Altru Festival is a tailored outreach activation event for at risk youth and those facing hardship. Serving as a platform to raise awareness about the poverty crisis in Australia, the USA, and worldwide, whilst celebrating the humanity within it.We chatted to Co-Founder and Director, Jessie McLachlan on Altru Festivals origin and where to from here. 
Altru Festival is so much more than just a music event—it’s a lifeline for thousands of people facing hardship. What inspired you to blend festival fun with essential support services, and how did this concept first come to life?
The idea for Altru (Short for Altruism) Charity came while I was tutoring at-risk youth in Los Angeles. I realized that many of these incredible kids had never even had a birthday party or a celebratory day to be reminded, “We’re so grateful you exist.” That hit hard. Everyone deserves to be celebrated beyond their circumstances, and that’s where the idea for Altru was born. A public birthday party with a purpose.
With each iteration, we’ve been intentional about adding specific services to ensure everyone feels seen, supported, and advocated for. We wanted to create a day where people experiencing hardship aren’t just recipients of aid but honored guests. All lives have equal value just not equal opportunity. This day represents possibility, the possibility to dare to dream of something other than your circumstance.
Altru is more than a festival; it’s a reminder that, despite our differences, we are united in a fundamental belief: every life is valuable, and every person has something to offer the world.
Altru’s model is based on LA’s Skid Row Carnival, which has had a huge impact in the U.S. What lessons from Skid Row have shaped Altru’s approach in Australia, and how have you adapted it to meet local needs?
Poverty and hardship may look different in every country, but the need for dignity, access, and human connection is universal. In Australia, the rising cost of living means that almost 1 in 3 full-time workers are struggling to make ends meet and this is a reality that challenges outdated stereotypes of who needs help.
Inspired by the US events deep community engagement, we take a tailored approach in every city. Before each festival, we partner with local nonprofits and ask people experiencing hardship two simple questions:
What are three things you’d love as a gift for your birthday?
What are three things you urgently need access to?
The answers shape our outreach, ensuring we are intentional and addressing real, local, and immediate needs. Beyond the festival, Altru Charity provides ongoing tutoring and upskilling mentorship, fostering agency and confidence for our guests long after the event ends.
The festival pairs each guest with a volunteer to help them navigate the services available. Can you share any particularly moving or memorable moments that highlight the impact of this one-on-one support?
One of the most life-changing friendships of my own started at the festival eight years ago. I was paired with Mike, a guest who had been hit by a car while riding his bike. The accident left him with a broken back and medically bankrupt (I too almost became medically bankrupt in the US). When I met him, he was hosting Sunday BBQs outside his tent to bring his street community together.
We have spent birthdays and Christmases together, and I watched Mike rebuild his life. Today, he rents a four-bedroom house, offering shelter to others transitioning out of homelessness. He’s proof that slipping through society’s cracks can happen faster than we think but with the right support, climbing back out is possible too.
Homelessness and financial insecurity are growing issues in Australia, even for full-time workers. What role do you think events like Altru play in shifting the public conversation and inspiring long-term change?
We like to say that Altru is a Trojan horse disguised as a party. Revelation needs to come before resolution. People show up to volunteer, enjoy good music, and be part of a vibrant community but in the process, they’re confronted with uncomfortable truths about poverty and systemic inequality in a way that feels empowering, not shameful or overwhelming. Altru is about turning awareness into action in an uplifting, meaningful way.
The key is shifting the focus from crisis response to prevention. Right now, most funding and public attention go toward reactive aid. But what if we invested equally in keeping people housed and financially secure in the first place?
For example:
- Preventative initiatives targeting the social determinants of health such as socioeconomic status, education, and employment can lead to better health outcomes. Healthier populations are less reliant on healthcare services, reducing public health expenditures.
- Investments in education and training equip individuals with skills, increasing employability and productivity. This leads to higher workforce participation, reduced unemployment, and increased tax revenues. The Australian Council of Social Service highlights that poverty limits access to education and employment, so alleviating poverty can enhance workforce engagement.
- Addressing the root causes of poverty can mitigate social issues like inequality and exclusion, leading to a more cohesive and stable society. Preventative strategies help break the cycle of poverty, ensuring that future generations have better opportunities.
Australia has some of the lowest philanthropy rates among wealthy nations we give half as much as the U.S. or New Zealand, and 20% less than the UK or Canada (as a percentage of GDP). Events like Altru challenge companies, policymakers, and individuals to rethink their role in long-term solutions. It’s time to move away from tokenism and towards accountable, tangible, and impactful giving.
With plans to expand to more cities, where do you see Altru in five years? Do you hope to take this movement beyond Australia?
In five years, I want Altru Festivals to be self-sustaining and running annually in every major Australian city, but the real dream? A rural festival. Regional communities deserve the same access to support and celebration.
In ten years? Honestly, I hope we don’t need to exist because the poverty epidemic is solved. But until then, we’ll keep building, and expanding to new cities and countries. Hardship isn’t bound by borders, and neither is human kindness.
