A GROUP of students at St Mary MacKillop College are embracing a national St Vincent de Paul initiative that fosters greater awareness of homelessness.
On Friday, June 19 the Social Justice Committee are encouraging fellow students to ‘sleep rough’ for a night, in an attempt to gain insight into the 105,000 Australians who are without a roof every night of the year.
“I’m trying to bring it back [the sleepout] because I think it’s a really good initiative,” said committee captain Jaymie Probyn.
“Its all about experiencing what homeless people experience.”
The Year 12 student believes that although homelessness looks different in Swan Hill than in big cities like Melbourne, it is still very much in our midst.
“I’ve seen a few people who carry around a sleeping bag [in Swan Hill],” she said.
“It’s a big problem in Australia and our community.
“I’d like to get as many students to come as possible.”
For more on this story, grab a copy of Monday’s Guardian (May 4).
