Paul Pendergast

Paul has maintained a long-term commitment to addressing housing inequality in Australia. His involvement in housing issues began in 1984, when he assisted young people with the transition from wardship to independent housing as a youth worker in Sydney. Later he worked in a crisis refuge providing supported accommodation to homeless young people.

In 1988 he moved to Western Australia to work with homeless young people in Fremantle. From 1993 Paul worked as an independent consultant and with the Community Housing Coalition of WA, where his achievements included establishing five regional housing associations and conducting an affordable housing study for the City of Subiaco. Since 2001 he has worked as Research and Policy Manager with Shelter WA, developing housing policy on issues affecting low income housing consumers.

Paul holds a Graduate Certificate in Housing Management and Policy from Swinburne University of Technology. His representative positions include membership of the Housing Advisory Committee and chair of Homeswest Operational Standing Committee. Paul has been the chair of National Shelter since 2002.