Anti-Poverty Week 2025
13–19 October 2025
Lakeside Joondalup (near Coles)
The Joondalup Wanneroo Ending Homelessness Group, a coalition of over 25 local community organisations, service providers and government departments, invite you to join them during Anti-Poverty Week for a time of connection, awareness, and action.
Eye Contact Photography by Phil England
Real stories, real faces - highlighting the lived experiences behind homelessness and housing insecurity.
Portrait photography series ‘Eye Contact’, supported by Heirisson Rotary Club
Hardship support
Learn about supports available for people in hardship and how you can make a difference.
Whether you’re looking for support, wanting to make a difference, or want to understand homelessness - this week is for you! Available on the day:
- Vinnies WA homelessness support packs.
- No Limits Perth emergency relief food supplies.
- Website and flyers with service information.
Please see below schedule for Joondalup Wanneroo Ending Homelessness Group agencies represented, note information on all partnership agencies will be available across the week.
Let’s stand together to end poverty and homelessness. Because change begins in community.
The Joondalup Wanneroo Ending Homelessness Group (JWHEG) is a collaboration of local governments, community organisations and service providers working together to prevent and respond to homelessness in the region. The group is currently led by Vinnies WA and Mercycare and supported by the Cities of Joondalup and Wanneroo and a broad range of agencies, community groups and government representatives.
The group plays an integral role in the delivery of the Joondalup Wanneroo Regional Homelessness Plan.
The Anti-Poverty Week 2025 activation at Lakeside Joondalup is an inaugural JWHEG initiative, highlighting local partnerships and the supports available for people experiencing hardship.
Roster of agencies
| Date | Time | Organisation(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Monday 13 October |
9am–1pm | Australian Red Cross, The Salvation Army |
| 1pm–5.30pm | The Salvation Army, Vinnies WA | |
| Tuesday 14 October | 9am–1pm | Australian Red Cross, The Salvation Army |
| 1pm–5.30pm | The Salvation Army, Vinnies WA | |
| Wednesday 15 October | 9am–1pm | MercyCare, Beneath the Surface |
| 1pm–5.30pm | The Spiers Centre, City of Wanneroo | |
| Thursday 16 October | 9am–1pm | Australian Red Cross |
| 1pm–5.30pm | Anglicare WA | |
| 5.30pm–9pm | The Spiers Centre, MercyCare, City of Wanneroo, Anglicare WA | |
| Friday 17 October | 9am–1pm | MercyCare |
| 1pm–5.30pm | Anglicare WA, Vinnies WA | |
| Saturday 18 October | 9am–1pm | MercyCare, Vinnies WA, Youth Futures |
| 1pm–5pm | No Limits Perth, Youth Futures | |
| Sunday 19 October | 11am–2pm | No Limits Perth, Vinnies WA, Youth Futures |
| 2pm–6pm | Anglicare WA, Youth Futures |
City of Joondalup
Homelessness is a complex issue that requires awareness, compassion and coordinated action. The City of Joondalup works with local agencies and the community to provide information, connections and practical ways to make a difference.
On our homelessness page you can find:
- How to report and respond if you see someone sleeping rough
- Key emergency and crisis support services
- Local organisations offering food relief, accommodation and financial help
- Information on the Joondalup Wanneroo Ending Homelessness Group (JWHEG) and how it brings services and agencies together
- The City of Joondalup Community Directory includes a range of support services information including for Crisis and Hardship.
- Ways you can help — from donating and volunteering to fostering respectful community attitudes
City facilities also play a role in creating safe, welcoming spaces. Local libraries and other community facilities provide access to information, programs, and inclusive places where people can connect and feel supported.
For more information, visit the City's Homelessness page.
City of Wanneroo
The City of Wanneroo employs over 1,000 people, many of whom are local residents. This dedicated team works hard to make the City a great place to live, work and visit, where people feel safe and have access to facilities and services that help them stay active and connected.
The City of Wanneroo has a joint Regional Homelessness Plan (RHP) with the City of Joondalup, built on three pillars:
- Community capacity, understanding, and engagement.
- Prevention and early intervention.
- Homelessness response.
