Early childhood sector rallies behind 2026 Vinnies CEO Sleepout

Early childhood leaders are calling on the sector to stand together in support of the 2026 Vinnies CEO Sleepout, using the national campaign to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions about homelessness and support women and children escaping violence.

Preparations are underway for this year’s CEO Sleepout, with early childhood education and care professionals again using the event as a platform for advocacy, fundraising and community action. 

Max Bergh leading sector advocacy

For Max Bergh, CEO of AMIGA Montessori, the 2026 Vinnies CEO Sleepout represents far more than one night sleeping outdoors.

This year marks Max’s fourth year participating in the campaign and her first year serving as chairperson of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout Advisory Committee, strengthening the early childhood sector’s voice in broader conversations around homelessness, family violence and housing insecurity.

Max has been increasingly vocal about the need for the sector to recognise that homelessness is not a distant social issue, but one that can directly affect families, educators and communities connected to early childhood services.

With women making up the overwhelming majority of the early childhood workforce, Max said there is an important responsibility for employers and leaders to better understand the realities many women and families face when experiencing unsafe or unstable circumstances.

It’s never about the night itself: the night is more of a celebration of all the work that has occurred in the lead up.  It’s a symbolic evening, where we are able to experience that cold, and the discomfort.

However, the real impact of this event for me, is in the educational role it plays. The impact is in the hundreds of conversations that occur, between people who would never have discussed homelessness otherwise.  It’s the little-known facts shared on professional and social platforms, to audiences that may never have encountered the subject matter.

This event gives people a reason to talk, to share and to educate, it brings an issue that some see as taboo into the light, and in its actual form, not in the form we often think it takes.

For us at AMIGA Montessori, we hold an annual sleepout for our children (also a disco), and we have those conversations with our children: asking in circle times, what is a home, what makes you feel safe about your home, and making them aware that not all children have that.

So, the event's real power lies in the conversations that can shape the perspectives of people around us: building understanding and empathy that hopefully lasts not one night but a lifetime.

According to Max, one of the most important outcomes of the campaign is the opportunity to educate people about the complex pathways into homelessness and challenge the misconception that homelessness is a choice.

Challenging assumptions about homelessness

Campaign organisers said the CEO Sleepout creates an opportunity to raise awareness about the factors that can force women and children into housing insecurity, including family violence, coercive control, financial abuse and the need to flee unsafe environments. 

One story shared during campaign planning involved a child whose family had to relocate into crisis accommodation after leaving an unsafe situation, reinforcing that homelessness is not an abstract issue but one already impacting communities, services and classrooms.

Participants said the conversations generated in the lead-up to the event are often just as important as the fundraising itself, helping employers, educators and families better understand vulnerability, trauma and the importance of practical support. 

Fundraising focused on long-term housing

This year’s fundraising campaign will support the construction of permanent housing units for women and children escaping violence, helping families move beyond crisis accommodation and remain connected to their schools, workplaces and communities. 

The initiative reflects a growing focus on long-term housing stability rather than short-term emergency responses alone.

For children, stable housing can significantly influence wellbeing, continuity of learning, relationships and feelings of safety and belonging.

Our goal is to fundraise to build new accommodation for women, children and people who identify as LGBTQIA+ escaping domestic and family violence (DFV).

New units could provide safe housing for up to 20 families per year with ongoing wrap-around services from our specialist VincentCare Victoria teams to help families to heal, rebuild and flourish after experiencing violence.

Our new accommodation model of support will provide families with ongoing wrap-around services including risk assessment and management, safety planning, pre-and post-refuge support, specialist children’s support worker and access to VCV’s large range of programs, aimed at positioning families with the opportunity to heal and flourish after experiencing violence.

Victorian Fundraising Targets/Figures (as of 12th of May):

Goal: Raise $1.75 million
Progress: $405,781 of $1,750,000 target (23% of target)

AMIGA fundraising creating momentum

Last year, sector-led fundraising efforts raised approximately $40,000 through centre-based events, sponsorships and community initiatives. 

One standout initiative, led by AMIGA Montessori Cranbourne North centre manager, Miss Ledia Rozairo, who brought together more than 300 people and raised close to $10,000 through performances, sponsorships and a child-friendly mini sleepout event. 

The event also created opportunities for children to explore concepts such as home, safety, belonging and caring for others in age-appropriate ways.

This year, Miss Ledia will again lead a major fundraising event, with further coverage planned following the June activities.

“Montessori education teaches us that children learn best when they are connected to the real world around them,” said Miss Ledia Rozairo. “When we bring community experiences into our classrooms, children develop empathy, curiosity, independence, and a deeper understanding of how they can make a positive difference in the lives of others. It was beautiful to see our children, families, educators, and local businesses come together with such kindness and generosity.” 

“I would like to sincerely thank Ms Max (CEO) and the AMIGA head office team for giving me the opportunity to lead this fundraiser,” she said. “When I first shared my passion and vision for this event last year, they listened to my voice, believed in the idea, and supported me with no expectations. They gave me the opportunity to lead, grow, and shine, and I will always be grateful for their trust and encouragement.” 

Participants said these grassroots initiatives help create a “snowball effect” across the sector, encouraging more services, families and communities to become involved each year. 

A call to action for the early childhood sector

Early childhood services, leaders and educators are being encouraged to support the 2026 Vinnies CEO Sleepout in ways that suit their local community.

Services may choose to:

• donate
• register to participate
• host a fundraiser
• seek sponsorship
• raise awareness within their community
• start age-appropriate conversations with children and families about belonging, safety and helping others. 

Organisers said even small acts of advocacy can contribute to broader understanding and meaningful social impact.

As the campaign builds towards the June 18 event, the message for the early childhood sector is clear: collective action can help raise funds, shift perceptions and support safer futures for women and children experiencing homelessness.

Max Bergh’s Donation Link: CEO SLEEPOUT - Max Bergh

Participant Registration Link: CEO SLEEPOUT : Register Lightbox 2026

Further information, registration details and donation links are available via the Vinnies CEO Sleepout website.