Express an Interest

Targeting:
Females, Youth/Students, People with Disabilities, Seniors/Retired People, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander, English as an additional language or dialect, LGBTQI

Our Vision is that everyone in Australia has a safe and secure place to call home.

We’re a small but mighty not-for-profit with a national reach, raising funds through campaigns like CafeSmart, DineSmart, and SleepSafe, and our ongoing work with philanthropy, the corporate sector and wider community.

We have distributed grants and material to over 1,000 local organisations since 2003 and have a strong focus on also raising awareness, building capacity and widening understanding and education of homelessness in Australia. We know local leaders, volunteers and community groups are best placed to identify what support their communities need, and have solutions and mechanisms in place that work for them and their community.

They are the lifeblood of so many suburbs, towns and regions and play a critical role in creating caring and resilient communities and that's why we believe in keeping our impact local and grassroots.

We see the role of StreetSmart as mobilising community participation to support grassroots responses to homelessness. We direct flexible funding and material aid to local organisations, strengthen and connect the frontline that supports people experiencing homelessness, and amplify the knowledge and experience of the sector to drive greater awareness and collective action.

ABOUT THE ROLE

With a new Strategic Plan and a clear Vision and Purpose - the StreetSmart Board is undertaking a period of renewal that will set the organisation up for future growth and increased impact. We’re looking for passionate, values-driven people with experience in one or more of the following:

• Strategic planning and organisational development
• Risk, governance, or legal oversight
• Advocacy and Thought Leadership
• Lived experience of homelessness or systemic disadvantage
• Housing, homelessness, or social services leadership
• Community development or grassroots organising
• Grant making, social impact, or evaluation

You’ll join a supportive, skills-based Board committed to ethical governance, social justice, and practical support of a lean and dedicated team. As part of this renewal process, we are also seeking a Board Director who is interested in undertaking the role of Company Secretary of the Board as part of their Directorship. Further information about this is available in the position descriptions attached below.

Please note, these are voluntary roles.

ABOUT YOU

You might be a great fit for our Board if you have: 

• A deep commitment to social justice 
• Experience in areas such as strategy, risk, governance, or community development
• Lived experience of homelessness, housing insecurity, or systemic disadvantage — or a strong understanding of the challenges faced by those affected
• Sector knowledge or leadership experience in housing, homelessness, or social services
• Understanding of grant making, grassroots initiatives, or community impact measurement
• The ability to think strategically and contribute to meaningful, big-picture discussions
• A collaborative and values-driven approach to governance and decision-making
• Comfort engaging in respectful debate and working as part of a team
• Willingness to actively contribute between meetings, including supporting events or joining a subcommittee
• AICD/GAICD or other governance qualifications (desirable but not essential) — we welcome candidates who bring strong lived or sector or skills experience, even if they are new to formal Board role

We are actively seeking Board Directors with specific skills listed under "General Duties" in the position description, or for the Company Secretary, listed under "Company Secretary" in the equivalent. We are also are committed to ensuring our Board is diverse, inclusive and represents the communities in which we work and collaborate.

We are particularly interested in applicants who identify as:

• Female or Non-Binary
• From Diverse Cultural Backgrounds
• Lived Experience of Homelessness (either through personal experience or the organisation in which you work)
• People Living with a Disability

We are happy to adjust our recruitment process to support accessibility needs.

Next steps

Detailed PD's can be found at our Ethical Jobs listing- www.ethicaljobs.com.au

Please apply via email- chair@streetsmartaustralia.org

For questions, contact Sally Hines, Chair of the Board at chair@streetsmartaustralia.org using the subject line: Board Directors / Company Secretary (Voluntary).