Connections Week is a nationally recognised key initiative of the Advance to Zero movement, and one of the strategic priorities of the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness. Designed to help communities better understand local experiences of homelessness and strengthen coordinated responses.

Connections Week utilised a structured methodology that combined direct engagement with people experiencing homelessness, the collection of consistent demographic and needs-based data, and the active provision of information, referrals and support services. This approach was intentionally selected to ensure that local data was gathered through a nationally recognised framework, enabling reliable identification of trends, service gaps and emerging issues within the community.

In the City of Busselton, Connections Week was initiated and led by AccordWest, with strategic partnership and support from the City, The Salvation Army and Lamp Inc. The initiative was further supported by a broad network of community organisations, service providers, businesses, volunteers and people with lived experience who contributed throughout the week.

Participants were invited to complete a survey or register and have a conversation with trained staff, volunteers and service providers. Community organisations, service providers and outreach workers were available throughout the week to provide information, referrals and practical assistance, creating opportunities for people experiencing homelessness to connect with support and services.

This report builds on those conversations by drawing on Connections Week findings, other key publications and community insights to identify emerging local trends, service gaps, barriers to support, and opportunities for collaboration and investment. Together, these insights provide a clearer picture of local need and help ensure future discussions and decisions are informed by lived experience, local knowledge and broader evidence.