Jean Madden

Queensland

School teacher Jean Madden has revived an Australian icon to help homeless people stay dry and comfortable at night and protect their belongings during the day. Upset at the plight of Brisbane's homeless, who could get a meal but not a good night's sleep, Jean designed a light, practical, and portable swag that can be rolled up and used as a bag during the day.

Jean raises the cost of $60 a swag through private donations and fundraising. The swags are made by the inmates of Woodford and Grafton Correctional Centres, who in turn gain new skills and qualifications whilst giving something back to the community. More recently participants in a CDE Programme in Alice Springs have begun sewing the swags for their families. These 'Street Swags' are distributed through charities and organisations that deal directly with the homeless, including St. Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army.

So far Jean has provided about 11,000 swags to those sleeping rough right across Australia. In 2008 she was a finalist in the Australian of the year Awards and The Patron for Queensland Catholic Education. Jean and the Street Swag have now become finalists for the world design awards- INDEX based in Denmark.