Vinnies CEO Sleepout at Perth Zoo a roaring success
As Perth shivered through a chilly 3C night, Perth Zoo’s main lawn and playgrounds were transformed into an outdoor sleeping ground for 110 WA business and community leaders last Thursday night for Vinnies WA’s 17th annual CEO Sleepout.
Held at the iconic location for the first time, the change of scenery helped drive a significant boost in participation compared to last year, with 110 CEOs, executives and business owners swapping their warm beds for sleeping bags and makeshift cardboard shelters to raise awareness of homelessness.
As donations continue to trickle in, this year’s event has already raised more than $1.1million – a fundraising milestone that hasn’t been reached since 2013.
While spending a night shivering in the cold provided just a glimpse of the harsh conditions faced by thousands of West Australians without a roof over their heads, Vinnies WA CEO Ann Curran said it served as a poignant reminder that this devastating crisis is not going away.
"The housing crisis and rising costs of living continue to push individuals and families to the brink – and we’re seeing that more and more across our services,” Ms Curran said.
“On any given day across WA, 5070 adults are homeless, with recent figures also showing that 830 children and young people were homeless across WA.
“This shouldn’t be happening in our beautiful State. It is heartbreaking to hear so many everyday West Australians are struggling to make ends meet and don’t have a place to call home.”
Ms Curran, who participated in her first sleepout as Vinnies WA CEO, was impressed by the strong turnout for this year’s event.
“We welcomed 110 business and community leaders from across WA, which represents a significant boost in participation compared to last year,” she said.
“At a time when more people are at risk of homelessness than ever before, it is encouraging to see so many business leaders stepping up to make a tangible difference."
“Funds raised through the CEO Sleepout will help ensure Vinnies can continue providing practical support, emergency assistance and pathways out of homelessness for people who need it most."
ABC Perth Radio Breakfast Host and event MC Mark Gibson, who spent the night sleeping rough and broadcast his program live from the zoo on Friday morning, has so far raised more than $37,000 thanks to the generosity of loyal ABC listeners.
This year's event also highlighted a growing demand for Vinnies WA's Emergency Relief services as more people struggle to afford basic essentials such as food, clothing and fuel, while other services such as financial counselling helped pull people out of hardship before they fell into a cycle of poverty and homelessness.
Participants heard firsthand from guest speakers including inspiring young woman Kaya who drew from her own harrowing experience of becoming homeless at the age of 13.
Now on the Youth Homelessness Advisory Council, Kaya actively advocates for others and provided an insight into how Passages Youth Engagement Hubs provided a place of safety, trust and hope when she found herself with nowhere to go and no one to turn to.
“My lived experience taught me what safety should feel like, what support should look like, and what happens when systems fail to listen to the people they’re supposed to help,” Kaya told a room full of WA business and community leaders.
“It taught me resilience, empathy, and the courage to walk into rooms full of professionals and say, ‘This is what young people really need and here’s how you can do better’.”
““My lived experience taught me what safety should feel like, what support should look like, and what happens when systems fail to listen to the people they’re supposed to help."”
Joining Kaya on the CEO Sleepout panel were Youth Advisory Council of WA CEO Kylie Wallace, who offered a raw insight into the growing child and youth homelessness crisis in WA, Vinnies WA CEO Ann Curran, Manager of Homelessness Services Roberta O’Connor and General Manager of Service Development Maija Hildebrand.
While the event proves to be a powerful platform to raise awareness of hardship, poverty and homelessness in WA, the real impact will be felt long after participants packed up their sleeping bags.
"The CEO Sleepout’s impact goes far beyond spending a night sleeping outdoors,” Ms Curran said.
“It's about building understanding, inspiring action and helping fund the support services at Vinnies that change lives every day."
“These generous donations will help support vulnerable West Australians experiencing hardship, homelessness and housing insecurity.
“Together, we are helping create hope, stability and brighter futures for those who need it most.”
Perth Zoo Executive Director David Van Ooran was grateful for the opportunity to participate in the CEO Sleepout this year.
“Whilst we felt the cold, it was quite special to hear the lions roar into the evening and wake up to the beautiful duet of the White-cheeked Gibbons in the morning,” he said.
“However, one night outdoors is nothing compared to what many Western Australians face every day.
We’re grateful to Vinnies for the opportunity for Perth Zoo to host the CEO Sleepout and proud to have been part of such a meaningful event here.”
Eight-time CEO Sleepout participant and Civmec CEO Pat Tallon – who has raised more than $600,000 since joining the event – was honoured to be involved again this year.
“I continue to do what I can to support the homeless through Vinnies because the homelessness issue is not going away,” Mr Tallon said.
“And if we contain a shred of social conscience, we must support it.”
Last night marked the 17th consecutive sleepout for long-time participant and renown Perth lawyer Raymond Tan, who was motivated to sign up after witnessing the state of homelessness while working in the Perth CBD.
“I registered to join the sleepout thinking that I would have no problem handling the cold and camping out, having served in the Singaporean Army,” Mr Tan said.
“That was a very wrong assumption...I have however survived all these 16 years and last night was my 17th year sleeping out.”
Donations can still be made online until the end of July at www.ceosleepout.org.au/event/wa.