Earlier this month students from Burgmann Anglican’s Senior School took part in the annual Anglicare Winter Sleepout—an event now in its second decade, where students voluntarily spend the night on campus—sleeping in classrooms or on the cold gym floor.
The experience, which is designed to give students a glimpse into the discomfort and disruption of sleeping rough, often leaves a lasting impression on those who participate. In fact, one former student, who participated in the sleepout ten years ago, returned this year to photograph the event. She said she vividly recalled her own experience and the impact it had on her understanding of social disadvantage.
David Gilmour, Chaplain at Burgmann Anglican appreciates this connection between the sleepout and the school’s core principals. “Service and empathy remain integral to the Burgmann spirit,” said Burgmann Anglican Chaplain David Gilmour, “allowing young minds to find purpose beyond themselves.”
Anglicare Executive Director of Support Operations and Communications, Sandra Michie came along to thank the students for their involvement, and for the many bags of non-perishable donations they collected for Anglicare’s Emergency Relief teams.
“It is wonderful to see young people get involved in something like this”, she said. “While some students may have experienced disadvantage firsthand, many have not—but their willingness to participate, to listen with empathy about those less fortunate, and to learn how they can help is incredibly heartwarming. That kind of compassion gives us real hope for the future.”
Also present on the night was Taylor Jackson, Team Leader and Youth Worker at Anglicare’s The Junction Youth Health Service— a program offering clinical care, case management and emergency relief to young people facing homelessness. Drawing from her frontline experience supporting youth in crisis, Taylor shared powerful, real-world stories that illustrated how quickly someone’s circumstances can change and how vital it is to understand how to seek help and how to offer it.
Chaplain Gilmour appreciated how well Taylor was able to connect with the students. “It is important for students to hear the perspectives and insights of those who are a similar age to them. There is power in a peer sharing their experience.”
Nearly 60 students participated in this year’s sleepout, each of them giving up their time and their comfort to help others. We are incredibly appreciative of our ongoing relationship with Burgmann Anglican and proud to witness the compassionate and socially aware young people they are helping to shape.
To learn how your school, church, or community group can support Anglicare’s mission, visit our Get Involved page.
