Keeping the Sunraysia homeless community warm this winter was the priority of a recent blanket and coat drive run by several SuniTAFE Community Services students. 

To successfully complete their Diploma of Community Services (CHC52015), students are required to complete a project that sees them demonstrate engagement with community stakeholders and identify a community need. 

Community Services teacher Leanne MacKenzie said that this term's selected projects include the blanket and coat drive, as well as an initiative aimed at raising awareness and providing information about men as victims of domestic and family violence. 

“The feedback regarding the engagement in the blanket and coat drive for the homeless was overwhelmingly positive,” Ms MacKenzie said. 

“Donors and participants described the event organisers as smiling, positive, welcoming, and informative throughout the event. Their warm and friendly demeanor created a supportive and inclusive atmosphere, encouraging others to get involved and contribute to the cause.” 

Diploma of Community Services student Sarah Kelly said being part of the blanket and coat drive was a “no-brainer”. 

“It's winter. It's freezing. I'm freezing, and I couldn't imagine anyone sleeping on the river. Homeless. It's just horrible,” she said. 

“There are 516 people living in Mildura right now on any given night homeless. This is a shocking statistic for us, even considering a year ago it was 264. So, there's a massive increase of 95 per cent increase. And you know, that just shows how everyone is doing right now. It's hard and we just want to help.” 

Both groups of students had set up a table in the SuniTAFE Student Hub, which allowed for donations to be collected and accessibility to an abundance of information on each topic. 

Those who wished to participate were also invited to tie a ribbon onto a tree branch as a sign of support for men who are victims of domestic violence. 

“It was entirely up to the students to do the research and find the gaps that needed to be filled in our community and both groups of students did a great job in doing that with both projects a success with many people getting involved on the day,” Ms MacKenzie said. 

“These are important issues to understand. So, when they're working in industry, when they're qualified, you know, they need to understand all the aspects. Things like family violence, drugs and mental illness, all those things that impact and cause homelessness and create complex needs for clients, but also people just becoming unemployed. It's good for them to understand the dynamics and complexities of homelessness and know what the causes have been and what the issues are not just the obvious lack of housing.” 

Blanket and clothing donations made on the day have since been donated to The Salvation Army on the corner of Etiwanda Avenue and Fourteenth Street and in conjunction with Mallee Accommodation & Support Program (MASP) and the Salvation Army and Haven Home Safe and from there it will be given out to the Mildura homeless community. 

SuniTAFE’S community service students will continue to support the local homeless community by partaking in an even bigger blanket and coat drive organised by MASP, which will be held during Homelessness Week in August.  

To learn more about studying a Diploma of Community Services (CHC52015) at SuniTAFE, visit the website.