Assumption College students aim to raise awareness of the significant plight of the homeless with the ACK Sleeps Out 2017 event on Friday, August 25.Keen to ensure the experience is an authentic one, Certificate 3 Events students have encouraged the school community to get involved and experience the conditions thousands of Victorians do each night as they sleep rough in the  school’s Gonzales Centre and gain an understanding of what it means to be homeless.

“Our aim with the event is to raise awareness but also challenge traditional perceptions of what is a homeless person. That image of an old scruffy man or drug addict isnt always the reality with the numbers of people living in cars or as couch surfers rising.
We are hoping to make it an authentic an experience as possible, with a simple meal of soup for dinner and no creature comforts to help participants really gain an understanding of what being homeless feels like.
We also hope to raise valuable funds for St Vincent De Paul who assist the homeless through donated goods and the soup vans.” Year 12 student Mia Brennan said.

As part of their Certificate 3 in Events, the Year 11 and 12 students have been fully involved in planning the entire event, including activities, management, marketing and registration, catering and staffing.

“It has really taught us a lot about the planning and organisation that goes into an event of this scale and the need to work together as a team and make sure everyone has a say and contributes ideas,” Year 11 student Ben Gregory said.