Terang students brew coffee van to fight homelessness
Five Year 12 students at Terang College designed and equipped a coffee van to raise money for homelessness support.
Lucy Eldridge and four classmates spent a year turning a donated van into a working cafe. The van sells coffee, hot chocolate and treats, with profits going to the Salvation Army in Warrnambool.
The school bought the van in 2025 with a $26,500 grant from the Department of Education. The students handled every detail themselves: designing the logo, deciding what equipment was needed, and now staffing shifts.
Teacher Matthew Murray said the project has brought a lot of literacy, numeracy and personal development skills. The group plans a sleep-out event on October 13 to raise awareness and funds for homelessness.
Curtis Benallack said it feels like a legacy project, hoping future students will keep it running.
- 5 Year 12 students
- Students involved
- $26,500
- Grant amount
- 2025
- Van purchased
- October 13, 2026
- Sleep-out date
Why it mattersYoung people solving real community problems through practical work, not just learning theory. This shows how education can turn into tangible help for the most vulnerable.
AustraliaWarrnambool's Salvation Army gets steady fundraising support from local teens, while Terang College students gain work experience and confidence in a peer-led business.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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