Frequently Asked Questions

This year, the Walk a Mile in My Boots challenge will be held during National Homelessness Week.

Register to walk a mile or more in your local community during the first five days of challenge week (5 to 11 August).

And then, join us at The Final Mile on Friday 9 August 2024 to walk together with thousands others in solidarity with people experiencing homelessness.

You can sign up in a few moments by clicking this link here

Participate on your own, with a team of friends or family or register or your workplace. Your fundraising page will be automatically generated and a link to your dashboard will be emailed to you.

Registration is FREE.

Registration for the Walk a Mile in My Boots challenge is FREE. Sign up here and step up to end homelessness.

You can start fundraising as soon as you register! You can personalise your dashboard and inspire others to support you by making a self-donation.

Track your progress and ramp up your efforts over National Homelessness Week (5-11 August) to increase awareness and boost fundraising.

You can walk as many miles as you want and are comfortable with. The more you walk, the more you will help us reach our collective goal of ending homelessness for the 7,000 people experiencing homelessness in South Australia.

You can walk 1 mile (1.6 km) around your neighbourhood or go the extra mile and challenge yourself. 

You can do it all during the challenge week of 5 to 11 August during National Homelessness Week. or walk in the lead-up to the big day and track your miles on your fundraising page!

Stepping up for a cause is even more fun when you’re doing it with others.

You can create your own team during sign-up, or search for an existing team. You’ll be prompted to select one of these options during your registration. Of course, if you’d rather take part by yourself, that’s fine too! 

If you are not yet registered

• You will be given the option to create a team during the registration process.
• After completing your personal details, you will be asked if wish to create or join a team.  
• Step three select Register a New Team (even if you were an existing team in previous years).  
• Upon completion of setting up your team, you’ll receive your team URL which you can email and share on socials to recruit team members.

If you are already registered, Login

• Select CREATE TEAM on your dashboard and here you can complete setting up your team
• Follow the prompts to set up your team or workplace  
• Upon completion of setting up your team, you’ll receive your team URL which you can email and share on socials to recruit team members.

As many as you like! There is no limit. Walk with 2 friends or 20!

• If you've already registered, Login
• Search for your team name using the search bar top of the navigation bar
• Select Join Us
  
  
• If you are not yet registered simply complete the registration process and select Join a Team. On the next step, you can choose to create or join an existing team or select skip and proceed through the final registration steps.
  
  
• Alternatively, you may have been sent a link to join an existing team. In this case, you will automatically be joining the team and can simply follow the prompts to complete your registration.  

Yes, the Walk a Mile in My Boots challenge is open to all ages. Everyone who registers is welcome to join us on Friday 9 August to attend The Final Mile.

Children under the age of 16 who want to attend The Final Mile must be accompanied by an adult Guardian. 

Yes, school groups (including students, teachers and parents) are welcome to register as a team for Walk a Mile in My Boots and join us on Friday 9 August at The Final Mile.

You can also bring your parents, friends or even pets on the day! 

Join our Walk a Mile in My Boots community on Facebook and get chatting with fellow ‘Walk a Milers’ to inspire and motivate each other, exchange fundraising tips and share your stories.

You will be prompted when you first log into your dashboard or you can click here to become a member. 

No problems! Please contact the Fundraising team with your request to events@huttstcentre.org.au and we can help you out!

There are so many ways to ask for support and inspire others to give: 

• Log into your dashboard and share your personal fundraising page with your network from the 'get support' tab. 
• Email your fundraising page link to everyone you know asking for support. 
• Upload and share via social media and ask for a donation each time you complete a challenge. 
• Add an email signature to your personal and work emails and add a hyperlink to your fundraising page. 

Check out our handy-dandy Fundraising Guide.

We’ve also put together some tips and tools to help you get the most out of your fundraising experience and raise more essential funds to help end homelessness.

There are 2 ways to make a self-donation.

1. You will be asked if you would like to make a self-donation during the registration process. This gets your fundraising started and inspires others to give too.
2. You can also make a self-donation by logging into your dashboard. Go to the ‘personal donation' tab and choose a donation amount.

You can donate directly to Walk a Mile in My Boots by clicking on the ‘Donate’ button at  and follow the steps to complete your donation. Thank you.

If you have the fundraising page link of the person you would like to support, simply click on the ‘Donate’ button below their profile picture and follow the steps to make your donation.

If you do not have their fundraising page link, you can search for a fundraiser by name, using our search bar function on the website.

If you are still unable to find the person you are hoping to sponsor, you may need to check with the fundraiser that their page is active or contact Hutt St Centre at events@huttstcentre.org.au

First, go to the team’s fundraising page. If you don’t have the page link, you can search the team’s name using our search bar tool on walkamile.org.au

Once you have arrived on the team page, click ‘Give Now’ below the team’s profile photo, select the team member you wish to support, and continue to complete your donation.

Absolutely! We welcome your support, even if you can't join us for the challenge or at The Final Mile.

Click here to make a difference in the lives of people in need!

No problems! Please contact the Fundraising team with your request to events@huttstcentre.org.au and we can help you out!

We’re here to help you every step of the way. Just click here for tips and tricks to get started with fundraising, or here to view the resources we’ve created to help you spread the word.

Funds raised will go directly towards Hutt St Centre to provide essential services for people experiencing homelessness.

Read about your impact here and for more information about Hutt St Centre visit our website here.

Yes! All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

When a donation has been processed a receipt will be automatically sent out by this website powered by Funraisin to the email address that the donation was made under.

If you haven't received your receipt, please check your junk inbox (they can sometimes get stuck in there!) or email events@huttstcentre.org.au with your email address listed (just in case there was a typo) to reissue a copy.

Setting up a Facebook fundraiser from your fundraising page through Facebook is an easy way to share with friends and family and spread the word about your fundraising efforts.

To set up your Facebook Fundraiser, follow these three steps:

1. Go to your dashboard and at the top, select the blue 'Create a Facebook Fundraiser' button.
2. Connect your Facebook account to your Walk a Mile in My Boots profile.
3. You can then share your Facebook Fundraiser with your family and friends, and the donations you receive will be added to your Walk a Mile in My Boots page.

Sharing your Walk a Mile in My Boots challenge link directly on Facebook allows your Facebook friends to go to your fundraising page and donate directly through the Walk a Mile in My Boots website.

Creating a Facebook Fundraiser through your dashboard allows your Facebook friends to directly donate to your fundraising page through the Facebook platform.

Any donations made to your page before your Facebook Fundraiser is set up will not be reflected on Facebook, this is why you are seeing more funds raised on your Walk a Mile in My Boots fundraising page.

Once correctly set up from the link in your Dashboard, any donations made on Facebook will appear on your Walk a Mile in My Boots fundraising page.

Due to Facebook privacy settings, Walk a Mile in My Boots donations will not appear on your Facebook Fundraiser page.

Unfortunately, Facebook’s fundraising system has some limitations where any donation that is made before setting up your Facebook fundraiser won't reflect on this fundraising page. Any future donations that are made to your event through your Facebook fundraiser will link to your Walk a Mile in My Boots page.

Yes! All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible for Australian taxpayers. When you make your donation remember to check that you would like to receive a receipt and check your email address is correct. Facebook will send you an email of your receipt once you have donated.

For all donations made via Facebook, a receipt will be generated by Facebook. This will be sent to the primary email address linked to your Facebook account. 

Click here for Facebook’s Help Centre if you’re having trouble accessing your receipt.

This year we’ve put together some amazing merchandise milestones. This includes our Walk a Mile in My Boots beanies, t-shirts and even socks!

We also have some great prizes up for grabs to celebrate your incredible efforts. Keep an eye out for your competition reminders via email.

You can read more about our merchandise tiers, prizes and rewards here.

We don't currently have a Walk a Mile in My Boots shop to purchase from.

However, this year you can receive some amazing merchandise when you reach your fundraising impact levels:

• Raise $78: Claim your Walk a Mile in My Boots beanie
• Raise $260: Claim your pair of socks
• Raise $500: Claim your exclusive Walk a Mile in My Boots T-Shirt
• Raise $1000: Special Diamond Boots Club lounge access at The Final Mile, special lapel pin and more!

If you need help fundraising to meet these impact levels, check out our fundraising resources here.

Merchandise can be claimed directly from your dashboard next to each fundraising tier.

Rewards will appear as ‘locked’ until they are earned. Every time you unlock a new reward, you will see an orange ‘claim reward’ button become available.

If you plan to ship your rewards, we recommend waiting until you have earnt all the rewards first then claiming them at once to save on shipping costs.

There are 12 badges to collect and display on your dashboard. The more you light up the more chances you have to win some amazing prizes!

• Added profile pic
• Made a self-donation
• Shared fundraising page on Facebook
• Added bio page
• Created a Facebook fundraiser
• Walked the first mile
• Invited a friend
• Raised $78
• Raised $260
• Raised $500
• Increased fundraising goal
• Became a Diamond Boots Club member

There are two ways you can log your miles in Walk a Mile in My Boots challenge:

Add Manually

You can enter your miles manually through your dashboard to add them to your fundraising page. This is a great option if you’re using a pedometer, don't use a fitness app or use a different method of tracking your workouts.

Step 1: Login to your dashboard and select ‘Log My Miles’

Step 2: Under ‘Add activity’, enter the date and distance

Step 3: The number of miles will now appear on your fundraising page!

Via a fitness app (Fitbit or Strava)

You can track your workouts with Fitbit or Strava and your miles will automatically be added to your fundraising page.

Step 1: Download the Fitbit or Strava app and set up your account

Step 2: Connect your Fitness App to your Walk a Mile in My Boots Dashboard

Step 3: Follow the prompts to connect the fitness app to your account

When you start each walk/activity, select 'Start your workout' in the app on your phone. Once you end your workout, save your workout and your distance will be published to the tally on your page the following day (please allow 24 hours).

Points to note:

• When using Fitbit, you must ‘start’ an activity and save it. Your daily steps will not automatically add to your page. If you are having issues, try syncing through BOTH your Fitbit and the Fitbit app on your smartphone.

• Login
• Click on the drop-down menu (under your name) in the top right-hand corner
• Select Log My Miles
• Scroll down to update your fitness goal

You certainly can!  

Don’t worry! You can log your miles manually any time during or after the challenge!

This year, apart from the virtual challenge, all participants are invite to our in-person community walk The Final Mile on Friday 9 August 2024.

This will be an incredible show of solidarity for people experiencing homelessness who walk many miles every day to find connection, a warm shower and a hot meal.

The walk starts at the Victoria Park Grandstand, walking through the park and then turning right on to East Terrace, then left into Carrington Street, and left onto Hutt Street. The walk goes past Hutt St Centre, and down into the South Parklands to Wita Wirra (Park 18).

No!

All Walk a Mile in My Boots participants will receive a FREE entry to The Final Mile. You can RSVP to the event from your dashboard.
 

The quickest and easiest way to register is on our website here, where you can register as an individual, family or team. 

All participants get FREE entry to The Final Mile. All you have to do is RSVP from your dashboard. 

Our event is a rain or shine affair, so it will go ahead as planned unless there's a severe weather warning from the Bureau of Meteorology or the government. In case of such warnings, we'll keep you posted on any changes or updates via email and social media.

Breakfast and hot drinks will be available at the finish line. We cater for most dietary requirements but we request you to please fill out the relevant section when you RSVP for The Final Mile.

Yes. There will be toilet facilities available at the finish line.

Of course! Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome! Please remember to pick up after your dogs and make sure they always stay with you or a member of your team.

Yes! Signing up your workplace is a great way to stay connected with your colleagues. Click here for more info on signing up a workplace.

Many employers offer matched giving for their employees' fundraising efforts. Even if your employer won’t dollar match, they may be willing to support your efforts! It can’t hurt to ask.

We have plenty of resources to assist you on your Matched Giving journey.

Yes! Just reach out to our Workplace Cheerleader Lauren via events@huttstcentre.org.au with the subject ' Walk a Mile in My Boots - workplace support' and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

If you're thinking about registering a school team, we’ve added all relevant information to this page.

You can also download this handy guide on how to make your fundraising challenge a success.

Absolutely! We encourage schools to create as many teams as they'd like. Let's make it a fun competition between classes or grade levels!

Yes! To make your Walk a Mile in My Boots experience even better, we've put together a variety of helpful resources to support your school team.

We have promotional materials such as flyers, posters, and social media graphics available for your use.  

Each team will have a unique fundraising page where you can monitor progress and see how your students are making a difference. Keep an eye on the leaderboard to keep the friendly competition going!

We encourage schools to bring as many students, teachers, and staff members as possible to join The Final Mile on Friday, 9 August.

This event is an excellent opportunity for your school community to come together in support of the cause. Please make sure to RSVP in advance so we can accommodate everyone.

It is essential that you RSVP to The Final Mile if you plan on attending. To submit your school’s RSVP for The Final Mile, log in to your Walk a Mile in My Boots account and go to your dashboard.

Click the “RSVP to The Final Mile” link on your dashboard, and fill out the form with all of your RSVP details. Please give an accurate number of how many students and staff will be attending to ensure we can care for everyone walking and provide adequate catering.

Alternatively, you can email your Schools Cheerleader, Jacinta, at jacintam@huttstcentre.org.au with the numbers of students and staff attending, dietary requirements, and any other important information or questions you wish to clarify.

Please RSVP by Thursday 1 August to ensure we are prepared for your school’s attendance.

