The car parks at Melbourne Airport are busy

ALL car parks are sold-out Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday this week. Please consider alternative transport options. Due to ongoing construction in the T123 car park pick-up and drop-off areas, passengers should plan for potential delays of up to an hour during peak times. Please have your QR code ready for a smooth entry and exit. To avoid congestion, we recommend using the equivalent pick-up and drop-off facilities at nearby Terminal 4 car park, just a short 10-minute walk from Terminals 1, 2, and 3. Simply drive to the Terminal 4 Car Park and proceed to Level 2 for drop-offs or Level 1 for pick-ups. Thank you for your patience.

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Sleep out at Melbourne Airport to support people experiencing homelessness and family violence

Melbourne Airport is hosting a car park sleepout to raise awareness and funds for women and non-binary people experiencing or at risk of homelessness due to family violence.

The Car Sleepout invites participants to sleep overnight in their car on 5 September on the top level of the Terminal 4 car park, simulating a small part of the experience that thousands of people face each night.

Tickets to participate cost $100 per person, with donations also gratefully accepted. All funds raised will support the work of Juno and McAuley Community Services for Women, two organisations that support, empower and advocate for women, non-binary people and their children facing homelessness and family violence across the north and west of Melbourne. The event aims to raise at least $100,000.

Research shows that more than 23,000 women and 13,000 children who had experienced family violence in Australia were assisted by homelessness services like Juno and McAuley in 2022-23, while each year, 7960 women return to violent situations because they have nowhere affordable to live.*

Juno CEO Tanya Corrie said: “We often associate homelessness with ‘sleeping rough’ in the street. This neglects the experiences of the far too many women and non-binary people who are sleeping in their cars every night because ‘home’ is not a safe place.

“This challenge shines a light on this uncomfortable reality and on an issue that has been hidden for too long.”

CEO of McAuley, Jocelyn Bignold OAM, said: “Family violence is the single largest driver of homelessness for women in Victoria.

“The women and children fleeing violence are the hidden homeless, with so many forced to resort to options like couch surfing or living in their cars. This event is designed to draw attention to the need for more safe and affordable accommodation options to ensure women and children are not forced to returning to live with people who use violence because they have nowhere to live.”

Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said: “The Car Sleepout is a unique opportunity for our community to come together, raise awareness and make a tangible difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness after family violence.

“We’ll be choosing to be there on the night, and we hope that through the experience participants will gain some understanding of the challenges faced by people who don’t have that same choice.”

To register for the Car Sleepout, visit https://www.melbourneairport.com.au/community/. The Novotel & ibis Styles Melbourne Airport will be supplying complimentary St. ALi coffee for all registered participants the following morning.

For further information please contact Melbourne Airport media on +61 3 9335 3666

Key data:

*In 2022-23, more than 23,000 women and 13,000 children who had experienced family violence were assisted by homelessness services (AIHW, 2023).

Each year in Australia, 7960 women are returning to live with people who use violence because they have nowhere affordable to live (Equity Economics, 2021).

There is little hope for accessing affordable housing, with the wait time for family violence victim-survivors averaging close to two years (DFFH, 2024).

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 and cis), non-binary people and their children experiencing or recovering from the impacts of homelessness and housing stress, family violence and financial insecurity.

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.