Youth Engagement
Rosies has a long tradition of youth and student engagement, having been established in 1975 as a youth mission in Melbourne.
We continue to engage with youth and students through education, awareness, and volunteer programs, which play a vital role in prevention and support.
Contact us you think your school can help us help others.
Under 16
Over 1,500 young people from over 60 different schools and community groups partner with Rosies to support our patrons on the Street.
Rosies volunteers often visit schools, community groups, and early learning centres to talk about the Rosies story and share some of their experiences.
These groups often choose to conduct fundraising activities such as a coffee drive or a fundraising BBQ to support our volunteers and our patrons on the Street.
For more ideas on how young people can support Rosies please download our supporter pack.
Young People
Students and community groups, mostly from Year 12 age range, are given the opportunity to experience how outreach and the offer of friendship makes a difference to each and every attending friend.
After each outreach, the young people and other team members are given the opportunity to share and discuss their experience.
It is not uncommon for some of these young people to share the Rosies story with their networks and strive to contribute through donation drives or return as regular volunteers once they turn 18.
Hear from some of our young people
Our program is very popular and places are very limited, contact Rosies to register your interest.
I volunteered for Rosies with an optimistic mindset as I truly believed that it would be a life experience that I would cherish and that would push me out of my comfort zone. Not only did it do this but it gave me great perspective on life.
These individuals are everyday citizens who have found themselves in a situation which has forced them to live on the streets. These people just wish to have a conversation to share their stories to help them cope with their current issues.
Bailey, Marymount College Burleigh Waters
Rosies outreach was an experience like no other. Both enriching and rewarding, this opportunity helped me gain perspective on the world that we live in. My school—Marymount College—raises money for Rosies annually but I never truly understood how close to home this issue was until I went on the Rosies outreach. One of my fondest memories of the experience was hearing stories of the various faces, young and old. The personal growth that I experienced in just one night was massive, gaining insight into what homelessness really means. I began the night tentative and afraid and left the night with a new lease on life. The decision to be a part of the Rosies outreach was a truly pivotal moment in my teenage life, helping me mature into a young man.
Seamus, Marymount College Burleigh Waters
A teacher’s perspective: I keep going back to Rosies because I gain from the experience as much as the students do.
It gives me different perspectives of life and is such a humbling experience.
I also love watching our students interact with the people who are less fortunate than themselves; I can see the change in the students straight away.
Kanae, Marymount College Burleigh Waters
The experience, especially engaging with the patrons, made me feel lucky for everything that I have. After meeting so many people who have so little, I felt happy to know that I could help them, even if it was only giving them a cup of coffee and a conversation.
I gained real, hands on experience with those less fortunate than me, and that is a very valuable experience. I have a very different perspective on the homeless problem after listening to their stories, after hearing why they were on the streets, and that is something invaluable to me.
Jye, Iona College, Wynnum
It felt good to talk with the people as they were different to the people im used to and they were happy to share information.
Not everyone that goes are homeless, perhaps just want someone to talk to, may not be able to connect in other places but find lots of people to talk to who are interested in what they say and aren’t very judgmental.
Christopher, Iona College, Wynnum
It was a good feeling (being on outreach). At first, I was uneasy about the situation but quickly I settled into the vibe and enjoyed going out on street.
I gained a deeper understanding of just the kinds of people that are out on street. Much of the time, they are not homeless but are just longing for a shred of human interaction and volunteering to have a coffee and a conversation is the least we could do to give back to our community.
Anton, Iona College, Wynnum
