Winter sleepout

What does it mean to go without a safe and secure place to sleep?

Last Thursday, our Year 11 students explored this question during this year’s Winter Sleepout, spending a night on campus to gain a greater understanding of the experiences of people facing homelessness in our community.

Students set up their own sleeping areas using sleeping bags, cardboard and tarps before sharing dinner around the fire and hearing from Serena from Yes-Unlimited about homelessness in the Albury-Wodonga region. They also watched a documentary featuring first-hand stories of homelessness across Australia, providing plenty of opportunity for discussion and reflection.

The following day, our wider College community got behind the cause with Flannelette Friday. Thanks to the generosity of our students and families, more than $650 was raised, along with a trailer load of non-perishable food donated to Carevan and Foodshare.

A wonderful effort from our Year 11 students, who showed empathy, compassion and a genuine willingness to learn more about an issue affecting people in our own community.

Thank you to our staff for supporting the students throughout the initiative, and joining them for the sleepout, and Border Markets and Locky’s Countryside Meats for their generous support.