School converts shipping container into tiny house for domestic violence victims

A rusty old shipping container has been converted into a portable home away from home for domestic violence victims by a school east of Brisbane.

WHEN a rusty old shipping container was plonked on their school grounds three years ago, Dayna Wilson and Anna Sideris let their imaginations run wild.

The Year 10 students at Sheldon College put pen to paper and came up with a plan to convert the 20-foot shipping container into temporary housing for victims.

Proposal to build cemetery on ex-mining site at Straddie

“Someone mentioned to us domestic violence and how big of an issue it was,” Miss Sideris said.

“And we liked the idea of women doing something for women.”

Sheldon College student Anna Sideris, 18. Picture: Supplied

With the help of their Technology Design Class teacher Carl Altschul, the pair designed the plan for a respite centre, knocked up some framing and petitioned the community for help to provide building supplies to bring their idea to life.

Sheldon College converts shipping container into domestic violence shelter. Picture: Danielle Buckley

When Miss Sideris and Miss Wilson, both now 18, graduated from Year 12 last year, the school picked up the project and ran with it.

Tomorrow the house, dubbed the CommCube, will be officially launched and donated to Maybanke, a Redlands-based women’s shelter, where it will provide short-term respite for victims of domestic violence.

Property manager Brad Biddle with Dr Lyn Bishop and Carl Altschul. Picture: Danielle Buckley

“It’s crazy to think that this small idea we had is actually going to help people in the future and make a small difference in their lives,” Miss Sideris said.

The CommCube has a bed, bathroom, kitchen with an electric stove, LED lights, television, fridge and security screen doors.

The kitchen has a microwave and electric stove.

It even has solar panels on the roof that power most of the tiny home’s needs.

College principal Lyn Bishop was proud the school could help make the girls’ vision a reality and she hoped it would provide a “blue print” for more respite centres.

“It’s about developing civic responsibility and it was inner directed,” Dr Bishop said.

“That’s what I love about this, it’s come from the girls themselves and we’ve been able to take them through this journey.”

Sheldon College principal Lyn Bishop OAM welcomed Australian Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove earlier this year. Photo: Paula Shearer.

Dr Bishop founded the independent school 22 years ago in the stables of the Pine Lodge Equestrian Centre with just six teachers and 110 student.

The college now has more than 1400 students from kindergarten to Year 12.

Dr Bishop said a big focus of the school’s focus was instilling “civic responsibility” within students and developing students’ social and emotional intelligence.

“A lot of these skills have been lost in these day of social media and the like,” she said.

“But if we can bring out these feelings in children … they will feel there is a role to play in giving back to their community.”