The smell of fresh bread still evokes a powerful memory for me. Not because of its aroma but because of its unexpected impact eight years ago on what would become We Are Mobilise.
Back then, walking through the streets of Melbourne one day, the sheer number of people sleeping rough left me shaken. I thought this wasn’t supposed to happen in a country like Australia. So, fuelled by a simple question – why does anybody have to sleep on the street in a country as prosperous as Australia? – I decided to act.
We started small, just me and a phone. Calling local businesses, I stumbled upon a warm welcome at Bakers Delight, who supplied us with bags of fresh bread. This wasn’t just a donation; it was a silent nod of acknowledgment, a shared concern.
We hit the streets that night with bread and a determined spirit. We discovered not a hunger for food but a hunger for connection. Hours melted away as we sat alongside individuals, listening to their stories, hopes, and struggles. It was raw, humbling, and transformative. It became clear: the real currency we could all share was our time and conversation.
The seed of We Are Mobilise was planted that night under the lights of Melbourne’s CBD. From those initial conversations, our mission has evolved. Today, we reach across multiple cities across Australia, conducting outreaches and offering direct support programs that put resources directly into the hands of those who need them most.
But the truth is, the impact started long before Mobilise existed. It started with a simple conversation, a willingness to listen, and the generosity of a woman offering up a bag of bread. It’s a reminder that even the most minor actions can have ripple effects, igniting change in ways we never imagined.
That’s why we’re passionate about being part of a broader conversation for change. Homelessness doesn’t have to be a fact of life we accept. Through acts of kindness, advocacy, or even just starting a conversation, each of us can be part of the solution.
