In the lead-up to the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, Cornerstone Medical Recruitment (cmr) brought the experience in-house, hosting our own cmr Sleepout to raise funds and awareness for Australians experiencing homelessness. As a healthcare recruitment company, we know that health starts with a home and without the stability of shelter, it’s nearly impossible to care for your physical or mental wellbeing.

On Friday 16 May, 25 staff came together for a full-day immersion, while many more supported from afar. The day began with volunteering at Emmanuel City Mission, a Brisbane-based street outreach centre, where we served meals, sorted clothing donations, and listened to powerful stories from those receiving and giving support.

Later, at our Brisbane HQ, we welcomed guest speaker Dr Juergen Landmann, a GP who offers free medical care to visitors at Emmanuel City Mission, along with providing healthcare services to people in the prison system. Dr Juergen spoke about the importance of listening and meeting patients with dignity and we look forward to sharing more of his story soon, on our podcast It Takes Heart. We also heard from Matt Kratiuk, Vinnies CEO Sleepout Brand Ambassador, who generously shared his own lived experience with homelessness – an incredibly moving story of strength, survival, and transformation.

With help from Vinnies Fundraising Coordinator Becky Hughes, the team assembled dozens of essential care kits and took on the “$2 challenge”– a sobering exercise in what dinner looks like on a $2 budget. Soup was kindly donated by local catering company ETTO, and after a reflective outdoor meal, our team slept overnight on the office floor, ending the day with deep conversation and quiet gratitude.

The cmr Sleepout has already helped CEO Samantha Miklos raise over $6,000, enough to fund 50 safe beds, 203 meals, and 19 tailored support programs for those who need it most.

There’s still time to support Sam’s CEO Sleepout journey. Every donation provides life-changing services to those experiencing homelessness. Donate now and help us create real, lasting change.