Melbourne Airport Car Park Sleepout

Congratulations to ECF’s Community Engagement Adviser, Shantelle O’Riordan, and our client Melbourne Airport for hosting a Car Park Sleepout to support not-for-profit organisations, Juno and McAuley who provide invaluable assistance for women and non-binary people experiencing homelessness due to family violence. 

Shantelle, who is currently working at Melbourne Airport helped organise the charity event, which raised much needed funds, and saw supporters spend a night in their cars on Level 7 of the Terminal 4 carpark at Melbourne Airport on Thursday September 5. The event attracted almost 100 registrations, and donations remain open with all funds being donated to Juno and McAuley.

Every night, countless women across Victoria face an impossible choice: stay in a dangerous situation or leave with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Many end up sleeping in cars, couch surfing, or in shelters, searching for safety and stability. Family violence is the single largest driver of homelessness for women in Victoria. In 2022-23, over 23,000 women and 13,000 children who had experienced family violence were assisted by homelessness services (AIHW, 2023).

You can read more about the event here.