2011

The Oasis Youth Support Network’s Crown Streetcentre was flooded with a sea of smiles last Friday the 16^th of December, as our on-site Christmas Party brought together clients, staff and supporters in one huge community celebration of holiday cheer.

With the Oasis car park transformed into an action-packed arena, passers-by could be forgiven for thinking a Christmas carnival had come to town; young and old lined up eagerly to wrestle in sumo suits, battle it out in a gladiator-style joust, tame the mechanical bucking reindeer and jump til their hearts’ content in the huge inflatable castle.

For those who were feeling less energetic, the education centre was converted into an awesome arcade, complete with a funky photo booth and Xbox games to keep entertainment levels at an all-time high.

Also hugely popular was the winter wonderland, where Santa and his elves listened patiently to an endless stream of boys and girls who came with their Christmas wish lists in hand and left with beautiful Santa photos as a precious keepsake.

For many of our young people, wishes were granted immediately, with a trip upstairs to Santa’s gift shop where the racks were overflowing with incredible clothes and accessories from General Pants – up for the taking.

To ensure nobody ran out of steam, the café team kept sausages and skewers sizzling for most of the day. Sweet tooths were also well catered for with an incredible range of tantalising treats including fairy floss, cupcakes, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, lolly stand and soft-serve ice-cream van courtesy of Virgin Mobile.

Those who weren’t occupied eating and playing took time out for well-deserved pampering, with a range of services on offer to suit every request including hairdressers, make-up artists, face-painting and temporary tattooing.

Festivities drew to a close in the afternoon with one final surprise; a huge distribution of Christmas gifts generously donated by businesses, which were happily handed out to our ecstatic (and somewhat tired) young people by the Oasis team.

All in all the day was a massive success and we’d like to send out a huge thank you to the incredible staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure everything ran smoothly.

We’d also like to spotlight the following companies, without whom this Christmas extravaganza would not have been possible;

Whilst the candles from this year’s Woolworths Carols in the Domain concert may have all but burnt out, the glow of yet another incredibly successful fundraising event continues to warm the hearts of the Oasis team.

Brimming with Christmas spirit, our amazing Oasis volunteers and staff took to the carolling crowd at the Domain on Saturday the 17^th of December and sold over 9,000 candle bags, raising over $125,000 for our life changing programs!

“We were absolutely thrilled to be able to celebrate in this incredibly special night under the stars and would like to sincerely thank Woolworths Carols in the Domain and everyone who purchased the candle bags and helped make a meaningful contribution to our young people,” said Oasis Director Major Robbin Moulds AM.

One of the highlights for Oasis was having Bec and Faleh sing Amazing Grace and True Colours in front of a crowd of thousands in the afternoon’s entertainment line-up. Both gave a performance of a lifetime and wowed the audience with their incredible talent.

 We’re so proud of you Bec and Faleh!

All funds collected from the sale of the candle bags will go directly to    supporting the cutting edge programs we provide thousands of homeless young people every year.

We’d also like to send out a huge thank you to the following companies for generously offering up their amazing teams to the candle bag packing cause:

AXA

Bankwest

Buzz Numbers

CBA

Deloites

Ernst & Young

HSBC

Investa

Medibank

NAB

NRMA

Pepper Homeloans

PPG

PwC

Real Insurance

RBA

Virgin Active

VirginAtlantic

VirginMobile

Woolworths

Dozens of young Australians from across the country have participated in the inaugural THE OASIS HOMELESSNESS SHORT FILM COMPETITION with Cate Blanchett, Patron of the competition, today announcing the winners at SydneyTheatre.

To view all the finalist films, click HERE

THE OASIS HOMELESSNESS SHORT FILM COMPETITION is a national competition for secondary school students and part of an on-going philanthropic initiative to raise awareness about homelessness in our community. Ms Blanchett has been a long-term support of this cause.

Ms Blanchett, Co Artistic Director of Sydney Theatre Company, who was a member of the judging panel, announced that Queensland secondary student, Warrick Beanland, from Harristown State High School student, has won first prize for his film Homeless.

Shark Island Productions provided a total prize of $25,000 for the competition with $7000 awarded to Harristown State High.

“Homeless is a highly original and beautifully made film which displays compassion and insight into issues surrounding youth homeless. My congratulations to Warrick and all the finalists for their outstanding efforts,” Ms Blanchett said.

