RMIT students develop ideas to address homelessness

Around 100 RMIT students joined peers, community organisations and people with lived experience at the 2026 Student Leadership Summit to develop ideas addressing homelessness.

RMIT students were among more than 300 university students who came together for the Student Leadership Summit at the University of Melbourne on 18 October.

Hosted by Campus Consultancy, the sold-out event brought students together with 11 organisations working to address homelessness. Across the day, students heard from people with lived experience before working in teams to develop and pitch practical responses to challenges presented by participating organisations.

RMIT supported around 100 students to attend, the largest contingent from a Victorian university. Ticket proceeds contributed to the summit’s fundraising efforts for We Are Mobilise through Nedd’s Uncomfortable Challenge.

The national campaign aims to raise $122,000, representing one dollar for every person recorded as experiencing homelessness in Australia on Census night. Attendance at the Melbourne summit helped raise $17,964 for We Are Mobilise.

Co-Curricular Programs Advisor Caleb Hayhoe-Castle said bringing students, professionals and community figures together created opportunities for students to learn while contributing to a wider cause.

“Making connections whilst developing and demonstrating key transferrable skills such as communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills whilst contributing to something bigger than themselves is the kind of opportunity we're proud to make available for students through the connections of RMIT Plus,” Caleb said.

Students seated in a packed lecture theatre raise their hands during a presentation at the Student Leadership Summit.

Bianca from Kids Under Cover speaks into a microphone in front of students at the summit.

Different perspectives, shared purpose

Working with students from different universities and study areas gave RMIT student Neda Fakhrzadeh the opportunity to approach a real-world challenge from multiple perspectives.

“Being part of the Student Leadership Summit was an amazing experience for me. What I enjoyed most was the opportunity to work on real-world challenges with real organisations,” Neda said.

“I also really loved working with my team. We all came from different academic backgrounds and had different skills and perspectives. It was inspiring to see how we could bring our ideas together and create something meaningful.”

Teams developed ideas for organisations including the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness, The Big Issue Australia, The Salvation Army, We Are Mobilise and Youthlaw.

The challenges asked students to consider issues such as changing public perceptions of homelessness, engaging more young people with support organisations and helping community programs reach people experiencing disadvantage.

One RMIT team was selected as the top team responding to a challenge from the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness. The team developed the concept for an interactive role-playing game designed to challenge stereotypes by placing players in the shoes of people facing homelessness.

RMIT student Neda Fakhrzadeh and fellow summit participants with Campus Consultancy founder Josh Farr.

Students seated in a packed lecture theatre raise their hands while a presenter speaks at the front of the room during the Student Leadership Summit.

Building skills beyond the classroom

The fast-paced format required students to listen, share ideas and develop a practical pitch within a limited timeframe.

For Neda, the experience reinforced the value of bringing different skills and perspectives together.

“This experience helped me understand the value of teamwork, creativity, and collaboration. I learned a lot from my teammates, and I would love to be part of more experiences like this in the future.”

Senior Coordinator, Co-curricular Programs Sean Lynch said the summit encouraged students to step outside their comfort zones.

“The summit saw students stepping out of their comfort zones and developing ideas to tackle the homelessness crisis. This brought their teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills to the fore,” Sean said.

“The event proved highly popular with students who could see the benefits of engaging with students from across Melbourne, as well as with industry and community organisations.”

Students who attended the summit can record and reflect on their experience through RMIT Plus, helping them recognise the skills they developed and connect those skills with their future goals.

Interested in building skills and experience beyond the classroom? Learn more about RMIT Plus and explore opportunities to get involved.

27 October 2026

More student news

What's on in Melbourne: Summer 2026 edition

27 Oct 2026

From summer sport to vintage markets, food festivals and blockbuster film releases, here’s your guide to making the most of summer in Melbourne, student discounts included.

RMIT students develop ideas to address homelessness

27 Oct 2026

Around 100 RMIT students joined peers, community organisations and people with lived experience at the 2026 Student Leadership Summit to develop ideas addressing homelessness.

Tobi attending graduation for his VE studies.

Tobi levelled up his confidence through vocational education before starting his Bachelor of Games

26 Oct 2026

Tobi has always had an interest in working in the animation industry but wanted to set himself up for success before starting his bachelor's degree.

Illustrated poster featuring a black-and-white spiral design with a red notification icon and the text 'Don't Fall Into the App Trap!'.

From Ready, Set, Design to Posterist 2026: Keily Chng’s creative journey comes full circle

22 Oct 2026

In the 2025 winter school holidays, Year 12 Point Cook Senior Visual Communication and Design student Keily Chng attended RMIT’s I Belong Equity Outreach Program Ready, Set, Design.

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples