Street Swags founder named education patron

Published: 11 May 2008

Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director Mike Byrne has announced Jean Madden as patron for 2008 Catholic Education Week. They are with students at Stuartholme School where Jean teaches part-time

A YOUNG Brisbane woman behind an inititative to provide comfort and dignity for the homeless will be the patron of Catholic Education Week celebrations this year.

In 2005, Catholic school teacher Jean Madden saw an ABC TV documentary highlighting the plight of tens of thousands of Australians "sleeping rough" each night and took on the challenge of doing something about it.

She contacted local charities, government bodies and homeless people themselves to identify their specific needs and, together with her mother Catherine Cloake, designed and produced the first prototype swags.

In 2008, with growing support from the corporate sector, government, charity groups and schools such as Stuartholme School - where she teaches part-time - and Nudgee College in Brisbane, Jean aims to distribute about 4000 Street Swags to homeless people around the nation.

She is aiming to increase this to 10,000 in 2009 which she says still won't come close to meeting demand.

Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director Mike Byrne said he was delighted a young woman of Jean's calibre had accepted the invitation to be patron of Catholic Education Week.

As patron of Catholic Education Week, Jean will visit school communities to share her story with students and staff and participate in several official functions.

Catholic Education Week will be celebrated by Queensland's 286 Catholic school communities, Australian Catholic University and other agencies across the state from July 27 to August 2 this year.