About Us

Newcastle and Hunter Homelessness
Interagency Network

a community response to homelessness

Terms of Reference

The Newcastle and Hunter Homelessness Interagency Network (NHHIN) seeks to strategically address homelessness in Newcastle and the Hunter via collaborative community action by:
  • promoting partnerships between key stakeholders who have a role in addressing homelessness
  • highlighting barriers and facilitating opportunities to develop appropriate responses/services for people who are homeless
  • providing a forum for sharing information and addressing issues impacting upon people who are homeless
  • enhancing the community’s understanding of the issues faced by people who are homeless, and providing the community with opportunities to participate in actions to address homelessness issues
  • monitoring homelessness and informing and advocating as required
  • reviewing Action Plans of the NHHIN, which will be readily available to both members and the broader community and modifying as required
  • reporting annually to the community on the undertakings
  • seeking additional resources to assist in addressing homelessness

To achieve its aims the NHHIN will communicate in the following ways:

Host a forum of the general membership (and other interested persons) at least every twelve months where:

  • issues relevant to homelessness in Newcastle and the Hunter are discussed,
  • the NHHIN Action Plan will be revised to reflect prioritised issues of homelessness in Newcastle and the Hunter
  • actions undertaken in the preceding months by the Steering Group and current Working Groups will be shared
  • Maintain a Steering Group
  • Initiate Working Groups which will have representation on the Steering Group, thus providing for exchange of information between these two Groups.

Matters falling within the Terms of Reference of the NHHIN may be referred to the Steering Group as they arise by:

  • the Working Groups,
  • the general NHHIN membership or
  • by the broader community.

The NHHIN and Conflict of Interest

The NHHIN membership consists of representatives from various government and community agencies/organisations and departments. The NHHIN recognises that at times, some actions of the NHHIN may be in conflict with, or compromise some members, as representatives of their agency/organisation/department. At such times members may declare a conflict of interest, which will be noted, and may abstain from involvement in that action of the NHHIN (and may nominate to have that abstention publicly noted in appropriate forums).