On a cool evening at Australian Christian College Moreton, the usual chatter of students heading home was replaced by the quiet shuffle of sleeping bags and yoga mats. Year 8 students were preparing to spend the night in the school corridors, swapping their own beds for hard floors, simple soup and bread. It was part of a project that challenged them to imagine what life might be like without the security of a safe place to sleep.
Stepping beyond the classroom
The Sleep Out was only one part of the journey. Earlier that day, the school’s kitchens buzzed with activity as 28 students worked in teams, stirring pots of butter chicken and carefully portioning meals into containers.
By the end of the day, 494 meals were ready for delivery to The Lighthouse Centre in Deception Bay. Alongside this effort, the entire Year 8 group collected thousands of food and hygiene items, later delivered to Caboolture Community Action.
Teachers said the Community Service Project, which began in 2023, has become a defining part of the school’s culture. The aim was never just to gather donations or cook meals, but to give students a deeper understanding of the needs in their own community.
Finding meaning in small acts
As night fell, the students settled into their makeshift beds. It wasn’t comfortable, but that was the point. Teachers explained that the Sleep Out was intended to create empathy, not endurance.
Conversations turned to people in Caboolture and Moreton Bay who might be spending the night outdoors, without the certainty of returning home in the morning.
Local leaders including Terry Young MP and Ariana Doolan MP joined the cooking session and spoke with students about their work. They noted the students’ ability to prepare nearly 500 meals in one sitting was an achievement in itself, but the bigger outcome was the way students connected service with lived experience.
Published 23-Sept-2025
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