Awareness is the first step in helping to address the issue. Become a champion of the cause in your workplace or community by sharing your knowledge of the issue with others.
- Hold screenings of the documentary, available for purchase from Shark Island Productions or rental at particiapting Video Ezy stores*
- Download the Oasis fact sheet and share then with your friends, classmates or colleagues - Oasis & Youth Homelessness FS.pdf
- Choose Oasis Youth Network as your beneficiary when participating in fundraising activities
*Call your local store to check availability or to place a special order.
More than 32,000 young people under the age of 24 are considered homeless in Australia. It's not the lucky country for everyone, but you can help!
Follow the 32,000 To Go campaign blog and read about the real life success stories of young people who have turned their lives around thanks to the support from the Oasis Youth Support Network.
The website also contains stories about how many individuals, groups and organisations are helping organisations like Oasis tackle the issue of youth homelessness - be inspired by their activites and take action today!
Visit - 
Visit 32,000togo.com.au
Previous Write to your local member in your electorate and ask them to take greater action against youth homelessness. Sending letters - by mail, fax or email - is one of the most effective ways for individuals to communicate their concerns to those in a position to make decisions that influence policy. When you write a letter, you are letting your representative know the issues you are concerned about, and contributing to the critical mass needed to move governments into action.
To find out your electorate, or who your local member is, please click here.
A few simple rules for writing letters
- Always be polite. Individuals and Ministers do not respond to abusive letters.
- It is good to give an indication of who you are and why youth homelessness is an important issue to you. Your willingness to rasie this issue demonstrates to our elected representatives that people from all walks of life feel strongly about youth homelessness.
- Be brief. Sometimes a simple, short letter is adequate. You should write no more than one page, as long letters are less likely to be read.
A sample letter to your MP
INSERT MP NAME
INSERT ADDRESS
INSERT CITY INSERT STATE INSERT POSTCODE
[ INSERT DATE ]
RE: Action Needed By Local Government to End Youth Homelessness
Dear MP:
There are 32,000 Australians under 25 experiencing homelessness in Australia today and that is unacceptable.
Research indicates that many of our older homeless citizens began to experience homelessness as a young person, and the alleviation of youth homelessness will therefore have an impact on the entire homeless population.
I urge you to make the reduction of youth homelessness one of the top priorities on your Government’s agenda.
As a citizen of [INSERT NAME, TOWN, STATE], I support the Oasis Youth Support Network's '32,000 To Go' movement to end youth homelessness.
Yours Sincerely,
Print Name: ______________________________________________________
Signature and Date: _______________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________
Send By Mail
Print, sign and post the letter to your MP at the address listed at the AEC websites. Alternatively, contact details for other state and federal MP's can be found at
Send By Email
Copy and paste the letter into an email, and send to your local MP. Details of local members addresses and contacts can be found at
Writing to our Prime Minister, The Hon Julia Gillard MP, is an effective way for individuals to communicate their concerns to those in a position to make decisions that influence policy. When you write a letter, you are letting our government know the issues you are concerned about, and contributing to the critical mass needed to create action.
A few simple rules for writing letters
- Always be polite. Individuals and Ministers do not respond to abusive letters.
- It is good to give an indication of who you are and why youth homelessness is an important issue to you. Your willingness to rasie this issue demonstrates to our elected representatives that people from all walks of life feel strongly about youth homelessness.
- Be brief. Sometimes a simple, short letter is adequate. You should write no more than one page, as long letters are less likely to be read.
A sample letter to the Federal Government
The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
[ INSERT DATE ]
RE: Action Needed By Federal Government to End Youth Homelessness
Dear Prime Minister:
There are 32,000 Australians under 25 experiencing homelessness in Australia today and that is unacceptable.
Research indicates that many of our older homeless citizens began to experience homelessness as a young person, and the alleviation of youth homelessness will therefore have an impact on the entire homeless population.
I urge you to make the reduction of youth homelessness one of the top priorities on your Government’s agenda.
As a citizen of [INSERT NAME, TOWN, STATE], I support the Oasis Youth Support Network's '32,000 To Go' movement to end youth homelessness.
Yours Sincerely,
Print Name: ______________________________________________________
Signature and Date: _______________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________
Send By Mail
Copy the above into a Word document, print, sign and post the letter to the Prime Minister at the address listed below.
The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Copy and paste the letter into the form provided on the Prime Minister's website 'Contact your PM'
Want to inspire and reach thousands of people? Phone talkback radio.
Phone your local talkback show and tell them how you feel about youth homelessness and what we can do to help end youth homelessness in Australia. Here are a few simple tips to get involved and help shape public opinion.
- Keep it relevant – make sure the talkback session is relevant to your issue.
- Get to the point – you’ll only have about 30 seconds on the air.
- Stay focused – don’t get caught daydreaming in the queue.
- Turn off the radio – it’s distracting for you, the host and the audience.
Writing a letter to the editor is a great way to share your opinion, educate the public about the issue, applaud someone for doing the right thing, or criticize policy. A well written, well-timed letter to the editor can shift public opinion and influence policy.
A few simple rules for writing to editors
- Keep it short. The average letter is 250 to 300 words but check with the paper as to its word limit and follow any additional guidelines for submission.
- Editors prefer to publish timely, concise letters that respond to a news issue, article, editorial, or another letter that appeared in the newspaper.
- Write and submit your letter as quickly as possible, preferably the same day that the article runs or the issue is raised in public.
- Remember that not all readers will have seen the original story. Your letter will need to stand on it’s own, as it will be published as such.
- Open your letter with a strong statement that comments on a news issue, article, editorial, or another letter that appeared in the newspaper.
- You must include your name, street address and phone number. Editors are on guard about fake identities and will often contact you to verify that you wrote your letter. It is unlikely that they will run anonymous letters.
