ABSTRACT
The prevalence of children and young people who experience homelessness around the world is on the rise. Studies have shown that children may begin running away from home in primary school, and many argue that early intervention should occur in preschool. Students in and out of home care and/or those who have experienced violence in the home are shown to be particularly vulnerable. Both primary and secondary schools can play an important role in the identification and prevention of youth homelessness through the establishment of effective partnerships with specialised local services. This policy applies to school leadership and student wellbeing and teaching staff and promotes formalised collaborations with relevant service providers to facilitate professional development and support of teachers, seamless school-community partnerships and the linking in of families and students to appropriate services.
