Students set to sleep rough to assist Vinnies

Published: 20 June 2010
By: Paul Dobbyn

School sleepover: Students from five Catholic schools in the Brisbane archdiocese have chosen to sleep overnight in city streets next month.

STUDENTS from five Catholic schools in the Brisbane archdiocese have chosen to sleep out overnight next month.

The students from Mt Maria College, Enogerra; Xavier College, Hervey Bay; St Patrick's Primary, Nanango; Brigidine College, Indooroopilly; and St Peter Claver College, Riverview will spend a night sleeping rough to raise funds and awareness of the plight of the homeless.

The sleepover, for one night between July 19 and 23, is part of Queensland St Vincent de Paul Society's new "school sleepover" initiative.

The society's state youth representative Kathleen Ferrero said the school sleepover allowed students and school communities to connect on a personal level with the issue of homelessness by sleeping out for one night.

"The students' support will also raise funds to support the St Vincent de Paul Society's work and enhance existing Winter Appeal fundraising initiatives within schools," Ms Ferrero said.

"It is a chance for schools to really connect with what being homeless is like - whether that is simply sleeping in a classroom, or in an auditorium.

"Definitely, the experience of not having a place to call 'home' will resonate."

Ms Ferrero said other schools from Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton had also indicated an interest to "get on board".

Meanwhile, Brisbane's first ever Vinnies CEO (chief executive officer) Sleepout was held on the night of June 17 at the Suncorp Piazza, South Bank.

Influential business leaders were given just a piece of cardboard to sleep on, a mug of soup and a few cups of coffee to sustain them through the city's winter night.

The events are part of a national St Vincent de Paul Society campaign to raise awareness of the need for long-term housing solutions for Australia's homeless.

Queensland has the second-highest number of homeless people in Australia at almost 25,000.

An estimated 105,000 people sleep out across Australia every night.