Every year, hundreds of business leaders join the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, sleeping rough for one night to raise awareness and funds for the more than 122,000 Australians who are experiencing homelessness.
This year, Moira Shire Council's Director Infrastructure Services Rachael Gadd will give up her warm bed for a night sleeping on cardboard in Melbourne's winter chill on June 18.
Rachael was motivated to join her first Vinnies CEO Sleepout by her encounter with a homeless person. Here she shares that story:
Every day, Mark* sits in the same place.
He sits on the concrete, staring into the distance. He doesn't beg. No matter the weather, he is there. Someone told me he sleeps rough in the park at night.
At first, I didn't engage as I walked past. I avoided eye contact. But it ate away at me – the stark gap in quality of life between his world and mine. This is Australia, the 'Lucky Country'. How does this happen? And what could I possibly do?
Take a moment to think about a 'Mark' or two you may know – the reality is that Mark's story is not uncommon.
At the last Census, 30,660 Victorians were experiencing homelessness. Homelessness in Victoria increased by 24 per cent between 2016 and 2021, far outpacing the national average.
And while many people picture homelessness as sleeping rough, less than 7 per cent of people without a home are on the streets – most are in cars, couch-surfing, or in unsafe and insecure housing. One in four are young people aged 12 to 24, more than 6,800 are children and many are women and children escaping domestic violence situations.
During the January heatwave, when temperatures were reaching 45 degrees in the shade for days on end, I became genuinely worried about Mark's welfare. I stopped and asked how he was coping. He told me he'd found some shady spots and that he was okay.
I mentioned the cooler spaces Moira Shire Council had opened where he could go if the heat became too much. He thanked me but declined.
Still, the ice was broken. Since then, we say hello from time to time. But the question stayed with me: what more could I do?
When an email arrived inviting me to take part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, run by St Vincent de Paul Society, I didn't hesitate. I signed up for Mark – and for the more than 100,000 people supported by Victorian homelessness services each year, many of whom are turned away simply because there are not enough resources.
On Thursday 18 June, I'll be heading to Melbourne to sleep on cardboard for one winter night. My discomfort for a few hours cannot compare to the reality faced by people experiencing homelessness every day – but it can help make a difference.
I'm aiming to raise $5,000 to support St Vincent de Paul's vital work – funding beds, meals and critical support services for people experiencing homelessness across the Hume Region. Thanks to the generosity of my colleagues and friends, more than $2,000 has already been raised.
I'm deeply grateful to everyone who has donated so far, and I now invite others to support this cause if they're able.
Because behind every statistic is a person. And sometimes, change starts with simply saying hello – and choosing to act.
To donate to Rachael's fundraising efforts, scan the QR code below or go to: https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/rachaelgadd/victoria
