Hoodies for
Homelessness Day

As active citizens, St George’s Anglican Grammar School students are well aware of Anglicare WA’s Street Connect Bus, which reaches out to young people on the streets of Perth. We see the mobile youth resource centre in action given it is often parked near the Hay St Mall close to the main school campus on William St.

This year the School launched a new ‘Hoodies for Homelessness Day’ in the lead up to the annual Anglicare School Sleepout held at Optus Stadium.

Swapping their distinctive red blazers for their favourite hoodie saw them contribute $500 towards Team St Georges’ Optus Stadium Sleepout fund-raising goal which has been set this year at $10,000.

Principal, Mrs Tina Campbell - who is this year herself participating in the sleep-out alongside her students – said the ‘Hoodies for Homelessness’ initiative was a fun new fund-raising drive that would directly help the many young people affected by homelessness or hardship.

‘As a School, we firmly believe in young people and we believe that homelessness is a situation that young people can move out of with the right opportunities and support,’’ Mrs Campbell said.

‘Our aim in having a ‘Hoodies for Homelessness’ Day is to raise both funds and awareness of the plight of so many young people currently experiencing homeless within the Perth CBD.

‘The ‘Hoodies for Homelessness’ initiative enhances our Service-Learning Programs and assists us as a school to make a positive difference to the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves.’

The school’s Service-Learning Coordinator, Mr Ryan McBride, who is also taking part in the sleep-out, spoke candidly of the enthusiasm of St George’s students to be involved in this fundraiser and sleepout given their first-hand experience of the plight of young people in the city.

This year 30 students across Years 10 – 12 will make up Team St George’s.

After the Optus Sleepout, St George’s Anglican Grammar School will have its own ‘Sleep Out on the Rooftop’ for students in Years 7-9. This event, now in its third year, is organised by the student Anglicare Ambassadors who, with the aid of a visit from the Street Connect Bus, help to build a better understanding of the work of the Street Connect Bus and its staff within the heart of the Perth CBD.

Header image: Mrs Tina Campbell with Year 10 students wearing hoodies over their uniforms.

Published in Messenger August 2023