How your time at The Collaroy Centre helps combat homelessness in Australia
When you bring your school camp, retreat, or leadership event to The Collaroy Centre, you’re not just choosing a beautiful venue on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. You’re helping to change lives, quietly, powerfully, and with real impact.
That’s because The Collaroy Centre operates as a for-purpose business, with all proceeds directly supporting the life-changing mission work of The Salvation Army. One of the most urgent areas that support reaches is homelessness.
Let’s take a look at how your booking contributes to this important cause.
The scale of the issue
Every night in Australia, more than 122,000 people are experiencing homelessness and that number is rising. It includes:
- Families escaping domestic violence
- Young people leaving unsafe homes
- Older Australians with nowhere to go
- People sleeping rough, living in cars, or cycling through crisis accommodation
Homelessness isn’t always visible. It can look like couch surfing, overcrowded housing, or people living in insecure, temporary conditions. It can happen suddenly and it can happen to anyone.
How the Salvos step in
The Salvation Army is one of the largest providers of homelessness services in the country. Across Australia, their teams offer:
- Crisis accommodation: Safe, secure housing for individuals and families in urgent need
- Transitional housing: Medium-term support as people rebuild their lives
- Case management: Helping people access mental health care, financial support, education, and employment services
- Outreach programs: Connecting with rough sleepers to offer essentials, safety, and support
- Specialised services: Support for people experiencing domestic violence, addiction, and long-term poverty
This isn’t just about giving someone a bed for the night. It’s about providing a path forward with dignity, care, and practical help.
Where The Collaroy Centre fits in
Every camp, retreat, and event that takes place at The Collaroy Centre contributes to this mission.
The Centre is wholly owned and operated by The Salvation Army. That means the revenue it generates doesn’t go into shareholders’ pockets, it goes back into the community.
So when a school books a leadership camp, or a church holds a weekend retreat, or a local organisation hosts a training event here, they’re not just using the facilities. They’re helping to fund:
- Beds in crisis accommodation services
- Meals and care packages for those sleeping rough
- Outreach workers and case managers
- Warm clothing and essentials for people facing winter on the streets
It’s a simple equation: every booking = more support for those doing it tough.
Real stories, real impact
The Salvation Army’s homelessness services aren’t just statistics. They’re stories of people whose lives have been changed.
- A young woman escaping domestic violence finds safety and begins rebuilding her life in supported accommodation.
- An elderly man who lost his rental home is connected to long-term housing and reunited with family.
- A teenager living in a car gets access to education, mentoring, and a safe place to sleep, who goes on to finish high school.
These stories are possible because of the network of support The Salvos provide. And that support is possible, in part, because of venues like The Collaroy Centre.
Why it matters
We know that for our guests, booking a camp or event is about creating powerful moments, memories that last a lifetime, connections that strengthen communities.
But knowing that those moments also fund essential services? That’s something special.
By choosing The Collaroy Centre, you’re not just getting a beautiful venue with expert staff and exceptional hospitality. You’re choosing to make a difference.
More than a venue. A mission.
At The Collaroy Centre, we say we’re “the perfect place to connect, grow and celebrate” and that includes growth and connection that reaches far beyond our own gates.
When you hold your next event here, you’re standing alongside people who are experiencing the hardest days of their lives. You’re helping to ensure they don’t face them alone.
That’s the power of mission in action.
Want to learn more about The Salvation Army’s work?
Visit salvationarmy.org.au/homelessness-services
Or chat to our team when you book, we’d love to tell you more about the impact you’re helping to make.