When winter arrives in Tasmania, the cold can be confronting, especially for students new to the state or far from home. For students arriving from equatorial regions or large cities, the short winter days and the darkness of the nights can sometimes feel alienating.
In 2024, as cost‑of‑living pressures grew and many students felt increasingly disconnected, a simple idea emerged at the University of Tasmania: what if staying warm could also help people feel welcome?
That idea became Winter Warmers.
Twelve staff and students from the Tasmanian University Student Association (TUSA) and the Sustainability, Wellbeing, and Student Engagement teams collaborated to create and run the campaign, inviting the University community to donate hand-knitted woollen items and pantry essentials that could be given to newly arrived students.
The emphasis on handmade items was intentional; the team wanted new students to be able to pick up a beanie and consider the time someone has put into making it for them.
They aimed to extend a sense of care and concern, so that those receiving the beanies might feel cared for by a wider community of people.
At first, the team thought only seasoned knitters and crocheters would be interested in taking part in creating the handmade items. They were soon surprised by the number of people across the University community who wanted to start knitting or crocheting.
The Student Experience team created beanie starter kits, including a crochet hook or knitting needles, a beginner's pattern and enough wool to create one beanie. In line with sustainability principles, wherever possible the team sought donations of wool, knitting needles and crochet hooks from the community and purchased items from op-shops in greater Hobart.
In just one month, more than 200 items of warm clothing and over 100 non‑perishable food items were donated.
The donated items were exactly what students were looking for in times of need during the cold Tasmanian winter. That year, the coldest winter morning in Hobart was 0.9 degrees Celsius. Students were arriving new to Tasmania to begin their studies right amid the cold winter weather.
For Pavel Nava Gonzalez, a Sustainability Placement Experience student, the impact was immediate. “When I came here, I was expecting cold weather, but not too cold weather,” he said.
Receiving a handmade beanie meant more than warmth for Pavel. “More than being a beautiful gift, it’s this part of being welcome.”
That sense of welcome came to life during Winter Warmers events, where students lingered, chatted and tried on beanies together.
“They were wearing them and showing each other, ‘Oh, does this suit me?’” said Saranya Viswanathan, a student involved with the Sustainability Integration Program (SIPS). “They were complimenting each other, sipping hot chocolate. That was the best thing to see.”
As well as making a positive difference for our students, Winter Warmers was also a great opportunity for staff teams to get involved and to get to know each other. Staff at the University enjoyed creating together, learning from an expert crocheting colleague, or hosting a morning tea to collect donated items.
Because of this strong community response, Winter Warmers has become an annual campaign. In 2025, it expanded and started earlier to give people more time to make their gifts, inspiring crafting groups and wider participation.
Donations that year included 286 beanies, 57 scarves, 16 mittens, 20 blankets and other warm clothing items, and 112 nonperishable food items. Those numbers are only expected to grow in 2026. Your donations are very welcome.
As well as being so well-received throughout the University community, the project was highly commended at the Green Gown Awards Australasia in 2025.
Winter Warmers shows how small, thoughtful actions can create powerful moments of connection, turning warmth into welcome, and kindness into community.
If you’d like to donate a home-made beanie or scarf for new students in 2026, reach out to sustainability.utas@utas.edu.au
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