaving these programs and how they shaped people’s housing and life outcomes.

What does it involve?
You are invited to participate in a 30-60 minute interview with Aboriginal researcher Shaun Middlebrook and the AHURI team. You can meet in person in Cairns, talk by phone, or join a video call. Interviews will be held in February – March 2026.

We will ask you about:

  • Your housing journey since leaving the program(s)
  • Your experiences of the program(s) and how they impacted your housing journey
  • How your life has changed after accessing the program(s)
  • Whether the program(s) helped you with outcomes other than housing

Interviews will be audio recorded with your permission. Any information you share is confidential and anonymous. The information you share will be included in a report but we will make sure you are not identified. Your participation in the research will not affect your housing or access to support services you may receive from Mission Australia.

Participants will be provided with a $50 visa gift card for their contribution.

This research has been approved by the Swinburne University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC Approval Number: 20258884-22771)

Who can participate?
If you are aged 18+ and are a former client of Going Places Street to Home, Douglas House or Woree Supported Housing Accommodation, and have not used the program(s) for three or more years, you are welcome to participate.

Who can I contact to find out more or to participate?
Email Renee Lane (renee.lane@ahuri.edu.au) or Shaun Middlebrook (shaun@umbarraconsulting.com.au) to find out more or to take part.

How will the findings from the research be shared?
Mission Australia will share the research findings via their Evidence to Action process.

Check back here from July 2026 to access findings from the research.

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Published by: Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited