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The Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology

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Creating change for homeless people has led University of Queensland engineering and commerce student, Lucas Patchett and his business partner, Nic Marchesi to be named 2016 Young Australians of the Year.

Their charity began in September 2014 when the best mates set out to make a practical difference and converted an old van (named Sudsy) into a mobile laundromat which they drove around Brisbane to wash clothes of the homeless for free. The two 20 year olds decided to name the charity after their favourite song, Orange Sky, taking inspiration from the songs message of helping others.

With one in 200 people in Australia being homeless on any given night, it is a much needed service as the $5 to $6 it costs to use a laundromat can be a big cost for those without a roof over their heads.

Lucas and Nic were exposed to the issue of homelessness from a young age as they volunteered throughout high school, predominantly working on food vans and outreach services. Their early experiences stirred the enthusiastic duo to start a charity run by young people, for young people.

"There's a lot of energy out there, so we wanted to harness it. We thought about doing a food van, but we have so many in Brisbane, and the hygiene aspect of the homeless had been really overlooked. One of the first guys we helped actually studied engineering like me. But after some bad luck in life he ended up on the street, and that really opened our eyes to the massive issue of how easily homelessness can happen. We really want to start a national conversation," said Lucas.

They have started this national conversation in just over a year. Services have expanded rapidly, with four vans now running in 36 locations in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne and Sydney. In February 2016, Orange Sky announced that they are also introducing their service to Perth where more than 150 people are without a home.

"We're now washing more than 200 loads each week. We also have to say thank you to our 300 plus volunteers, who are fantastic. The cool thing is we have partnerships with a chemical company and laundry servicing company, both of which are Australia wide, and LG, which is an international company. So it's a very scalable model; we can get a van on the road in two days, and then after that it's just about establishing a schedule and finding where there's a need for it," said Lucas.

Lucas and Nic have a vision to develop the model into a global concept, to help the many millions of people sleeping on streets throughout the world.

Lucas said, "as well as Australia, there's actually no one in the whole world doing what we're doing, so it's exciting knowing that we could provide this service internationally and have a significant impact."

Social entrepreneur, Lucas explained that while it seems his UQ engineering degree might not necessarily be directly related to his charity, he feels that he draws on his skills every day.

"At the core of engineering is creative solutions and solving problems that have been looked at the same way for a long time. The fact that we have no background in social work means we're looking at things through different eyes with a different perspective on an industry that's been looked at the same way for a long time. We've shaken things up," said Lucas.

The two washers and dryers fitted on the van allow Orange Sky to provide 20kg of clean clothes every hour and as clothes are being washed, homeless people can connect with the volunteers.

Nic said that last week, he met homeless man Grant, and as he washed Grant's clothes for the first time and passed his laundry back to him, "he told me something I'll never forget. He said, 'Nic, I haven't been able to have a conversation with anyone for over three days'."

"We're giving people back the basic human right of having a good chat," said Lucas.

Lucas and Nic jointly won the prestigious national award at the Australian of the Year Awards in Canberra for, as Nic said, their simple idea - "clean clothes and conversation."

"But after 70,000 kilos of washing ... we realised it is so much more. We can restore respect, raise health standards and be a catalyst for conversation. We have found a way to treat others how they want to be treated," said Nic.
To donate and find out more about Orange Sky visit orangeskylaundry.com.au.

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Change-makers: Young Australians of the Year start-up mobile laundry for the homeless

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Creating change for homeless people has led University of Queensland engineering and commerce student, Lucas Patchett and his business partner, Nic Marchesi to be named 2016 Young Australians of the Year.

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And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”

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And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”

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written by Luke 3:10-11

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World News - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

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The latest World News headlines, photos, video and audio content from the ABC's trusted network of overseas-based journalists.

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Australians are being asked to nominate their local heroes and admirable Australians for the 2017 Australian of the Year awards.

There are four award categories: Australian of the Year, Senior of the Year (65 years and over), Young Australian (16-30 years) and Australia's Local Hero.

Nominations can be made online at australianoftheyear.org.au until midnight August 7.

National Australia Day Council chairman Ben Roberts-Smith encouraged the public to get involved and nominate people who are worthy of attention.

"It only takes one nomination for an individual to be in the running for the awards, but they must be nominated.

"[They might be] volunteers, charity founders, advocates for those in need, people who've overcome their own challenges to help others, pioneers who've made a difference, young people looking to create a brighter future and achievers with a sense of community.

"Most of all, they are one of us," Mr Roberts-Smith said.

Fairfax Media, publisher of this newspaper, is a media partner with the Australian of the Year awards.

This year's Australian of the Year award winners are: former army chief David Morrison; Professor Gordian Fulde, the director of Emergency at St Vincent's Hospital and Sydney Hospital (Senior Australian), Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett, who founded a mobile laundry service for the homeless (Young Australians) and arts writer and literary editor Catherine Keenan (Local Hero).

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Australians are being asked to nominate their local heroes and admirable Australians for the 2017 Australian of the Year awards. There are four award categories: Australian of the Year, Senior of the Year (65 years and over), Young Australian (16-30 years) and Australia's Local Hero.

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there aim is to extend all around australia and improving the live of others 

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there aim is to extend all around australia and improving the live of others 

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in 2015 nic and lucas went up to north Queensland to wash cloths where cyclones have been

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in 2015 nic and lucas went up to north Queensland to wash cloths where cyclones have been

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they have 5 vans in Brisbane, melbourne, southe east victory, sydney and gold coast

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they have 5 vans in Brisbane, melbourne, southe east victory, sydney and gold coast

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im inspiered by them because they ave used there own time to help others

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im inspiered by them because they ave used there own time to help others

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each week they wash 350 loads per week and 36 locationes

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each week they wash 350 loads per week and 36 locationes

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they won because of there mobile laundry that homeles people can wash there clothing in

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they won because of there mobile laundry that homeles people can wash there clothing in

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Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett won the young australian of the year 

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Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett won the young australian of the year 

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The Honour Roll recognises past State and Territory and National Award recipients