Alumni Magazine Issue 4

Stepping up for the homeless A long term partnership between Notre Dame and the national community organisation On My Feet took a step forward this year with the successful pilot of a walking program for homeless and vulnerable members of the Fremantle community. Health Sciences students lead a ‘Walk, Stretch, Coffee’ group on Monday mornings, promoting not only the importance of exercise but also relaxed social inclusion. On My Feet Director and Notre Dame alumnus, class of 2016, Ayden Doohan, said the organisation’s focus on exercise is complemented by assistance to connect homeless and vulnerable people with employment opportunities. While other On My Feet groups are focussed solely on running, the Fremantle pilot group is the first to offer a walking program and the first to start from a shelter at St Patrick’s Community Centre. “Having started at the end of July, the walking group has had a fantastic response from participants and we plan to replicate it at other locations around Perth with the help of Notre Dame students,” he said. Ayden said homeless and vulnerable people often had difficulty talking about their problems and the students had played an important role in communicating with them. “They have had a really positive interaction with people who are trying to get back on their feet,” he said. Notre Dame students also took part in On My Feet’s presentation at the Homeless Connect convention in Perth in November leading exercise demonstrations. Health Sciences Senior Lecturer and volunteer, Ben Piggott, said the students fulfilled some of their practical experience requirement through the sessions and also gained essential skills for working with vulnerable people. “While they volunteer their time to assist, they also get some reward in return,” he said. “It’s a real skillset to communicate with people who experience disadvantage in the wider community and our students get to develop these skills in the program,” he said. H E A L T H S C I E N C E S Alumni Magazine – Page 11

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