From the Margins to the Frontlines: Erin Longbottom’s Relentless Leadership for the Homeless

by | Aug 8, 2025 | The Courage To Lead Podcast

When Erin Longbottom first stepped into the role of Nurse Unit Manager at the Homeless Health Service at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, outreach was limited. Street-based healthcare was almost unheard of. There were no structured patrols, no daily teams with doctors, psychologists, dentists, or Aboriginal health workers. Just one nurse. Erin.

Fast-forward to today, and Erin Longbottom leads one of Australia’s most progressive, assertive outreach models — providing daily, street-level support to people experiencing homelessness across Sydney. Her team brings healthcare directly to those who need it most, offering not just treatment, but trust.

In her return to The Courage to Lead podcast, Erin shares how her leadership journey is deeply personal. Raised in a strict religious family, Erin faced the pain of exclusion after coming out. Her story of overcoming intergenerational trauma fuels her drive to serve those society often forgets.

But Erin Longbottom’s leadership is more than compassion. She’s grown resources during a health system budget crisis, influenced state and federal policy through strategic storytelling, and advocated fiercely for people on precarious visas. During COVID, her team rolled out vaccinations, testing, and isolation care for people sleeping rough — on the frontlines, every day.

Erin Longbottom: 3 Pillars of Leadership

✨ Empathy
✨ Humanity
✨ Competence

“I always thought somebody should do something. And then I realised I was somebody.”

This episode isn’t just about homelessness — it’s about leading a movement for equity, one courageous act at a time.

Some memorable quotes from Erin Longbottom in this episode:

    1. “I always thought somebody should do something — then I realised I was somebody.”

    2. “We are not here to create more barriers — we’re here to remove them.”

    3. “Empathy leads to behaving with humanity. And you can’t lead without both.”

    4. “We work with people society often wants to ignore. But they are smart, funny, resilient, and just as deserving of care.”

    5. “You have to be great at your job. Empathy without competence will not get the work done.”