On 6 August, Brisbane turned up the warmth and the dagginess for Daggy Jumper Day 2025 – and what a day it was! From bold patterns to vintage charm and everything in between, the city came together in style to take a stand against youth homelessness.
This year’s event was a powerful show of community spirit, compassion, and collective action. Whether you wore a jumper, donated, or shared a social post, you helped create new futures for young people doing it tough.
A celebration of community
Daggy Jumper Day is all about embracing the spirit of the dag – being proudly yourself, having fun, and showing up for others. Across schools, workplaces, and community groups, we saw incredible creativity and generosity.
The red carpet was rolled out at Brisbane Youth Service as the Youth Support Centre transformed into a daggy wonderland. Guests strutted their stuff, judges tallied scores, and the coveted prize for “daggiest jumper” was awarded to Jo Potts of Umbrella, who shared the touching story of her handknitted jumper.
“It’s actually a bit of a protest statement jumper for homelessness … this is meant to represent the picture that kindy kids would draw when they’re asked to draw what home looks like, so this is what I think we’re all striving for for our young people,” said Jo.
From fashion parades to jumper-themed cookies, the day was filled with laughter, colour, and connection. And behind every daggy jumper was a message of hope: that every young person deserves a safe and suitable home.
Why it matters
Almost half of the young people Brisbane Youth Service supports are homeless when they first reach out. Four in five are living in unsafe, temporary, overcrowded, or unaffordable housing. And demand for support has surged. Brisbane Youth Service provided almost 70,000 occasions of support in 2023-24, representing a 34% increase over the past three years.
“I was forced to sleep rough. Sometimes, my partner and baby daughter would join me, and we would all sleep rough together for a night or two … I was advised to go to Brisbane Youth Service after being discharged from the hospital into homelessness,” said young person, Will*.
But your support means they don’t face it alone. With your help, young people can move out of crisis and start building the futures they deserve.
BYS always felt like a safe place. I knew I was getting help … [My youth worker] went to the Department of Housing with me to provide support and advocate for me. Eventually, after a lot of work, I got housing … Now, life looks much better. I feel more confident and positive.
Thank you, Brisbane!
To everyone who got involved: thank you. Your daggy jumpers made a difference. Every dollar you raised will help Brisbane Youth Service provide safe housing and tailored support to young people in crisis. Thank you for coming together and showing that hope is always in style.
*Name has been changed.