Many aspects of this lifestyle are unfamiliar to our students, and they clearly learned a great deal during their three days in Sydney. The experience included visits to Hyde Park Barracks, The Wayside Chapel, the Jewish Holocaust Museum, Baptist Care, Australian Catholic Mission, St Canice’s Catholic Church, Oasis (The Salvation Army), St Mary’s Cathedral, and several outreach centres for the homeless, including the surrounding areas of the iconic Kings Cross district.

Students also observed and received explanations of the Needle Exchange Program and the Matthew Talbot Hostel. They witnessed both wealth and poverty on the streets of Darlinghurst. Representatives from Youth Off The Streets and L’Arche also spoke with students about the vital work their organisations do in supporting vulnerable communities.

It is the hope of the St Edward’s community that the lessons learned during these few days will remain in the students’ hearts and minds, inspiring a lifelong commitment to compassion and outreach.