Mornington Secondary College students taken to city’s streets on homeless tour
High school students in Melbourne’s southeast are are taking eye-opening excursions to homeless hotspots as part of a challenging program to teach them compassion and resilience and break down stereotypes.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Melbourne students are taking eye-opening excursions to homeless hotspots in the city as part of a challenging program to break down stereotypes around people living on the streets.
Mornington Secondary College teacher Courteney Boulter regularly takes Year 9 students on The Salvation Army’s Schools Youth Homelessness City Tour.
SCHOOL DENIES STUDENTS FORCED TO RIP OUT FAKE EYELASHES
INVESTIGATION INTO CHILD SEX ABUSE CLAIMS AT DE LA SALLE COLLEGE
FORMER TEACHER RAPED A STUDENT UP TO 100 TIMES
The tours include time at the Salvos’ Project 614 headquarters in Bourke St, where many homeless people seek refuge every night, and on a guided walk around city alleyways and public places where people sleep rough.
Ms Boulter said it was part of the school’s Broad Horizons program, which aimed to give students a broader understanding of society.
“I love these workshops,” Ms Boulter said.
“The biggest impression they make on our kids is from hearing the stories about individuals that the Salvos have helped along the way. They are stories about real people, and what they have been through — that helps break down the stereotypes about homeless people.”
Ms Boulter said the students came to understand that homelessness can happen to anyone and often gave them a better appreciation of their own lives.
“They get back to school and say, ‘I’m really lucky — I have supportive family and friends’,” she said.
Ms Boulter said taking opportunities to cultivate empathy helped students comprehend what life was like for others who might not be so lucky.
“Kids can be a bit self-centred — it’s part of being a teenager,” she said.
“Hearing about people who have different lives, and difficult experiences, helps them to get outside of their bubble. It helps them build understanding, compassion and resilience, and they realise the world doesn’t revolve around them.”
The Salvation Army’s school development manager Lauren Eudey said more than 7000 students a year took part in the program, which started in 2012.
Ms Eudey said students learnt about the challenges homeless people faced and workshopped strategies about how they would survive if they were homeless.
“We try to engage with them, and the change from when they first walk in, to when we do our walking tour of some rough sleeping spots, is massive,” Ms Eudey said.
“It helps the students realise that life is hard. There are reasons why people are homeless and hungry, and for some students it is very confronting.”
Ms Eudey said one group of students was so struck by the excursion they raised $1000 to help homeless people.
To find out more about the tours phone 0438 798 539 or email schooltours@aus.salvationarmy.org
MORE NEWS
FAKE DANDENONG COUNCIL LETTERS PROMOTE ISLAMIC BYLAWS
BOY FIGHTS FOR LIFE AFTER RED HILL SOUTH CRASH
FEMALE SCOUT LEADER RECALLS TERROR AFTER KNIFE HELD AT THROAT