Dean of Business at the Adelaide Business School sleeping rough in the 2023 Vinnie’s CEO Sleepout

The Vinnies CEO Sleepout is a one-night event held on one of the longest and coldest nights of the year. This year, it is being held on 22 June. Hundreds of CEOs, business owners, as well as community and government leaders sleep outdoors to support the many Australians who are experiencing homelessness and people at risk of homelessness. Each CEO Sleepout participant commits to raising a minimum amount of funds to help Vinnies provide essential services to the people who need them.

The Vinnies CEO Sleepout simulates sleeping uncomfortably for one night – outdoors, in a sleeping bag or with some cardboard under you, and perhaps with a tarpaulin over you if it rains – and, invariably, it does. If you are lucky, you may be able to find shelter under an awning or in a doorway though this is not guaranteed.

This is far from the experience that some of our homeless people experience every night when they sleep rough outdoors where they might not have the luxury of a sleeping bag, cardboard under them, and/or a tarpaulin. For every one person sleeping rough, outdoors, there are countless others having to sleep in a car if they have access to one, or engage in couch-surfing – sleeping on the couch of friends and family.

“I was surprised at the range, age, and gender of people who become homeless. Prior to becoming involved with the CEO Sleepout, I was not aware of what can contribute to homelessness. When you hear some of the stories that have driven people in our community to becoming homeless, you fully appreciate that it could happen to anyone if circumstances change for the worse for someone.” – Professor Noel Lindsay

Professor Lindsay, who is participating in the Vinnie’s CEO Sleepout for the third time, is raising money for the St Vincent de Paul Society to support Australians in need.

“This is a community problem and we all should chip in, no matter how small the donation. We need to help support the homeless to find a place where they can feel safe, where they can have a decent meal, where they can find respect for themselves, and return to taking their place as valuable members of our society.” – Professor Noel Lindsay

Support the Vinnies CEO Sleepout and Noel’s fundraising efforts by making a donation at Noel’s Fundraising Profile.