For more information, visit Homelessness and Hardship Support - City of Wanneroo
Both cities support the Joondalup Wanneroo Ending Homelessness Group to implement actions aligned with the RHP.
Accessing support services
WA Connect is an online directory of services in Western Australia for emergency support and community aid. It helps people find outlets and programs near them for things like emergency accommodation, rent assistance, food vouchers, legal help, family domestic violence services, mental health & wellbeing, financial services, and more.
Website: waconnect.org.au
Local support services – Antipoverty Week partners
Free, independent and confidential support to people experiencing financial difficulties. Financial Counsellors offer advice, information, support and advocacy with knowledge in:
- Consumer credit law.
- Debt enforcement practices.
- Bankruptcy processes.
- Industry hardship policies.
- Government concession frameworks.
The service provides strategies to help manage both short-term and longer-term financial situations.
Anglicare WA also provides a range of housing and homelessness support services across the Perth metropolitan area, including programs delivered from Joondalup, as well as emergency relief to individuals in crisis.
Anglicare WA Joondalup Office
Location: 68 Reid Promenade, Joondalup
Phone: (08) 9301 8500
Website: www.anglicarewa.org.au
The Department of Communities – Housing office in Joondalup provides assistance with public housing, rental assistance and support for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Services include:
- Applications for public housing and bond assistance.
- Information on rent assistance and housing support programs.
- Advice for tenants in public housing.
- Referrals to crisis accommodation and homelessness services.
Location: 380 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup WA 6027 Cylex Australia+1
Phone: (08) 9404 3300
Website: www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-communities/housing
ECU provides a wide range of free or low-cost services to support students experiencing hardship, housing stress, or personal challenges. Services are confidential, inclusive, and designed to help students succeed both academically and personally.
Services include:
- The Living Room – A place to access peer support and guidance around mental health and wellbeing.
- Psychological Counselling Support – Free, inclusive and confidential counselling service for all ECU students.
- ECU Health Service – Affordable and accessible health service for staff and students.
- Student Success – Help to navigate study or personal challenges, with tailored plans to succeed.
- Housing Advice Service – Assistance to find and secure appropriate accommodation and help with tenancy matters.
- Financial Wellbeing – Guidance to access financial wellbeing resources.
- Student Incident and Support – Compassionate, confidential support for students experiencing distressing or complex situations.
- Access and Inclusion – Support for students with diverse study needs.
- Kurongkurl Katitjin – Dedicated Student Success Officers supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across all ECU campuses and online.
- ECU Student Guild – Welfare and financial support, advocacy and representation.
Website: www.ecu.edu.au
Grace Café offers free meals, hot drinks and pantry staples to people who are in hardship. The café is a welcoming place to share a meal and conversation, run by volunteers and supported by donations.
The café runs on Mondays and Thursdays from 10am to 12pm (set up from 9.30am, pack down 30 minutes after close) at Grace Anglican Church, ground floor of Shenton House, on the southeast corner of Grand Boulevard and Shenton Avenue in Joondalup. It is easily accessed by the CAT bus running from Joondalup Station. Services include:
- Free meals (eat-in or takeaway) and hot drinks.
- Food staples to take home.
- A safe and friendly space to connect with others.
Please contact Peter on pryan13147@gmail.com or Steven s.haskayne@icloud.com for further information.
MercyCare’s Family and Community Services provide a wide range of supports to help individuals and families who may be experiencing challenges to feel safe, connected and empowered. Hardship-related programs and supports include:
- Housing and tenancy support.
- Family and domestic violence support.
- Family and parenting support.
- Mental health services.
MercyCare staff work alongside people to strengthen relationships, build resilience, and create positive change. Support is tailored to individual needs, helping people navigate challenges and access the right resources.
Address: 38 Ord Street, West Perth
Phone: (08) 9442 3444
Website: www.mercycare.com.au
The NSCLC provides free legal advice, support and community education across a range of areas, including financial education. Services include:
- Workshops and support to build money skills.
- Education on how to protect against scams.
- Confidence-building to manage everyday finances.
- Advice linked to tenancy, consumer disputes, debt, and other financial matters.
