CEOs across South Australia are rallying together to help put an end to the cycle of homelessness by participating in the Vinnies CEO Winter Sleepout this year.
Andrew Kay, CEO of the South Australian Business Chamber, will be joining the cause, marking his second time participating following his first sleepout last year.
“I thought that might be a once off,” said Mr. Kay. “Then I attended a lunch where the CEO of Vinnies SA was speaking, and it brought back everything I learned last year. By the end of the lunch, I had committed again.”
Mr. Kay expressed his disbelief that homelessness remains such a prevalent issue in our state in 2025.
“It’s hard to comprehend that in South Australia in 2025, homelessness continues to surge,” said Mr Kay.
“To think that an estimated 7500 people are homeless on any given night in our state, for a multitude of reasons, should be of concern to all South Australians.
“Unfortunately, members of the business community are not immune from this plight, with those who have lost everything finding themselves among these statistics.”
Mr Kay emphasised the role business leaders can play in leading by example to shed light on this issue within their own community.
“I want to see my colleagues step up, raise funds, and help put an end to homelessness,” he said. “Charities like Vinnies are struggling to meet the new demand and we need more SA leaders to help us address this growing crisis of poverty and homelessness.”
Mr. Kay said that for many business owners, the idea of networking while preparing to sleep rough for a night might seem unconventional. However, the initiative aims to foster empathy for the thousands of people who face this reality every night.
“I can assure people that we don’t get any special treatment,” he said. “This year we will be sleeping out at the Adelaide Zoo and will be fed the same meal that the homeless get from Fred’s Van. The one key difference is that we know we will be returning to a warm bed the next night. The homeless do not have that privilege.”
Now in its 16th year, the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout has received support from numerous corporate, government, and NGO leaders who have paved the way for change in the state.
Premier Peter Malinauskas is the only South Australian Premier to have participated in the event thus far and has joined in seven times. “It would be nice to dethrone the Premier from his annual spot as the highest fundraiser, but unfortunately he has the biggest little black book in the State,” joked Mr. Kay.
The Vinnies CEO Sleepout is a one-night event held on one of the longest and coldest nights of the year. Hundreds of CEOs, business owners as well as community and government leaders sleep outdoors to support the many Australians who are experiencing homelessness. Each CEO Sleepout participant commits to raising a minimum amount of funds to help Vinnies provide essential services to the people who need them.
Vinnies is a primary supporter of homelessness in SA, providing thousands of men, women, children and their pets with emergency accommodation 24/7, 365 days a year.
To learn more about how you and your organisation can get involved in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2025, click here.
If you would like to support SA Business Chamber Andrew Kay’s participation this year, click here. All donations are tax deductible.
