Adland Sleeps Rough for 2nd Annual Oasis Sleepout, Raises $66,000 for Youth Homelessness

The Oasis Committee Announce $66k Raised In Second Annual Sleepout

The second annual Oasis Sleepout has raised more than $66,000 for The Salvation Army’s Oasis Project, surpassing last year’s inaugural total.

The funds raised will go directly towards supporting young people experiencing homelessness, helping them access to stable accommodation and transition to independent living.

Designed as an immersive satellite event to the hugely popular Oasis Ball, the Sleepout brought together more than 40 media, advertising and communications professionals in Perth for a night experiencing the realities of sleeping rough.

Participants spent the evening in Northbridge, hearing first-hand lived experiences and walking the streets to better understand the youth homelessness crisis facing the city.

“Youth homelessness takes many forms and is often the result of many complex and traumatic experiences,”

said Guy Rees, State Manager, WA Youth Services at The Salvation Army.

“More than 40,000 young people across Australia have no safe place to call home. Support from initiatives like the Oasis Project allows us to deliver flexible and targeted support to those most at risk.”

Funds raised through the initiative have already helped more than 20 young people and young families secure and maintain safe housing, providing crucial support for those often falling through the gaps.

Several organisations stepped forward with major contributions, including Crown Resorts Foundation, which donated $10,000, alongside contributions from QMS and Media Tonic. Individual fundraising efforts were also significant, with Elaine Barry raising $9,350 and the top six participants each contributing more than $2,000.

Oasis Chairperson and Carat Client Partner Michelle Testa said the initiative was designed to connect the celebration of the Oasis Ball with its deeper purpose:

“This initiative has a simple purpose to connect the revelry of the ball, with its purpose. A night to walk in their shoes, sleep as they would. Waking up Friday morning, heads were rattled, everyone was tired, but the conversations that come off the back of this experience are powerful. Teams within our industry are questioning the scale of the problem and looking for ways to help.”

Testa adds

“We arrived at the Sleepout having raised $38,000 and woke up the next morning to find another $25,000 donated overnight. It speaks to the power of vulnerability, lived experience and first-hand exposure to create real momentum for change.”

“A huge thank you to the individuals who stepped forward to take part, and to the organisations, colleagues, families and friends who supported them to raise such a phenomenal amount.”

The Night’s Events

What started as a normal day for 40 of Perth’s Media, Advertising and Communications professionals ended in anything but.

On arrival at The Salvation Army location in Northbridge it became clear that this was going to be a close approximation to the experience of sleeping rough.

Asked to fetch their piece of cardboard and roll out sleeping bags in the hot and musty carpark where they’d be spending the night, spirits were still high, but uncertainty was starting to creep in.

Participants were welcomed to country with a smoking ceremony performed by Clive Dwayne-Smith and were fed their evening meal, a humble sandwich or meat pie, courtesy of The Salvation Army street outreach team, before hearing from Andre, a formerly homeless teen who had accessed care via The Salvation Army.

His lived experience highlighted how The Salvos are able to form relationships with youth in crisis and offer support to help unravel complicated and nuanced situations so they can feel seen, valued, and supported to transition to independent living.

Much of the short term accommodation options Andre spoke about were made possible by utilising Oasis Project funds to deliver flexible and targeted support based on individual circumstances.

Next was a tour of Northbridge to see familiar streets from the unfamiliar point of view of those sleeping rough. Participants had their eyes opened to a version of Perth they wouldn’t otherwise see.

Then it was back to the carpark they would call home for the night, where not a lot of sleep was had, even after lights out at 10pm.

The morning saw participants rise weary, rallying to pack their belongings, consume a modest breakfast and some much needed coffee before joining The Salvos staff in the chapel where they were addressed by Peter Vernon, The Salvation Army Schools Engagement Team Leader.

Peter answered their questions and spoke about perceptions of homelessness, and the importance of early intervention and education.

Our adlanders got to go about their day, tired, but knowing there was a hot shower, a cosy bed, and a safe place to sleep waiting for them at the end of it.

The same uncertainty they felt picking up those pieces of cardboard faces the hundreds of people that find themselves without stable accommodation.

That same uncertainty that compounds day after day when every waking moment is consumed by thoughts like “Where will I sleep, and will I be safe there?”

This uncertainty is even more terrifying for young people at greater risk of harm on the streets.

The $66,000 in funds will be used to support The Salvos in making a difference in the lives of these youth, to help find them stable accommodation and transition as many of them as possible into independent living.

How Can You Help?

There’s many ways to get involved! Purchase tickets to the 2026 Oasis Ball ‘Electric Dreams’ on May 15th at the Crown Ballroom and every time you tap and go you’re donating directly to The Salvation Army’s Oasis Project.

Sleepout Participants

Lorna Bagnall - The Brand Agency

Elaine Barry - Evoke Media

Alan Bayliss - WA Return Recycle Renew

Emma Bennet - OMD

Megan Camp - Val Morgan

Chris Coufos - Digital Loop

Vicki Crimmins - Carat

Eloise Cribb - The Brand Agency

Lauren de Rozario - JC Decaux

Antonell Doyle - Nova Entertainment

Cheyanne Fewings - Nine

Crissy Foster - The Start

Emma Genet - Perth is OK

Ethan Gosatti - Carat

Michelle Hawkins - Val Morgan

Nahum Hendricks - Nani

Cameron Kim Jones - Freelance Creative

Molly Kennedy - 303

Geoff Langton - Carat

Carma Levene - The Marketer

Nicole Liddy - Match and Wood

Aimee Liston - Initiative

Kate MacKinnon - Kinn & Co.

Cathal Mongey - Juicebox

Nyiko Mondlani - Initiative

Hannah Muirhead - Chapter

Simon Mullins - Rare

Siahn Nardi - Seven West Media

Sophie Park - Carat

Chris Perera - Stream Outdoor

Elyse Simich - Trilogy Advertising & Marketing

Jess Steliou - Mamamia

Simon Stewart - Rare J

ohnette Swan - Nine

Michelle Testa - Carat

Alyssa Thomas - Initiative

Kelly Townson - City of Perth

Jodie Traynor - OMD

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The Oasis Project supports young people between the ages of 16 and 25 who are marginalised and disadvantaged, many of whom have been sleeping rough, couch surfing, or living in unstable and unsafe arrangements. The primary focus of the Oasis Project is Oasis House, but funds raised also support a range of initiatives aimed at providing these young people with a safe, supported, and sustainable accommodation option, empowering them during their transition to independent living.