Craig Hollywood named as the 2022 Perth Community Citizen of the Year

Inglewood local, Craig Hollywood, has been named the Community Citizen of the Year in the 2022 Auspire - The Australia Day Council Perth Community Citizen of the Year Awards for his role in setting up and growing Short Back & Sidewalks, a not-for-profit giving haircuts free of charge and free of judgement to people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.

The charity was founded in 2015 with a team of three volunteers offering free haircuts to vulnerable community members from a carpark in Northbridge.

Since then, Short Back & Sidewalks has provided more than 6,400 haircuts to people experiencing homelessness, disadvantage, or marginalisation.

The charity has more than 250 volunteers around the country; has expanded its operations across Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and the Northern Territory; and partners with organisations like RUAH, St Vincent de Paul, Mission Australia, and Orange Sky Laundry to support people in need.

Mr Hollywood said the award took him by surprise.

“Being named Community Citizen of the Year isn’t something I ever expected,” Mr Hollywood said. “It’s such an honour.”

“I’m so proud that an idea that started in a local car park is helping to create positive connections with people experiencing homelessness across the country, and reducing stigma around homelessness in Australia.

“Our work at Short Back & Sidewalks is simple: we give haircuts to people free of charge and free of judgement.

“We want to help people look and feel their best, no matter what they’re going through in their lives at any given moment.

“We’re always looking for more volunteers. If you’re a hairdresser or barber and want to give back to the community, please check out our website and sign up to volunteer.”

Short Back & Sidewalks works on-site with service providers in spaces that are familiar and safe for people. The charity supports a range of people experiencing disadvantage, including people sleeping rough or in insecure housing, women with lived experience of family and domestic violence, youth at-risk, remote Indigenous communities and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Mr Hollywood was also a finalist in the Australia’s Local Hero category in the 2022 Australian of the Year Awards.