80 young students in Melbourne’s northern suburbs have been tackling the enduring barriers to ending homelessness: stigma, myths, and misconceptions. We chat with them about how our Schools for Change classroom resources help to shift the narrative on homelessness, deepen empathy, bust myths, and empower students to stand up for the rights of others.
Last year as World Homeless Day was marked across the globe, 10 year old Anjali was busy reading and advocating for those experiencing homelessness after seeing people sleeping rough in her local area. Her passion and action has resulted in $2,750 being raised to support grassroots responses to homelessness in Melbourne. The StreetSmart team sat down with Anjali to hear more about her motivations and congratulate her on an incredible outcome in advocacy and impact!
Too many children are starting the new year living in tents, caravans, motel rooms, and cars as our homelessness crisis deepens. We are on a mission to raise vital funds and awareness to provide essential services such as trauma informed therapy, back to school educational needs, and provide safe accommodation.
Recently we’ve had some passionate young people taking the lead in their school communities to talk about homelessness, break down stigma, and raise much needed funds for their local services. Our Schools for Change program helps to connect studnets, staff and schools to the topic of homelessness through creative, flexible, and evidence based activities and resources.
Homelessness week is around the corner in August (Monday 7 to Sunday 13) with the theme of ‘it’s time to end homelessness.’ Schools for Change is helping classrooms and communities across Australia to learn, engage, and advocate during this important week.
While StreetSmart has been engaging with schools for years, our new program Schools for Change, has recently launched as an exciting offering to school communities across Australia. The program incorporates free, age-appropriate educational resources like curriculum aligned lessons with fundraising support to engage and empower school communities.
StreetSmart is an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming workplace that values diversity of expression. We know that members of the LGBTQIA+ community are particularly vulnerable to experiencing homelessness and we partner with organisations that work to support people in need, without discrimination or prejudice.
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the unceded lands on which our organisation is located and where we conduct our business. We pay our respects to Elders, past and present. StreetSmart is committed to honouring Indigenous peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society.
Privacy Statement | ABN 51 106 387 446 | Donations $2 & over are tax deductible in Australia | © 2024 StreetSmart Australia. All Rights Reserved, Streetsmart Australia
