This year saw a new partnership between QAHS and Rosies Friends on the Street with students joining the Rosies Outreach program as guest volunteers this month. One of them, Samir Palekar (Year 11), had the opportunity to be one of our first students to take part in the Rosies experience and help local Queenslanders feel connected to their community.
No one grows up wanting to be homeless, but the unfortunate fact is that 1 in 6 Australians will experience homelessness in their lifetime. People who are experiencing homelessness in one form or another are struggling and they don't want to be thought of as bad people or ignored. People end up on the streets for many different reasons often through no fault of their own, particularly during COVID.
The power of a cup of coffee or tea and a chat cannot be underestimated. A few hours of our student's time positively impacts the mental health and physical wellbeing of an individual doing it tough. Conversations are diverse near the Rosies van, from amusing to moving and Rosies patrons know our students, like Samir, genuinely care about the stories they share and consider them part of our community. Well done to our students who are getting behind this important social endeavour.
“Rosies reaches out to those most in need, people who are homeless or at risk, lonely, and socially isolated within our communities."
Aaron Boulton
Teaching Faculty