Young People

As Orange Sky has grown, we have learnt that there are groups of people in need who cannot access our regular services due to barriers and stigmas. One key group is people under the age of 24.

Young people have unique needs, with many attending school, studying tertiary education or working. They often don’t have the time or means to travel, and may not have a guardian with the ability to support their needs. Seeking support can be stigmatised among peer groups, which drives feelings of isolation and increases barriers to accessing essential services.

We have explored two distinct programs to break down barriers and stigmas for young people.

The first being the School Laundry Program, and the second is the Education of students through resources, school presentations and fundraising activities.

In collaboration with schools, we have connected students with access to laundry facilities through a School Laundry Program, installing machines within the school, building life skills and helping to reduce the stigma of seeking help through education. 

Young people are disproportionately affected by homelessness and hardship, with almost 40% of people experiencing homelessness in Australia  being people under the age of 24.

Up to 1 in 6 children experience poverty, while 1 in 8 people are living in poverty.

Through our regular services, we have met teachers who bring their students to shift to wash their belongings and uniforms, as well as families with children living in vehicles or tents looking for support.

We have engaged with school teachers and administrators who describe a growing need in their communities, wanting to connect students with services and education around homelessness and hardship. We’ve heard stories of students experiencing homelessness or poverty, who don’t have clean uniforms for school.