Melbourne Airport will once again host its Car Park Sleepout, inviting the public to spend a night in their cars to raise awareness and funds for women, non-binary people and children experiencing or at risk of homelessness because of family violence.

The event aims to raise $100,000 to assist the advocacy and support work of Juno Services and McAuley Community Services for Women across Melbourne’s north and west.

Participants will spend a night sleeping in their car – a powerful glimpse into the harsh reality of ‘hidden homelessness’.

Family and domestic violence remains the leading cause of homelessness in Victoria, with thousands of people forced to sleep in cars, couch surf, or live in overcrowded dwellings to escape unsafe environments.

More than 36,000* women and children facing homelessness due to family and domestic violence turned to specialist homelessness services in 2022-23, while each year thousands of women return to violent situations because they have nowhere affordable to live.

Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said the airport was proud to bring the community together to shine a light on hidden homelessness.

“Each year thousands of women face the unimaginable reality of homelessness, with their car often becoming their last resort for shelter,” she said

“These women are supported through their darkest moments by the amazing work of organisations like Juno and McAuley.

“Every dollar raised from our Car Park Sleepout goes to these life-changing organisations, and every conversation helps bring hidden homelessness out of the shadows.

“As an airport we sadly see this play out all too frequently, with people arriving at the airport after fleeing violent situations with nothing but the clothes on their back.

“It is through referrals to Juno and McAuley that these women, non-binary people and children find their first step towards safety and shelter.”

 Juno CEO Tanya Corrie said: “Too many women and gender diverse people are forced to make the impossible choice between returning to violence or facing homelessness, often while also caring for children.

“With so little access to long-term housing, many end up in cars, overcrowded homes or unsafe situations. The Sleepout is a powerful act of solidarity that says, “I see you” and helps us keep walking alongside people as they rebuild their lives.”

 CEO of McAuley, Jocelyn Bignold OAM, said: “Too many women and children are becoming homeless due to family violence – in the current housing crisis, and with family violence occurring at alarming rates, it’s time to think differently and actively change the system to support them to remain safely in their homes.

 “McAuley provides holistic, wraparound support to over 1000 women and children every year, but we know each night in Victoria up to 200 women and children are staying in motels without the vital support they need. Across Victoria, services like ours cannot meet the demand.

 “The Car Park Sleepout will not only raise vital funds to support women and children experiencing homelessness, but raise awareness in our community of what they are going through.”

The Sleepout will take place on Thursday 16 October 2025.  To register for the Car Sleepout, visit www.melbourneairport.com.au/community.

Key facts at a glance

*Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2023 as reported by Homelessness Australia:

• In 2022-23, 23,415 women and 13,294 children who had experienced domestic and family violence were assisted by homelessness services in Victoria.

AIHW 2023-24:

• 1 in 80 women in the Australian population received support from Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) (2023-24)
• Among SHS clients who have experienced family and domestic violence, 9 in 10 were women and children.
• Twenty-seven per cent of all SHS clients were aged under 18.

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2023, as reported by AIHW:

• 1 in 4 Australian women have experienced intimate partner violence since age 15

Equity Economics 2021:

• An estimated 7,690 women are returning to violent relationships every year due to having no-where affordable to live.
• 9,120 women a year are becoming homeless as a direct result of domestic and family violence.
• Only 3.2% women are currently receiving the long-term housing solutions they need.

About Juno
Juno is a support and advocacy organisation working across Melbourne’s North. We provide gender-informed services that empower and support women, trans, gender diverse people and their children experiencing or recovering from the impacts of homelessness and housing stress, family violence and financial insecurity. We also advocate to raise awareness of the unique issues the people we work with face and change the systems and structures which contribute to gendered poverty, homelessness and family violence.

About McAuley
McAuley Community Services for Women supports women and children who have faced family violence and homelessness to take control of their lives.
Starting with accommodation and meeting immediate needs, we support women and their children to be safe. We provide 24/7 crisis support and temporary accommodation, independent housing and supported community care.
McAuley House, Footscray and Ballarat, provide inhouse support to women who are homeless, many of whom have also experienced family violence. It is a place for rest, recovery and reconnection, as well as being a welcoming hub for women and children who have moved into the surrounding community.