‘Slumber party’ for a cause
New South Wales’ aged care provider, Domain Principal Group, participated in last week’s St Vincent de Paul Society’s Sydney CEO Sleepout.
New South Wales’ aged care provider, Domain Principal Group, participated in last week’s St Vincent de Paul Society’s Sydney CEO Sleepout.
Domain Principal Group managing director, Gary Barnier, and chief operating officer, Ian Thorley, camped out at the annual event, which challenges more than 1,000 business and community leaders to spend a night during the longest night and coldest part of winter sleeping ‘rough’, to gain insight into what Australia’s homeless experience daily.
“Taking part last year was a very humbling experience. I was particularly moved after chatting with a security guard who had been homeless for a number of years and finding out exactly how easy it is for someone to become homeless,” Mr Barnier said.
“Those who took part in the sleepout are all fortunate enough to sleep rough for only one night with the knowledge that we can go home the next day. Those less fortunate in our society don’t have that thought to comfort them throughout the night; they have nowhere else to go,” he said.
According to Mr Barnier, one night of discomfort is worth the “potential good” you can do for those who live through this every day.
Victorian aged care provider, TLC Aged Care, also experienced the life of Australia’s homeless at the St Vincent De Paul CEO Sleep Out.
TLC Aged Care’s chief executive, Ingrid Williams, said the sleepout gave her and “insight” into what the homeless suffer every night.
