06 June 2025
On Saturday 24 May, 24 Farrell House students united at Baptist Care SA’s Westcare Centre for the very first Farrell House Rough Sleep Out. The purpose of this event was for boys to gain a sense of empathy and understanding around the conditions homeless people are subjected to. It was to enforce a sense of social responsibility amongst our students, inspiring us to understand the privilege we’ve been gifted and how we can utilise it in order to create a positive influence on our community.
The event was split up into two components of advocacy. Firstly students from Farrell House and Short House were tasked with fundraising for youth homelessness, which would provide money for food, residency and other vital necessities. Although raising funds was extremely important, the main highlight was raising awareness around the issue. For me personally, when I encouraged people to donate, there was always an onset of questions regarding what the cause was for and a genuine curiosity upon the issue.
The second component of the event was the sleep out itself, which aimed to simulate the experience dealt by homeless people, and saw us sleep outside in the cold with just our sleeping bags. However the rough sleep out wasn’t the main experience of the evening, as students witnessed a presentation regarding the actual reality of being homeless. It’s not just a lack of housing or resources, but it’s feelings of loneliness and isolation from the rest of the world. Programs like the West Care Centre provide a sense of community and belonging to people who feel estranged from such a feeling, not just through the financial aid they provide, but through the emotional connection they can offer. This is what was emphasised to the students. That in order to make a difference within our community, we must be pillars of support to whoever requires it, and diminish that feeling of loneliness.
The presentation was deeply impactful, fostering discussion between the Farrell House boys on what the reality of being homeless is, and the actions we can take in order to aid the issue. As stated earlier, you could feel that we were all there for something bigger then ourselves and this produced some of the strongest moments of community I’ve ever witnessed within Farrell House. On behalf of the School and Farrell House, I’d like to thank Baptist Care SA and West care Centre for educating us with such a passion for empathy, alongside the incredible levels of hospitality they showcased.
Adan Khurram
Year 11 Farrell House
Attending the Farrell House Rough Sleepout at Baptist Care SA was an eye opening and heart-warming experience. Baptist Care SA, a foundation dedicated to eliminating homelessness for those experiencing it, is thriving as an organisation. The boys who attended were given insight into how homeless people in SA may live and what Baptist Care SA is doing to support them. These included wholesome meal plans, better sleeping conditions, and medical needs, along with many other important services. The boys who slept rough that night experienced first-hand what it was like to be a homeless person at Baptist Care SA. From this experience, the boys understood the honourable work that Baptist Care SA is doing, as they were being fed nutritious food, provided with safe sleeping conditions, and offered camaraderie. This encouraged the boys to do more fundraising, as they now better understood how the organisation was actively helping those experiencing homelessness. Overall, the experience was tremendous and provided insight into the fantastic work that Baptist Care SA has been doing, and will continue to do for the community.
Hugo Curyer
Year 11 Farrell House
Mr Joab Mead
Head of Farrell House
