Seeds Of Justice – Students Unite to Tackle Homelessness
How can young people highlight and address homelessness in Western Australia?
That powerful question set the tone for the first Seeds of Justice conference of the year, where Year 10 students joined peers from other Mercy schools to explore one of the most pressing social issues in our community.
Hosted at St Brigid’s College, in Lesmurdie this week, the gathering brought together students from St Brigid’s, Mercedes, Aranmore, Mercy and Ursula Frayne Colleges.
The day challenged students to look beyond statistics and consider the emotional cost of homelessness, while working together to imagine meaningful ways schools can make a difference.
Understanding the Reality Behind the Statistics
The conference began with a thought-provoking presentation from youth engagement coordinator Hannah Taylor from Vinnies WA, who explained the scale of homelessness across the state.
Students learnt that 9,729 people in Western Australia are currently classified as homeless. Of those, 3,073 are young people under the age of 24. A further 24 per cent are considered rough sleepers, the highest rate in Australia.
More importantly, students explored the myths that often surround homelessness and gained a clearer understanding of the complex circumstances that can lead people into housing insecurity.
Learning Through Compassion and Collaboration
Working alongside students from other Mercy schools, participants spent the afternoon sharing ideas and perspectives. Discussions focused on the connection between homelessness and mental health, encouraging students to think critically about the challenges faced by vulnerable members of the community.
Through this collaborative experience, students demonstrated compassion, curiosity and critical thinking as they considered how young people can advocate for change.
Turning Ideas into Action
The Seeds of Justice program encourages students to move from awareness to action.
Following the conference, Santa Maria students will begin developing initiatives within the College community to raise awareness of homelessness and support those in need. There will be a second conference later in the year, hosted by Santa Maria, to share what the schools did as part of this year’s challenge.
For these students, the conference was about recognising their ability to respond with empathy, courage and a commitment to justice.
Year 10 student, Chloe said: “The thing that really stuck out to me were the statistics. I always thought homelessness was mostly linked to addiction, but we learnt that two out of three people only become addicted after they become homeless, not before. That really challenged what I thought I knew. I was also surprised by how many people in Western Australia do not have a place to call home. I am looking forward to coming up with something that can make a real impact, and it was great to talk about the issue with students from other schools and make new friends.”
When young people come together with compassion and purpose, meaningful change becomes possible.
- homelessness awareness wa, mercy schools, Santa Maria College, Seeds of Justice, social justice education, student advocacy, vinnies wa, Year 10 student leadership
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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