The women building homes, and fighting for those without them
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Jessica Stewart and Amy Symonds work at sustainable community Ginninderry, helping people build their dream homes. They spend their days surrounded by families who are creating spaces where they can laugh, grow, and make memories.
However, the more the Ginninderry community grows, the more confronting it becomes. Because while they’re helping to design beautiful, sustainable spaces for some, they’re also painfully aware that others in our community don’t have anywhere to call home at all.
This June, Jessica and Amy are doing something uncomfortable. They’re sleeping rough for one night as part of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, and they’re doing it with a team of other female leaders from Canberra’s building and construction sectors, they’re calling themselves Women Building Change.
“Working in housing makes the reality of the housing crisis impossible to ignore,” Amy explains. “I work with people building their homes every day, helping them make good choices about creating a comfortable place to live. I’m passionate about my work and the impact I can have on improving the quality and sustainability of housing in Canberra. However, it’s a confronting realisation that so many don’t have a safe, warm, or secure place to live.”
That’s the paradox hitting housing professionals across Canberra right now. You’re building. You’re designing. You’re improving. And simultaneously, you’re watching the gap between those with homes and those without get wider every single day.
The Vinnies CEO Sleepout is about stepping out of your comfort zone. Spending one freezing night outside, to understand the reality that thousands of Canberrans face every single night.
For Jess, it’s personal. “In my day-to-day role at Ginninderry, I’m actively working to build and improve communities,” she says. “So stepping out for a freezing winter night is a grounding way to personally connect with the harsh reality of the crisis we are fighting to change. I feel so privileged to be a part of the Women Building Change team and to be able to participate in this event.”
When you have a platform, a voice, and expertise in an industry that’s central to this crisis, there’s a responsibility that comes with that. Jessica and Amy aren’t just raising funds, they’re using their knowledge, positions, and willingness to be uncomfortable to say: this matters.
How you can help
The Vinnies CEO Sleepout is Thursday, 18 June 2026. Jessica and Amy need your support to make a real difference.
You can donate to their fundraising efforts here:
Every single dollar goes directly to Vinnies’ vital work supporting those most in need in our community.
