August 2022
Sunny Schools
Through QUT School of Design, our team of multi-disciplinary students was approached by Sunny Street, a social enterprise that delivers healthcare and support to those most vulnerable in our communities. Our team was excited to help Sunny Street find a solution to the following brief:
How might we connect Australians in a meaningful way to support the work of Sunny Street and increase the collective understanding of homelessness?
In a two-and-a-half-day intensive, our team was able to develop a primary education program called Sunny Schools which raises awareness of homelessness among primary-school-aged children.
After researching, we discovered a gap in our primary education system in the awareness of people experiencing homelessness. There is currently an annual homelessness awareness week, however, it has not been receiving the recognition it needs. To fill this, we asked ourselves, how might we tackle this issue?
Sunny Schools is an educational program for primary school students that aims to increase awareness surrounding mental health for those people experiencing homelessness and vulnerability.
Sunny Schools program will begin during Homelessness Awareness Week which is the first week of August. This education and fundraising program will occur for a month. Schools across Australia will register with a fee and in return receive information packs to get them started with Sunny Schools.
Healthy Harold was an influential giraffe that visited primary schools to educate children about making safe decisions in the future. We are taking a similar approach by introducing Sunny the Mental Health Monkey. In the first week, Sunny Street will bring Sunny to visit schools and provide educational talks covering the key points above so students can understand what they are working towards.
Throughout the month, students will participate in fundraising activities. All funds raised will go towards Sunny Street to help enhance their services.
In return for the funds, different prizes will be distributed to the students depending on the amount of money each school has raised.
These prizes will be in partnership with Smiggle to manufacture mindfulness items such as stress balls, key rings and fidget toys all with Sunny Street logos on them to continue raising awareness.
Sunny Schools program will have many impacts. It will raise awareness of homelessness among children, their families and consumers from the Smiggle collaboration. It will significantly increase funds towards Sunny Street. It will educate children to deeply understand the backgrounds of homelessness which will help break stereotypes and stigmas. This will also build connections and ultimately reduce social isolation as people who understand the causes of homelessness are more likely to want to help the people who are affected by this. This engaging program will be memorable as these children grow up.
Meet the Team:
Grace Taylor - QUT Industrial Design Student
Georgia Bailey - QUT Visual Communications Student
Meheli Basu - QUT Architecture and Urban Development Student
Ashley Grant - QUT Interaction Design Student
Alicia Rogers - QUT Industrial Design Student
