Orange Sky

Biography

On a mission to improve hygiene standards for the 116,000 people experiencing homelessness across Australia, Nic Marchesi OAM and Lucas Patchett OAM stumbled on something much bigger and more significant – the power of a conversation.

Orange Sky now has 32 laundry and shower services operating across the country, delivering over 280 shifts across every state and territory through over 2,000 volunteers each week. The focus is on creating a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for people who are too often ignored or feel disconnected from the community.

Since 2014, Orange Sky has provided friends on the street with more than 1,200,000kg of free laundry, over 12,700 warm, safe showers, and close to 207,000 hours of genuine and non-judgemental conversation.

In addition, in 2018 Orange Sky won a Google Impact Challenge Grant to take its purpose built technology ‘Campfire’ and further build it to support the not-for-profit sector and improve the volunteer lifecycle. This product will support small and large charities across Australia to innovate, make data-driven decisions and harness technology for good.

Orange Sky, under the leadership of Nic and Lucas continue to strive everyday to find ways to positively connect communities and make an impact.

Topics

Virtual and Live

• The Power of Innovation to Do Good
  During this time of uncertainty the need for conversation and connection has never been more evident. On a mission to connect people experiencing homelessness through positively connection communities - hear how Nic & Lucas are leading the Orange Sky team through this experience of COVID-19.
• The Power of a Conversation 
  In October 2014, two best mates had a world-first idea - providing a free mobile laundry service for people experiencing homelessness. Determined to improve hygiene standards, Nic and Lucas, the 2016 Young Australians of the Year and Order of Australia Medallists, stumbled on something much bigger and more significant – the power of a conversation.
• The Power of Technology to Connect Communities
  Five years on and 1.4 million tonnes of washing later, Orange Sky has been able to design, build and grow a web app that enables the organisation to effectively and efficiently deliver its mission to positively connect the community. With some help from Google, Orange Sky is now providing this tech to other NFPs to help them amplify their impact and scale.
• Business
  Innovation, creativity and passion for a cause
• Conferences
  An inspirational journey from a garage to a nation
• Social Entrepreneurship
  How do two 20 year olds take the first step and make a change?

Testimonials

Nic and Lucas were engaging, well spoken, inspiring and had an amazing story to tell.  We have had outstanding feedback from our delegates who were so amazed at the achievements of these ‘two young blokes’ and how taking a simple idea can make such a difference.  I particularly liked the emphasis Nic and Lucas had on community – this tied in so well with our conference – and how they also emphasised the importance of conversation.  The work they are doing is incredible and it is so great to see the growth of Orange Sky throughout Australia and internationally. 
IPWEAQ Queensland

The overall work that Orange Sky Laundry do for communities is both motivating and inspirational. Their key message is the main reason we decided that Orange Sky Laundry was best suited to our conference. It was truly a powerful keynote that left our doctors moved and encourage to continue the work that they do in their own communities.
Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine

I would re-book Orange Sky Laundry in a heart beat. Nic and Lucas are engaging, genuine and a total pleasure to work with.
cievents

Very engaging and inspiring. Audience feedback was that they were outstanding.
Ipswich Girls' Grammar School

The boys are amazing, their vision in humbling and their influence on local communities is incredibly powerful. We are looking forward to being able to support Orange Sky and their endeavours into the future
Commonwealth Bank

Thanks so much for coming along to our conference. The feedback has been incredibly positive. Our guys loved the presentation and we’re really grateful that you came along and shared your story with us.
Smartline

Everyone is raving about how fantastic you guys were! All the feedback is that you were the standout Spark talk, really engaging and managed to make people cry in the space of 3min and 45sec! Thank-you for being a part of it and representing Australia in such a unique and wonderful way.
Tourism Australia