The return of the Sydney SleepOut

The strong foundations for this year’s event were set all the way back in 2021 when our NSW Future Leaders hosted the Virtual SleepOut. We had the team, we had the amazing supporters, but now we needed a healthy 2022 to bring us back together. The sky cleared (both metaphorically and on the day) to give us and our fantastic supporters the green light to bring back the Sydney SleepOut!

The beautiful Centennial Park played host to our return to sleeping out for homeless youth, with great open spaces to set up sleeping bags, chairs, food and games. Our participants quickly made the park their home away from home. Groups began setting up, playing games, laying out on picnic blankets and most importantly reconnecting with one another as the sun began to set.

As it got darker the warm comfort of fire-making classes, live music and sweet and savoury food trucks made festivities all the more relaxing.

We then got to stand by the fire and hear from Simon Takio from Oasis Case Management Services Sydney at The Salvation Army, Foundation CEO Kate Mills, while Aunty Maxine from the LA Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council welcomed us to country on behalf of the Gadigal and Bidjigal people. Our supporters got to listen and engage on the topic of youth homelessness from those having to help solve it on the front lines, we learned of the weight being homeless truly brings on a young person’s life and got to reflect on the importance of support and the work being done to build more bedrooms through the Haven Project.

After a great afternoon, the night winded down with some nighttime games, chats and snacks before our supports made good on their promise to SleepOut for homeless youth.

To our sleepers and everyone that supported our sleepers through donating, you have helped contribute over $72,000 in funds to Haven Projects in NSW! What a brilliant result.

Thank you to everyone that fundraised in the lead-up to the big night, the food trucks Ynot Crepes and Top Dog, Matt Sartori for providing the tunes and singalong, Centennial Park, and finally our fantastic NSW Future Leaders Committee.

 “SleepOut 2022 was a fantastic success and we thank everyone for taking on the challenge and raising essential funds for the South Dowling Project. We hope everyone faced the challenge and learnt something new about themselves or the work of the Property Industry Foundation. See you next year!”

Cameron Gardiner, Co-Chair NSW Future Leaders Committee and Assistant Development Manager – Real Estate NSW/ACT | McDonald’s Australia Ltd.

Bids are still open for our Silent Auction thanks to: