ANU staff and students don't take social justice issues lying down - except on this night

In two weeks, the lawns of Chifley Meadows at ANU Library will be overtaken by dozens of ANU students and staff members, armed with sleeping bags and on a mission.

The Vinnies on Campus ANU Sleepout 2024 to be held on 14 August is a chance for them to raise awareness of issues around homelessness and raise much-needed funds for St Vincent de Paul Society ANU Conference.

The conference is a group of volunteer ANU students and staff members who help young people on campus and in and around Canberra City and suburbs on behalf of Vinnies.

Volunteers conduct home visits for people who are at risk of homelessness or struggling below the poverty line, providing material aid and referrals to relevant services.

Vinnies Youth Liaison Officer Jordan Thuma says the conference is designed as the ideal way for busy students to “get a taste” of charity work.

“It is a fantastic option for students to engage in the charity space because it’s a flexible volunteering opportunity” he says.

“Through the conference our volunteers see there are all kinds of options out there that suit the students who work for us. They can be involved in helping people and making a difference, despite the study load and inexperience.

“We find a lot of young people become more involved in the charity space after getting a taste, and take part in organising events like the Sleepout.”

Last year about 70 students and staff members participated in the Vinnies on Campus ANU Sleepout 2024, raising $18,000 – and there are hopes to repeat those numbers this year.

The funds go straight to the ANU Conference, allowing students to conduct home visits but also enact their own ideas to help people, such as events to raise awareness of various advocacy and social justice issues. Innovation is encouraged.

“If a student comes to us with a cool idea of how to help people, the conference is a vessel to make that happen,” Jordan says.

“Some of the issues are quite close to home. Some students do it tough. A lot of the time it’s international students who might be feeling the impacts of isolation and financial strain. Finding safe and stable work as an international student can be quite fraught, and the cost-of-living crisis has exacerbated that situation.”

Apart from raising funds, the Sleepout also aims to raise awareness among young people about people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

The night includes an expert panel event on homelessness in the ACT, which this year includes Minister for Homelessness and Housing Services Rebecca Vassarotti and Vinnies social justice coordinator Kwadwo Owusu.

“The students are always engaged in the discussion; they ask a lot of questions about how we can solve things. We also find out more about what Vinnies does to help people in the community, and ways we can pitch in,” Jordan says.

Last year the ANU Conference assisted over 300 people. The Sleepout is its only fundraising event of the year and supports its efforts for the entire year to come.

“Last year it was minus one degree [Celsius], but I have every faith our students and staff will brave the cold again to help us reach our goal,” Jordan says.

“This generation is compassionate and attuned to the world’s problems; they get involved in social justice issues and take an interest. We need to harness that passion and give them the tools and knowledge they need to make changes in the areas they care about.

“I think events like this, and working for the conference, you start to understand that volunteering is so good for you as a human being, for your mental health and your connectedness. It’s a powerful way for a young person to manage stress and mental health as they grow up and find their place in the world.”

To donate or participate visit the Vinnies on Campus ANU Sleepout 2024.