Location: 10 Chesterfield Road, Mirrabooka WA 6061 (head office, services also delivered at other locations including Joondalup)
Phone: (08) 9440 1663
Website: NSC Legal Inc
No Limits Perth provides practical support to individuals and families experiencing hardship. Each week, the organisation offers food hampers, household furniture, white goods, clothing, and emergency relief. Community Hubs also provide wrap-around services where people can access information, referrals, and personal support in a safe and welcoming space. Support services include:
- Emergency food relief and pantry staples.
- Assistance with clothing, furniture and essential household goods.
- Help with utility bills and other emergency needs (when resources allow).
- Access to Community Hubs for referrals, information, and one-on-one support.
- Opportunities to connect with others through community events and activities.
Ways to help include:
- Donating pantry items, gift cards, or pre-loved household goods.
- Volunteering time at a hub or program.
- Making a financial gift to keep services running and expand support.
Phone: 0490 676 979
Website: www.nolimitsperth.org.au
The PGCNV provides a range of services for women, children and families escaping and affected by family and domestic violence (FDV) and abuse in Western Australia. Services and programs include:
- Safe crisis accommodation and emergency support including in Joondalup and Merriwa.
- Counselling and therapeutic programs for women and children.
- Advocacy, information and referrals to specialist services.
- Outreach support for families rebuilding their lives.
- Education and prevention programs to break the cycle of violence.
Phone: (08) 9300 0340
Address: 40 Brewer Place, Mirrabooka
Website: www.patgilescentre.org.au
The Private Tenancy Support Service helps people living in private rentals in Perth’s North West Metropolitan area to keep or regain stable housing. Services include:
- Up to 16 weeks of case management to develop long-term housing solutions.
- Identifying and addressing issues that place a tenancy at risk.
- Advocacy with landlords and real estate agents to resolve tenancy matters.
- Assistance with rent arrears where the tenancy can be sustained.
- Support to find alternative accommodation if the tenancy cannot continue.
In addition to tenancy support, Australian Red Cross also provides a range of other services in Perth to assist people experiencing hardship - including emergency relief, help for migrants and refugees, community resilience programs, and support during disasters.
Website: www.redcross.org.au/findhelp
The Salvation Army (TSA) delivers a wide range of homelessness services to individuals and families who are either experiencing or are at risk of homelessness across Western Australia. Support is tailored to individual need, focused on dignity, inclusion and long-term stability. Services include:
Emergency accommodation and referral support services
Providing crisis accommodation for 3-6 months for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Residents are supported with onsite case management, to identify and address the challenges that have contributed to their homelessness.
Assertive Outreach Services
The Salvation Army Assertive Outreach Services include, the Assertive Outreach Team, Street Outreach Service, Subiaco Engagement and Assessment Team and the Wanneroo Engagement and Assessment Team. These services provide a mix of roving responses, engagement hubs and food services. This ensures that those who are sleeping rough, have access to case support for referrals to accommodation services and other supports, food, showers, laundries, sleeping bags, clothing, footwear and hygiene packs.
Community Outreach Services provided by The Salvation Army include:
- Family Accommodation Program.
- Independent Community Living Program.
- Street to Home Program.
All community outreach programs support individuals and families, living in community, for 12- 24 months with intensive case management, which include but is not limited to advocacy, tenancy support and stabilisation, referrals, service linkages, financial (when available) and social support.
Location: Various locations within metropolitan Perth
Website: www.salvationarmy.org.au
The Spiers Centre provides support to individuals and families facing financial hardship, housing stress and other life challenges. Free services include:
- Emergency relief such as food hampers, vouchers, clothing and household items.
- Financial counselling and financial capability education.
- Tenancy support and advocacy for people in private rentals or public housing.
- Family support services, including parenting programs and referrals.
- Information, advocacy and links to other community services.
- Energy Ahead Program – helping households reduce energy costs, improve energy efficiency and access hardship support programs.
Location: 2 Albatross Court, Heathridge (head office, services also delivered across Joondalup and surrounds)
Phone: (08) 9401 2699
Website: www.thespierscentre.com.au
Uniting WA delivers a wide range of services to people experiencing hardship, homelessness, housing stress and disadvantage. Support is tailored to individual needs, focusing on dignity, inclusion and long-term stability. Services include:
- Crisis and transitional accommodation for individuals and families.
- Housing and tenancy support programs.