Arrive at the Victoria Park Grandstand at 7am for a 7:15am start. The walk is one mile, and while timing is approximate, we estimate it will take 30 minutes to complete the route by 7:45am.

Your school is invited to stay and enjoy a breakfast roll to celebrate the end of The Final Mile. This is a great time to reflect on what the event means, mingle with other #WalkAMilers, and celebrate your achievement in Walk a Mile in My Boots!

We’re so excited your school is attending The Final Mile! If you’re carpooling or hiring a bus it’s helpful to plan your journey ahead of time for a smooth, fun, and stress-free morning.

There is a slip lane on Fullarton Road behind the Victoria Park Grandstand where a bus or car can drop off participating students and staff. The entry point is here: https://huttst.org/TheFinalMileDropOff.

We recommend pick up from the finish line of The Final Mile outside the entrance of the Adelaide Himeji Garden on South Terrace: https://huttst.org/TheFinalMilePickUp. This spot is a short 150 metre walk south from the finish line entrance.

There will be a schools info booth at The Final Mile start line.

Your Schools Cheerleader, Jacinta, will be stationed here with a couple of volunteers to answer all your queries, and hand out #WalkAMile placards and badges.

If you need to contact Jacinta on the day you can do so on 0424 257 501.

We encourage everyone attending The Final Mile to wear your Walk a Mile in My Boots merchandise where possible.

We appreciate schools will likely need to wear their uniform, so why not add a buff, beanie, socks, or make your own sign from the Schools Activity Pack to complete your #WalkAMile look.

Bring a water bottle, hat, and a warm jacket to prepare for the weather – it will be cold!

The walk starts at the Victoria Park Grandstand, walking through the park and then turning right on to East Terrace, then left into Carrington Street, and left onto Hutt Street. The walk goes past Hutt St Centre, and down into the South Parklands to Wita Wirra (Park 18).

Walk a Mile in My Boots challenge week is officially from 5 to 11 August, with The Final Mile taking place on Friday, 9 August. But you can fundraise and hold your own Walk a Mile in My Boots events anytime in Term 3.

Schools can help by spreading awareness about the cause, encouraging community involvement, or even organising a pep rally to get everyone excited about the event! You can also consider incorporating educational activities or workshops on homelessness to enhance the learning experience.

For school enquiries contact Jacinta from the Walk a Mile in My Boots team at jacintam@huttstcentre.org.au or call on 8418 2500. 

People working in the homelessness sector often say ‘people experiencing homelessness’ instead of ‘the homeless’ or ‘homeless people’.  This is because for most people homelessness is an experience (often short term) not a life sentence. Saying ‘experiencing homelessness’ is one of the first steps to changing the perception of homelessness.

There are 7,428 people experiencing homelessness in South Australia, which is a 19.3% increase since the 2016 Census.

In Australia 122,494 people were estimated to be experiencing homelessness on Census night in 2021. (2021 ABS Census).

Asking why someone is homeless is not an easy to question to answer nor is there ever one particular reason why someone may find themselves without a home. Below are some factors that can lead to homelessness:

• Lack of affordable and available rental housing
• Domestic and family violence (family breakdown)
• Intergenerational poverty (family history, can often be a learnt experience)
• Financial crisis, difficulties or income security
• Employment, education and training issues
• Economic and social exclusion (a minority group/feeling different from others, feeling misplaced).
• Severe and persistent mental illness and psychological distress (mental health concerns).
• Young people exiting state care (foster care/under guardianship of the Minister/parents rights are removed).
• People exiting prison (institutional care e.g. detention centre, disability group home).
• Health (physical, mental, psychological)
• Grief and loss
• Poverty
• Addiction issues such as drug and alcohol use, gambling
• Legal issues
• Natural disasters
• Abuse (physical, sexual and emotional)

Hutt St Centre is a place of connection and support, where people facing homelessness are empowered to rebuild their lives, rediscover their identities and reconnect with those who love them.

When people walk through our doors we help fulfil their immediate needs, like a shower, a meal, and a charged phone, while our 20+ visiting services provide support ranging from medical check-ups to financial counselling.

And with a focus on the future, we connect people with housing, education and employment opportunities to build the skills and confidence to change their circumstances for good.

Thank you for being so caring and thoughtful. It’s important to be respectful and non-judgemental when offering to help someone you think is experiencing homelessness. Every single person has their own story, and own challenges they are facing.

Here are two practical ways you can offer to help:

• Have the Homeless Connect SA phone number saved in your phone, and let people know they can call Homeless Connect 24/7 for support, it’s a free call on 1800 003 308.
• Use the Street Connect online portal to refer someone you think might be sleeping rough to specialist homelessness outreach workers.