Couch Surfing

On Friday 5 April Darwin High School students participated in a couch surfing event out the front of NT Parliament, a youth homelessness event for Anglicare NT.

In the Northern Territory, 52% of homeless people are under 24 years of age (Department of Housing and Community Development, NT Government, 2016). The majority of these young people are living in overcrowded accommodation or couch surfing. Couch surfing – staying temporarily in a series of other people’s homes – is the first and most common way young people experience homelessness.

The couch surfing races celebrate the resilience of young people affected by homelessness as part of National Youth Homelessness Matters Day. Darwin High School students joined local youth services, other schools, young people and community members to show their support for young people who find themselves homeless. 

The competition between the twenty teams was fierce, and while the Darwin High team lost both of their races, they had a great time and were fantastic ambassadors for the school.

Crowds of spectators came down and to cheer on the competitors while enjoying live entertainment, which including Darwin High School Year 11 music student, Ziggy Durling.