Homelessness needs to be addressed in our classrooms, according to charity Orange Sky.
The call followed new research uncovering widespread misconceptions about homelessness.
Orange Sky launched new classroom resources to help students gain a clearer understanding of homelessness, foster empathy, and challenge stereotypes from an early age.
The not-for-profit organisation’s national study found that while three in five Australians could identify at least one element of the official ABS definition of homelessness, only one in ten felt very confident in correctly defining it.
Orange Sky co-founder and CEO Lucas Patchett said classrooms provided a powerful opportunity to change the conversation.
“Homelessness in Australia doesn’t discriminate and is often hidden,” he said.
“It’s stereotyped as someone who is sleeping rough, but the reality is it impacts people in a variety of ways: families in overcrowded housing, young people couch surfing, and people cycling through insecure, short-term accommodation, just to name a few.
“That’s why we’ve developed new resources for schools – to help students understand that reality early.
“If we can equip classrooms with the right tools, we don’t just challenge misconceptions, we build empathy in our future leaders and ensure that they see people first, not stereotypes.”
The findings underscored how myths and misconceptions continue to dominate the national conversation and highlighted how little-known the broader definitions were.
Two-thirds of Australians are either very or somewhat familiar with ‘primary homelessness’, but awareness drops sharply for ‘secondary homelessness’ (51 percent) and ‘tertiary homelessness’ (33 percent).
“Teaching young people the right language and services available will ensure more connected and resilient communities,” Lucas said.
“This knowledge helps our communities be more empathetic, understanding, and supportive.”
Those surveyed agreed. Three quarters said more education was needed about what homelessness is and how it affects individuals and families.
Australians aged 18 to 24, renters, and people with lived experience of homelessness were especially strong in their call for schools and education settings to cover this issue.
Orange Sky co-founder Nic Marchesi said young people were already asking questions about homelessness, and schools needed to be equipped to answer them.
“Kids notice when someone is sleeping rough or doing it tough, and a lot of them want to understand why,” he said.
“Giving them clear, compassionate education helps them develop empathy rather than judgment.
“If we can start that conversation in our schools, we’ll start to see change in how homelessness is spoken about at home and on the playground.”
Orange Sky has long championed connection through its free mobile laundry and shower services, alongside the thousands of hours of non-judgemental conversations shared between volunteers and people experiencing hardship.
With the launch of new education resources designed for classrooms and communities, the charity hopes to extend that conversation into schools.
“Through our work, we know that understanding is as impactful as clean clothes and a hot shower,” Nic said.
Access the new education resources, along with the research findings, at orangesky.org.au/homelessness-education.
