Heather NancarrowDirector of CQU's Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, Heather Nancarrow has been appointed to a Federal Government steering committee to help combat homelessness in Australia.

The steering committee met for the first time this week (Tuesday March 11).

On January 27, the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek MP, announced that the Government would develop a White Paper on Homelessness to set the agenda on the issue for the next decade. A discussion paper will be released in May, with a White Paper released in August/September.

The Government has asked the Steering Group to ensure that the White Paper sets a clear plan of action to improve the social and economic participation of people who are homeless.

Ms Nancarrow, who is based in Mackay in Central Queensland, is an expert on family and domestic violence who has previously provided advice to the Federal and State Governments on the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program.

With more than 23 years of experience, Ms Nancarrow has worked in both direct service provision in women's shelters, as well as in Government and academia. In this time she has shown leadership and made significant contributions to violence prevention.

She has successfully contributed to the establishment of services for women and children including the Chisholm Women's Shelter.

Over the last decade Ms Nancarrow has led developments in legislative reform to protect women and children from family violence.