Kinetic backs Connect 2 Home on the Gold Coast

Kinetic is once again supporting Connect 2 Home, the Gold Coast's annual day of help for people experiencing homelessness held this year on 5 August, continuing more than a decade of involvement in one of the city's most important community events.

Now in its 17th year, Connect 2 Home brings services, supplies and support together in one place so community members who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness can get the help they need.

From food and clothing to haircuts and connections to ongoing services, it's a day designed to meet people where they are.

As a long-standing supporter of the event for over ten years, Kinetic provides buses on the day to help community members get to and from the stadium, removing one of the practical barriers that can stand between people and the support on offer.

"Kinetic has been part of Connect 2 Home for more than a decade, and it's something we're genuinely proud of," said Kinetic General Manager (Gold Coast) Matt Thompson.

“For a lot of people doing it tough, a bus isn't just a way to get from A to B. It's how they reach the services they depend on.

“If we can take that barrier away on the day, that's a real way we can help."

For Mr Thompson, the cause is a personal one. Before moving into the transport industry, he spent seven years working to help people out of homelessness and into secure housing, starting on the front line in regional Queensland.

"A safe, secure home is the bedrock of everything else, your confidence, your mental health, your ability to take part in everyday life," he said.

"I saw it again and again in those years. Once someone had a secure base, things had the opportunity to change for them.”

“Connect 2 Home is where people can take that first step, and it's a privilege for us to play a part."

That experience is part of why Kinetic sees its role on the Gold Coast as more than running buses.

With drivers and teams on the road across the city every day, we view public transport as a genuine connection to community life, and a service that matters most to those who are most vulnerable.

"Being part of the Gold Coast means showing up for it," Mr Thompson said.

"Our connection to this community runs deep, and supporting Connect 2 Home year after year is one of the ways we show that."

Gold Coast Homelessness Network Chairperson Maria Leebeek said Kinetic's support extended well beyond the event itself.

"For more than a decade, Kinetic has been a valued partner of Connect 2 Home, helping the event reach those who need it most," Ms Leebeek said.

"We are deeply appreciative of their ongoing support and commitment to our community, and their contribution goes beyond providing free transport on the day of the event.

"Every day, Kinetic's public transport network helps people access essential services, employment, healthcare, education, and to participate fully in community life.

"We are incredibly grateful for Kinetic's continued partnership and the difference they make in the lives of Gold Coasters, at Connect 2 Home and beyond, year after year."

Connect 2 Home takes place at People First Stadium on Wednesday 5 August. To learn more about the event and how to get involved in the lead-up, visit gchn.org.au/connect-2-home.