Rockhampton business leader David Rach to participate in Vinnies CEO Sleepout to support homeless

A blanket, pillow and cold concrete floor is all a Rockhampton business leader has to protect him from the elements. Find out why here.

A group of Rockhampton community members will be roughing it for a night next week, in an effort to create awareness of homelessness and to raise funds for housing support for those in need.

This will be the 13th year the Vinnies CEO Sleepout has been held in Queensland and will see business leaders, CEOs, their staff and other participants sleep on the ground across the state.

The Rockhampton sleepout will be held on Thursday, June 23 at the Lighthouse Christian School.

One of the participants will be David Rach, the founder of Rockhampton business Live Free Support Services.

The business provides services to NDIS participants including assistance with daily living, domestic assistance, community access, short term accommodation respite, travel assistance and in home care.

Having worked in the disability sector for more than a decade, Mr Rach is often out and about in the community with participants.

He said he sees homelessness in Rockhampton everyday.

“Absolutely, on the frontline when we are out in the community … whether you have participants with you or not, you come across it, you come across the people who are disadvantaged, people who are unfortunate, hear stories of people who have children or siblings sleeping in cars, doing it tough, not being able to afford rent, clothing, electricity or bedding,” Mr Rach said.

“When you drive around and walk around, I have spent a lot of time in the community, when you see it out there... you can’t help everyone and you can’t save everyone. But to stop and say G’day to them might just be the moment in their day they needed that you saved their day for them.

“That’s why we are doing CEO Sleepout, it’s emphasised in metro areas, this (homelessness) exists Australia wide, regional, metro, it doesn’t matter where you are from, these issues exist in society today.”

When you think of homelessness, images of people in the streets of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane come to mind, and it was this misconception, that homelessness doesn’t exist in Central Queensland, that led Mr Rach to take part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout.

“I am not nervous, I am excited for the fact … we get to showcase this issue exists for Central Queensland,” he said.

“Raise awareness of homelessness and help break the cycle, give back to the community that helps us so much, being a community service organisation.

“This is something that is close to my heart, not just what we do with the business but being a member of the community for 41 years, seeing the ups and downs Rockhampton has gone through, the changes in the socio economic groups.”

Around 30 people will be taking part in the sleepout, including Mr Rach and his staff at Live Free Support Services, Beau Crosby from Harvey Norman Bedding and Bev Rose from Vinnies.

Participants will be given a blanket and pillow for the night and they will sleep at an outdoor concrete sheltered area.

Mr Rach thanked the local businesses, including Harvey Norman Bedding and DC Motors and more, who had donated to the fundraiser and prizes for the monster raffle.

Fundraising money from the sleepout this year will go towards building new homes across Queensland for families and individuals struggling to secure safe and affordable housing.

DETAILS

Vinnies CEO Sleepout on Thursday June 23 at Lighthouse Christian School, Rockhampton.

Business leaders, CEOs and participants sleeping on the ground all across the state for the night to raise funds for homelessness support.

Fundraising money will go towards building new homes across Queensland for families and individuals in need.

To donate to Mr Rach’s fundraiser, visit this link

Monster raffle for Vinnies CEO Sleepout to be held Friday, June 17, from 5.30pm at the Brunswick Hotel.