Vinnies Service Medallion
About the Vinnies Service Medallion
The Vinnies Service Medallion (VSM) is a state‑wide program that recognises secondary students (Years 7–12) for their commitment to community service, leadership, advocacy and social justice. It provides a simple, flexible way for young people to make a real difference while being formally acknowledged for their contribution.
Through hands‑on experiences with Vinnies initiatives, students develop empathy, confidence and practical skills as they learn about issues such as poverty, inequality and community resilience. The program encourages students to grow as leaders and active citizens who create positive change in their school and wider community.
The VSM is open and accessible to all secondary students across NSW. Young people can participate through their school or sign up independently, and there is no cost to be involved.
Our Vision
That all young people are afforded equal opportunities and are not limited by their geographic, socio‑economic or religious backgrounds.
The VSM is intentionally inclusive, removing barriers to participation and welcoming diverse experiences and pathways.
Winter Appeal 2025
Vinnies NSW School Winter Appeal 2025
Vinnies NSW supports tens of thousands of individuals and families each year who are experiencing financial and housing insecurity. This year, our Winter Appeal theme will be “no one chooses to be homeless”.
We are focusing on addressing homelessness, highlighting the factors that lead to homelessness and the support needed to recover and rebuild over the long-term of experiencing homelessness.
The Vinnies Winter Appeal plays a major role in ensuring our Members and Volunteers can continue to provide support to the people we assist and that our services are able to meet their individual needs.
We invite your school community to join us in participating in the 2025 Vinnies Winter Appeal. Your school’s contributions will help rebuild lives and dismantle the communal constructs that lead to disadvantage in the first place.
What you can do
Your school could hold a fundraiser, a donation drive of food, warm blankets and clothing, or make your appeal about advocating to the government to address the shortage of affordable housing.
Whatever you’d like to do, we’ve got the following resources to help you:
- School Activities Kit – for everything you need to know about holding your appeal – including a Case Study, statistics around this year’s Winter Appeal theme and a range of classroom resources to help support your school’s campaign
- How to Give – for everything you need to know on how to donate, check out this one-page explainer (printable PDF)
- Schools Poster to promote your chosen activities in the Winter Appeal in your local area
- Certificate of Appreciation – A Vinnies Member or your Youth Engagement Officer would be happy to present in person.
- You can also build momentum about your campaign and invite people to donate online. The sky is the limit when raising funds, so create your own snazzy event and get involved in a way that best suits your school community! Create your own School Fundraising page now.
Alternatively, our general donation page is where any school or individual can make a once-off donation.
Vinnies School Sleepouts
Vinnies School Sleepouts provide students with an opportunity to get a glimpse of what it is like to experience homelessness by ‘sleeping rough’ for one night. Students gather sponsorship from friends and family for their Sleepout. Schools can run sleepouts in a variety of ways. You choose which grades participate and whether the sleepout will be at school or ‘at home’. Vinnies Staff can support with activities, reflections and resources for the night, or you can create your own.
School Sleepouts must be registered with Vinnies. For all sleepouts, schools can create a school sleepout fundraising page and track their progress. Students can tap into a whole range of Vinnies School Sleepout Resources to help with planning and promotion of the event.
Contact the Vinnies NSW Schools Team
Our staff and Members can also give presentations and talks about the cost-of-living crisis and inspire the community to give to your school’s local Appeal. If you’re not in touch already, see list below to find the contact email for your region:
Armidale: armidaleyouth@vinnies.org.au
Bathurst: bathdio@vinnies.org.au
Broken Bay:
- Suggested Donations List for local regions/Vinnies Support Centres, and Vinnies Vans in Greater Sydney
- Please attach the School Donation Form with your donations to your Conference, Vinnies Support Centre, or Vinnies Vans in Greater Sydney
- Book a free Winter Appeal presentation (Broken Bay only): https://bit.ly/metroschoolsbookings2025
- To express your interest to donate towards the Vinnies Winter Appeal (in Broken Bay) and to request donation boxes (required if a Vinnies truck pickup is needed), please complete this form: https://bit.ly/vinnieswinterappeal2025
- For enquiries, please email: metroschools@vinnies.org.au
- Requests for pickup/drop-off of donations should be directed to the recipient of your donations e.g. Vinnies Conference, Vinnies Support Centre, Vinnies Vans
Greater Western Sydney:
- Suggested Donations List for local regions/Vinnies Support Centres, and Vinnies Vans in Greater Sydney
- Please attach the School Donation Form with your donations to your Conference, Vinnies Support Centre, or Vinnies Vans in Greater Sydney
- Book a free Winter Appeal presentation (Greater Western Sydney only): https://bit.ly/metroschoolsbookings2025
- To express your interest to donate towards the Vinnies Winter Appeal (in Greater Western Sydney/Parramatta) and to request donation boxes (required if a Vinnies truck pickup is needed), please complete this form: https://bit.ly/vinnieswinterappeal2025
- For enquiries, please email: metroschools@vinnies.org.au
- Requests for pickup/drop-off of donations should be directed to the recipient of your donations e.g. Vinnies Conference, Vinnies Support Centre, Vinnies Vans
Lismore: lismoreyouth@vinnies.org.au
Maitland/Newcastle: mnyouth@vinnies.org.au
Sydney:
- Suggested Donations List for local regions/Vinnies Support Centres, and Vinnies Vans in Greater Sydney
- Please attach the School Donation Form with your donations to your Conference, Vinnies Support Centre, or Vinnies Vans in Greater Sydney
- Book a free Winter Appeal presentation (Sydney only): https://bit.ly/metroschoolsbookings2025
- To express your interest to donate towards the Vinnies Winter Appeal (in Sydney) and to request donation boxes (required if a Vinnies truck pickup is needed), please complete this form: https://bit.ly/vinnieswinterappeal2025
- For enquiries, please email: metroschools@vinnies.org.au
- Requests for pickup/drop-off of donations should be directed to the recipient of your donations e.g. Vinnies Conference, Vinnies Support Centre, Vinnies Vans
Wagga Wagga: svdpwagga@vinnies.org.au
Wilcannia Forbes: wcfsvdp@vinnies.org.au
Wollongong: wollongongyouth@vinnies.org.au
- Please contact Kelly McCrohon, School and Youth Engagement Officer for specific donation needs for your school area.
- Please feel free to book a Winter Appeal presentation. Other Presentations on offer: Vinnies Vans: what they do and how you can help.
- For donation and presentation enquiries, please contact: kelly.mccrohon@vinnies.org.au
- Requests for pickup/drop-off of donations should be directed to your local Conference or Kelly McCrohon, Schools and Youth Engagement Officer: kelly.mccrohon@vinnies.org.au
Thank you so much for your school’s support of the 2025 Vinnies Winter Appeal.
Don’t forget to share your Winter Appeal pictures and stories by tagging us on your school’s socials!
