Student roughing it for charity

Joseph Frawley. Image by Stuart Hay, ANU.
ANU Arts/Law student Joseph Frawley is hoping to raise $13,000 in 13 weeks for charity by sleeping rough in his car.
The 25 year old, who is in his final semester of Arts/Law at ANU, is also using the experience to write his honours thesis by exposing himself to some of the hardships that disadvantaged Australians face every day.
Joseph started the fundraiser on 20 July. He will be recording his experience via an online blog.
"I've been sleeping in my car or outside in order to put myself through a little bit of disadvantage to try and put myself in the shoes of some people who don't have a choice but to live and sleep like this whilst also raising money," Joseph said.
The student admits he has never slept in his car before, so it has been a challenge.
"It's uncomfortable and you definitely have to dress quite warm as well so the cold and the frost become a real issue. Wind and noise also become a real issue," he said.
"Also making sure that my car doesn't get mouldy or smelly has been an added element of difficulty and one of those challenges to doing something like this," he said, adding it is common for women who move away from domestic violence to stay in their cars when they can't find suitable accommodation.
But Joseph will still have access to hot water, clean clothing and food.
"I'm raising money for Clemente, which is a program that is a free university course for people who struggle with disadvantage and exclusion, whether it's something like homelessness or addiction, health or unemployment. It's privately funded by a couple of charities and universities," he said.
"What I'm doing is akin to shaving for a cure, in that the people who shave their head for a cure do something novel and put themselves out there a little bit and raise a little bit of money but fortunately they don't have to go through chemo.
"So in that same way I'm trying to do something a little bit novel but I don't actually have to live like a homeless person."
Make a financial donation to Joseph's fundraiser via the St Vincent de Paul website.