PRODUCTIVITY COMMISION
4 Reports — Policy, Systems & Care Reform
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RESEARCH 1
The Productivity Commission – Inquiry Report: Mental Health (Volume 1) examines how Australia’s mental health system can be improved to better support people earlier, reduce crisis-driven care, and improve long-term wellbeing and social outcomes.
It argues that the system is too focused on acute and hospital-based treatment, and recommends a stronger shift toward prevention, early intervention, and community-based support services to reduce the overall burden of mental illness.
It argues that the system is too focused on acute and hospital-based treatment, and recommends a stronger shift toward prevention, early intervention, and community-based support services to reduce the overall burden of mental illness.
- Calls for a stronger focus on prevention and early intervention in mental health care
- Highlights over-reliance on hospital and crisis services instead of community support
- Recommends improving access to community-based mental health services
- Emphasises better coordination across health, housing, education, and social services
- Aims to reduce long-term social and economic costs by addressing issues earlier
RESEARCH 2
The report finds that Australia’s housing system is under significant pressure, with rising rents, reduced affordability, and increasing demand for homelessness services. It concludes that the current National Housing and Homelessness Agreement is not effective and needs major reform, with a stronger focus on prevention, early intervention, and coordinated government action.
- Australia has a housing affordability crisis, especially for low-income renters
- Demand for homelessness services and social housing is increasing
- The current national agreement is seen as ineffective and poorly coordinated
- Calls for stronger focus on early intervention and homelessness prevention
- Recommends better coordination between federal, state, and territory governments
- Suggests improving housing supply and targeting assistance to those in greatest need
RESEARCH 3
The report examines how Australia can deliver higher quality care more efficiently across health and social service systems. It recommends major reforms to improve coordination, regulation, and investment in prevention and early intervention to reduce long-term demand on crisis services.
- Focuses on improving efficiency and quality across the care system (health, aged care, disability, community services)
- Recommends stronger prevention and early intervention investment
- Calls for better coordination between government and service providers
- Supports collaborative commissioning to integrate services
- Aims to reduce pressure on crisis and hospital-based care through earlier support
RESEARCH 4
This paper explains what effective early intervention looks like across whole service systems such as health, education, housing, and social services. It identifies the key system features needed to shift services from crisis response to early, coordinated, and prevention-focused support for individuals and families.
- Service systems are often too focused on crisis and treatment, rather than prevention.
- Early intervention works best when services act early at the first point of contact, not after problems escalate.
- Successful systems need strong cross-sector coordination (health, housing, education, justice).
- Data systems and evidence use are important for tracking outcomes and improving services.
- Services should be person-centred, flexible, and integrated across agencies.
- Effective early intervention requires ongoing investment and system-wide reform, not isolated programs.
RESEARCH 1 : Ending Homelessness in Australia
The AHURI research contributes to early intervention and the prevention of homelessness in Queensland by encouraging a shift from crisis responses to more proactive support services.
- Identifying people at risk early and providing support before homelessness occurs.
- Improving coordination between housing, health, education, employment, and community services.
- Supporting place-based and culturally appropriate approaches for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and regional communities.
RESEARCH 2: Housing First: An Evidence Review of Implementation, Effectiveness and Outcomes
The AHURI research on Housing First contributes to homelessness intervention and prevention by showing that stable housing combined with support services leads to better long-term outcomes for people experiencing chronic homelessness.
- Provides immediate access to stable housing with ongoing support services.
- Improves long-term housing stability for people experiencing homelessness.
- Reduces hospital admissions and involvement with the justice system.
- Encourages person-centred and culturally appropriate support approaches.
- Supports coordinated services to prevent repeated homelessnes
RESEARCH 3 : Workplace Trauma on Social Housing and Homelessless Frontline
The AHURI research on workplace trauma contributes to homelessness intervention and prevention programs by highlighting the importance of supporting frontline workers who provide housing and homelessness services. The study shows that improving staff wellbeing, safety, training, and workplace support can strengthen service delivery, reduce staff burnout, and improve outcomes for people at risk of homelessness.
- Improves support and safety for frontline homelessness workers.
- Recommends better staffing, supervision, and mental health support.
- Encourages stronger collaboration between housing, health, and community services.
- Helps improve the quality and consistency of homelessness support programs.
- Supports long-term workforce stability to better assist vulnerable people.
RESEARCH 4 : Supporting Families Effectively Through the Homelessness Services System
The AHURI research on supporting families through the homelessness services system contributes to homelessness intervention and prevention programs by identifying ways to better support families at risk of homelessness through coordinated and family-focused services. The study highlights the importance of early intervention, rapid rehousing, affordable housing, and stronger collaboration between housing, domestic violence, and community support services to improve long-term housing stability for families.
- Supports early intervention and prevention for families at risk of homelessness. Encourages better coordination between housing, domestic violence, and community services.
- Promotes rapid rehousing and access to affordable housing.
- Recommends a “no wrong door” approach to improve access to support services. Focuses on improving long-term housing stability and wellbeing for families.
RESEARCH 5: An Effective Homelessness Services System for Older Australians
The AHURI research contributes to homelessness intervention and prevention programs by identifying better ways to support older Australians who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The study highlights the need for affordable housing, early intervention, and better coordination between homelessness, health, and aged care services to improve long-term housing stability and wellbeing for older people.
- Supports early intervention for older people at risk of homelessness.
- Encourages better coordination between housing, health, and aged care services.
- Promotes more affordable and appropriate housing options.
- Highlights the importance of long-term and person-centred support.
- Focuses on improving wellbeing and housing stability for older Australians.
SPECIALIST RESEARCH
3 Reports — UPSTREAM AUSTRALIA, FIRST NATIONS RESEARCH & ECONOMIC RESEARCH
RESEARCH 1 : Early Intervention
The paper discusses a coordinated early intervention model that connects schools with housing and support services to identify and assist young people at risk of homelessness. It argues that prevention is more effective when services work together early rather than responding after homelessness has already occurred.
- Focuses on early identification of at-risk young people, especially through schools
- Promotes collaboration between education, housing, and support services
- Supports prevention-based approaches instead of crisis responses
- Highlights the importance of community-based and coordinated service systems
- Aims to reduce youth homelessness by intervening before housing breakdown occurs
RESEARCH 2 : Shifting the Focus of Child and Youth Wellbeing Programs
The study examines how child and youth wellbeing services in Australia can move from crisis-driven responses to early intervention and prevention. It highlights the role of First Nations community-controlled organisations in improving coordination, cultural safety, and outcomes for children and young people.
- Promotes a shift from crisis response to early intervention and prevention
- Emphasises First Nations community-controlled organisations in service delivery
- Focuses on place-based and culturally safe approaches
- Supports better coordination across child, youth, and wellbeing services
- Aims to improve long-term outcomes and reduce service system pressure
RESEARCH 3 : Economic Cost
The Front Project report (Cost of Late Intervention 2024) focuses on the economic and social impact of not providing early support to children and families in Australia. It shows that delaying intervention leads to higher costs in areas such as child protection, health, youth justice, and unemployment, and argues that early intervention can prevent these issues and improve long-term outcomes.
- Early intervention reduces the need for crisis services later in life.
- Late intervention leads to high costs in child protection, health, and justice systems.
- Investing early improves outcomes for children, families, and communities.
- Strong early childhood support helps prevent long-term disadvantage.
- Better coordination between services can reduce future social and economic costs.
