For one night in Mackay, business leaders swapped comfort for concrete, or a narrow pod inside a converted bus, all to better understand what it means to have nowhere to sleep.
“Our Bosses on Buses event involved people nominating local leaders to sleep rough for a night to help raise awareness and funds to help address the increasing levels of homelessness in the region,” Lisa Jamison, a fundraising team volunteer with Safe Sleep Mackay said.
“The eight highest fundraisers got to sleep on the sleep bus for the night, whilst the others were on the concrete.”
Lisa has been part of the grassroots effort behind the initiative and it was the first time the event had been held in Mackay.
“The idea was inspired by previous charity sleepouts in Mackay and the need to test out the buses to ensure everything was working, before we put them out on the street.
“To make it our own event, the Safe Sleep Mackay twist was to offer a night in the Safe Sleep pods to the highest fundraisers.”
That twist brought a competitive edge, with participants working to avoid the concrete. Thirteen bosses from sectors including mining services, engineering, banking, real estate, local government, retail, education and community services took part, raising more than $21,000.
For some, the message landed close to home.
“We are all three pay packets away from homelessness,” was a sentiment shared across the group.
And for many in the region, that risk is real. Census data shows around 700 people are experiencing homelessness across Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday on any given night, with more than 3,700 seeking help from services each year. Housing pressure is also building, with hundreds on social housing waitlists and wait times stretching beyond 20 months.
At the centre of the local response is Safe Sleep Mackay.
“Safe Sleep Mackay is a volunteer committee established out of concern for increasing levels of homelessness in Mackay,” Lisa said.
“We had to change from being a supporter to being an owner of three buses that we had fundraised for.”
Each bus has required work before it can be registered and used, with one now operational, another close behind, and a third still under assessment. Once ready, they will provide temporary overnight accommodation for people sleeping rough, offering a safe place to rest while longer-term solutions remain out of reach.
Backed by industry, including BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), one of the eight platinum donors helping fund the project, support has gone well beyond dollars. BMA’s Hay Point management team also took part in a team building day to help set up the buses, fitting out beds and linen ready for use. Mining services providers SPL and CIVEO have also supported the buses with linen and laundry services, helping keep the pods operational.
Community support has been just as hands-on.
“We have had support from across the region with the sewing of the bedding for the pods, groups from Sarina to Seaforth and a lovely woman Desley Kerr (Coppabella School Chaplain, Moranbah SES Volunteer, Moranbah Rodeo Committee and coverlet maker extraordinaire!) all pitching in.”
Even the event itself reflected that shared effort, with Mackay City Girl Guides cooking a sausage sizzle using a Glencore-supported BBQ trailer.
“The response has been heartwarming, to say the least,” Lisa said.
As this month’s Coalface Community Gift recipient, Safe Sleep Mackay will put the $500 donation towards getting the next bus on the road. Because while the buses are not a long-term solution, they are a practical one.
