Have you ever caught yourself walking past someone sleeping rough and looked away, not knowing what to say or fearing you might make them uncomfortable? 

Marking National Homelessness Week, new research reveals that nearly a third of Australians admit to doing just that—even though deep down, nearly 80% of us want to help. In this episode, Dave is joined by Nic Marchesi, Co-Founder of Orange Sky, 2016 Young Australian of the Year, and 2020 OAM recipient.

We discuss why human connection is just as vital as a hot meal or a clean set of clothes, and how a simple acknowledgement can completely change a life.

• The Look-Away Habit: Why nearly 1 in 3 Australians admit to walking past someone experiencing homelessness without acknowledging them.

• The Fear of Getting It Wrong: How to overcome the anxiety that stops 79% of people from reaching out to someone doing it tough.

• More Than Just Laundry: Why Orange Sky discovered early on that the real magic happens on the chairs alongside the machines through non-judgmental conversation.

• A Public Health Priority: Why the community agrees that chronic loneliness and social isolation must be treated as a major national crisis.

If you want to move past the awkwardness and learn how a simple hello can restore someone's dignity, this is the deep dive you need.