30th September 2009
The NSW State Government has released details of its 'NSW Homelessness Action Plan 2009 – 2014' to reduce the number of homeless people in NSW.
25th September 2009
Oasis friends and supporters gathered at Star City Casino’s Grand Harbour Ballroom on Saturday, 29 August for this year's Oasis Ball – the major annual fundraiser to help homeless and disadvantaged young people get their lives on track.
More than $260,000 was raised – a record amount during these financially uncertain times! The Ball raises essential funds for Oasis and directly funds a number of programs and services, including Oasis Outreach Housing.
Nova 96.9’s James Mathieson, Maz Compton and James Kerley kept guests giggling as the official hosts for the night, while spectacular performances from ex-Bachelor Girl singer Tania Doko, The Leading Men and comedian Gary Eck also entertained guests. Craig Marshall from Cordeau Marshall Group performed the official auctioneer duties and covers band Stand and Deliver belted out some famous 80’s pop tunes for guests to dance the night away.
Captain Paul Moulds, Director of Oasis, reminded guests about the real reason for the Ball and introduced the new ‘32,000 to go’ awareness campaign during his moving and inspiring speech. “This Ball is not just another fun event on the Sydney social calendar. It is also the means by which Oasis puts staff on the streets, opens beds and provides counseling; this Ball saves lives!” Captain Moulds said.
Thank you to all of the supporters, guests and performers for their continued support and donations. Thank you to all those individuals and organisations who donated items and experiences for auction on the night and thank you to the dedicated members of the Oasis Ball Committee who work tirelessly throughout the year to help make this night such a huge success!
25th September 2009
This month sees the launch of our ‘32,000 To Go’ campaign to raise the profile and understanding of youth homelessness in Australia and keep this issue firmly on the public agenda.
Every night, more than 32,000* Australians younger than 24 have nowhere to sleep, let alone somewhere to call home or a dream for the future. This distressing number is unbelievable, uncomfortable and true.
Many people remain unaware of the reality of youth homelessness, making it an issue that can be easily ignored. Homeless youth live in a variety of unstable situations, whether they sleep rough on the streets, live in supported accommodation or sleep on the couches or floors of people’s houses – homelessness means much more than simply not having a roof over your head.
The Oasis documentary that aired in April 2008 stopped Australians in their tracks and forced them to take notice of the plight and number of homeless youth, which has doubled in the last 20 years.
The 32,000 To Go campaign will further expose the confronting truth about youth homelessness, provide a deeper understanding of the issue and suggest some simple ways that people can help.
Supporting the campaign with donated media and editorial support is News Ltd, dmg radio networks and a number of online media partners.
The multimedia campaign launches with press and radio activity.
In press, a thought provoking eight page leaflet with be running; containing striking imagery that depicts some of the ways the 32,000 young Australians who are currently homeless make their way off the streets. Cast using young people from Oasis, some of the images used are confronting and uncomfortable, while others tell a story of success. 500,000 leaflets will be distributed in total, appearing in The Courier Mail (QLD) and The Daily Telegraph (NSW and ACT) between 3 September – 8 September 2009. The final page of the photo led leaflet contains powerful copy calling on the community to take action and show their support by visiting www.32000togo.com.au.
Running in parallel will be a schedule of radio advertisements across the Nova and Vega national networks with a dedicated Nova ‘All Ears’ program to be broadcast on Sunday Sept 20, 2009. This program will focus on the issue of youth homelessness and contain interviews with Captain Paul Moulds, Director of The Oasis Youth Support Network, plus some of the young people with first hand stories of Oasis support.
To get involved and help us spread the word about this national emergency, visit www.32000togo.com.au
*The number of homeless people aged between 12 and 24 is 32,444 according to the 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Counting the Homeless report. Experts agree that this number has increased significantly during due to the current economic climate.
25th September 2009
Sophie has supported Oasis since she entered the Miss World competition nine months ago, helping to raise more than $50,000 to help the homeless. Charity work is an integral part in Miss World Australia and the community work component of the competition is particularly important to Sophie.
When she moved from Canberra to Sydney’s Kings Cross area two-and-a-half years ago, she was shocked by the number of homeless people she walked past every day. ‘Once I’d entered Miss World, I decided I wanted to do something to help these people’ she said.
Sophie will now represent Australia in the Miss World 2009 Contest in Johannesburg this December.
24th September 2009
Take part in the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival on Sunday, 20 September 2009 and help Oasis raise much needed funds, while also having fun and keeping fit.
Oasis is one of the official charity partners for this year's event and we encourage you to get a group of friends or co-workers together and participate in this event.
From elite international athletes to those who have never participated in a fun run or walk before, the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival has something for everyone regardless of fitness level. There are four events providing people of all ages and abilities the once-a-year opportunity to run, jog or walk over the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The Family Fun Run starts at Milson's Point and travels 4km over the main deck of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Sydney Opera House. Get the family or a bunch of friends together and jog, walk or stroll in this popular event.
For more serious runners, try the full-marathon (42.195km) or the half-marathon (21.097km).
Supporting Oasis this year in this year's Running Festival are TV presenter Jessica Rowe and Rugby legend Robbie Deans!
Register your team now at www.sydneyrunning festival.com.au to take part. Don't forget to select Oasis as your chosen charity on the registration form and get ready for a great day out.
Contact the Oasis Events Coordinator for more information - (02) 9331 2266 or oasisysn@aue.salvationarmy.org
24th September 2009
Oasis and Foxtel are running the Street TV course, now in it's fifth consecutive year.
Six young people from Oasis have been selected to undertake the hands-on six-week TV production course. Participants learn about writing, sound, video, scripting, editing and post production in order to produce three short films.
The films are then shown in various Foxtel Channels and during a presentation event on 26 March 2009. The course helps build self esteem and gives participants the confidence to produce their own work and tell their stories.
The Foxtel Street TV course is run as part of the Oasis StreetMedia program. The StreetMedia multimedia training centre offers disadvantaged young people fun workshops, intensive training and experience across a range of media including music, radio, film, photography and graphic design.
Managed by an ex-TV commercial and documentary maker, the StreetMedia training centre provides a creative and interesting way of engaging and connecting with young people and provides an outlet for self expression.