- Financial counselling and emergency relief.
- Family and domestic violence services.
- Support for young people, seniors and people living with disability.
- Community engagement programs to build inclusion and wellbeing.
Location (North Metro office): 10/136 Winton Road, Joondalup WA 6027 (appointments only)
Phone: (08) 9220 1222
Website: www.unitingwa.org.au
The Vinnies Support Centre in Joondalup is a community-based service offering emergency relief and financial counselling. Friendly staff and volunteers provide practical support to people experiencing financial crisis or personal hardship. Services include:
- Emergency relief and financial counselling.
- Food hampers and clothing.
- General support for people in crisis.
Opening hours:
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday: 10am–1pm
Other services Vinnies provides beyond the centre include:
- Home visits offering personalised support and referrals.
- Assistance with essential household items and furniture.
- Advocacy and links to specialist services.
- Support for people experiencing homelessness through outreach and programs such as Passages Youth Engagement Hubs.
Location: 2/209 Winton Road, Joondalup
Phone: (08) 9300 9634
Website: www.vinnies.org.au/page/Find_Help/WA
Youth Futures provides support for young people aged 11–25 who are experiencing hardship, homelessness or struggling to stay engaged in education and community life. Services include:
- Emergency relief such as food hampers, toiletries and vouchers (available up to three times per year).
- Case management and advocacy to help with housing, tenancy issues, money problems or referrals to other services.
- Wellbeing and informal counselling support.
- Access to education, training and employment pathways.
- A safe space at the Joondalup office to talk with staff and connect to help.
Address: 1/70 Davidson Terrace, Joondalup
Phone: (08) 9300 2677
Website: youthfutureswa.com.au
Ways you can help
City of Joondalup
Report and respond if you see someone sleeping rough via the City’s Homelessness website.
Share information about local supports to build awareness and compassion.
Volunteer with local services or donate through approved hardship relief programs. Contact the Volunteer Joondalup – Resource Centre for information on volunteering.
For further information, visit the City's Homelessness page.
City of Wannero
Report if you see someone sleeping rough within the City of Wanneroo by calling 9405 5000.
Support awareness campaigns and events promoting inclusion and prevention.
Share information about local supports to build awareness and compassion.
Volunteer with the City of Wanneroo - Volunteers are a highly valued part of the City and play a vital role in making our communities stronger, especially during times of need, crisis or isolation.
Websites:
www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/homelessnessandhardship
www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au/volunteers
Grace Café – Joondalup
Volunteer in set-up, food preparation, serving meals, or pack down.
Donate pantry staples, store gift cards, or contribute towards running costs.
Support the café by spreading awareness and referring those in need.
Text Peter: 0491 048 207
No Limits Perth
Donate pantry items, gift cards, or pre-loved furniture and goods.
Volunteer at Community Hubs to assist with food relief and client support.
Provide financial gifts to keep services running and expand support.
Website: www.nolimitsperth.org.au
Salvation Army
Volunteer in outreach teams, meal preparation, or family programs.
Donate goods, clothing, or funds to support local homelessness services.
Contribute items like blankets, sleeping bags, and hygiene packs.
Website: www.salvationarmy.org.au
The Spiers Centre
Donate non-perishable food, pantry items, clothing, or vouchers to support families in need.
Volunteer in the Heathridge Centre to support our financial counselling, tenancy support, or community programs.
Assist with community engagement and fundraising initiatives.
Website: www.thespierscentre.com.au
Uniting WA
Volunteer to assist with accommodation programs, food relief, or community events.
Donate financially to support crisis accommodation and family services.
Provide household goods or essential items to people setting up homes.
Website: unitingwa.org.au/get-involved
Vinnies WA – Joondalup Support Centre
Donate to Vinnies WA appeals to help people in crisis.
Volunteer at the Joondalup Support Centre or through outreach programs.
Contribute food, clothing, furniture, or essential household items.
Website: www.vinnies.org.au/wa/get-involved
Youth Futures WA
Youth Futures – Joondalup
Donate food, gift cards, or pre-loved goods to support young people in crisis.
Volunteer in programs assisting with education, housing, and wrap-around support.
Assist with community engagement and fundraising initiatives.
Website: youthfutureswa.com.au