Ms Blanchett also announced two second prize winners: the film Somebody’s Child, made by students from Sydney’s International Grammar Schooland ReachOut, made by Nhulunbuy High School in the Northern Territory. Both schools will receive $2000 each.

The judging panel for the film competition was Co Artistic Director of Sydney Theatre Company, Cate Blanchett, Chairman of The Caledonia Foundation and AFI-Award winning documentary filmmaker Ian Darling, Oasis Schools Liaison Officer and former Oasis client Bee Orsini, and Major Robbin Moulds, AM, Director of the Oasis Youth Support Network.

The OASIS initiative was launched in 2008 with the premiere of the AFI award-winning documentary THE OASIS on ABC1 and the release of a major report into youth homelessness in Australia, The National Youth Commission Report on Youth Homelessness, commissioned by The Caledonia Foundation.

“More than two years after the initial broadcast, we continue to measure the enduring impact of THE OASIS documentary. Supported by a comprehensive education and outreach campaign and withon-going community screenings, the film has helped ensure that youth homelessness remains on thenational agenda,” said Ian Darling.

“THE OASIS HOMELESS SHORT FILM COMPETITION a vital part of our strategy to engage young Australians in this important social justice issue, along with the THE OASIS Schools Curriculum Resource, which has been made available to every secondary school around Australia.”

For further details about THE OASIS: Homeless Short Film Competition and THE OASIS Schools Curriculum Resource – Youth Homelessness Matters, go to: www.theoasismovie.com.au

Obtaining a driver’s license is a monumental achievement in a young person’s life and here at Oasis we’re excited to announce a new partnership between ŠKODA and Carsguide.com.au, who have generously donated three new Yeti cars for our Drive for Life program.

Launched today, the Drive for Life program offers disadvantaged young people the opportunity to achieve the mandatory 120 hours necessary to obtain Red P’s in a safe and positive environment. 

Director of the Oasis Youth Support Network, Major Robbin Moulds AM said, “For many young Australians, getting your drivers’ license is a rite of passage. However, the majority of young people who come to Oasis are without family support networks to teach them to drive, they do not have access to vehicles and cannot afford professional lessons to obtain their license.”

With more than 75 young people on Oasis’ driving waiting list, the generous donation of three dual control ŠKODA Yeti’s will make a significant difference, offering young people the chance to learn the skills necessary to drive safely, responsibly and defensively for life.

“Simply not having anyone to take me driving is what has stopped me from getting my license. I think the program is a great idea. It would really help me in my day to day life from doing things as simple as shopping to just getting around a lot easier” says a young woman connected to Oasis’s Pathways employment program.

Drive for Life is a fantastic extension of Oasis’ Driving for Employment program - helping to close the gap of disadvantage for many young people by offering  a wider range of education, training and vocational opportunities that will come through securing a driver’s license.

This program aims to expand nationally through the support of the Oasis Foundation.

The Drive For Life program is heavily dependent on many dedicated volunteer driving instructors who provide valued support, mentorship and time to help our young people complete their hours on a weekly basis.

Organisations and individuals interested in volunteering for the Drive for Life program can contact Oasis via oasisvolunteers@aue.salvationarmy.org or 02 9331 2266.

Visit the Drive for Life website HERE

For more information on ŠKODA, please visit HERE

The team at Oasis are bubbling over in excitement with the announcement of the latest General Pants Co. bubble community challenge.

As of the 1^st of December, General Pants Co. have opened the creative flood gates of the bubble, calling on artists to dig deep this Christmas and create a piece of art that could be proudly hung on the walls of our Streetmedia centre!

The bubble was created in 2008 with the purpose of linking emerging artists with opportunities through a variety of challenges, and has since unearthed over 4,500 artworks from over 2,500 local and international talented artists.

To enter this challenge, artists must create an artwork that best reflects the mission statement of Oasis:

"The Oasis Youth Support Network provides a place of safety and care where, through compassion and skilful intervention, troubled young people find refuge and hope to achieve dreams and potential."

The four winning artworks will be printed onto canvas and displayed permanently within the Streetmedia centre, providing a beautiful source of inspiration for our young people.

So, without further ado; to all our budding and established graphic designers & artists – the General Pants Co. bubble community challenge is for you! We’d love to see YOUR masterpieces on OUR walls. 

You have until 1 February, 2012 to get your entry in. Good luck!!!  

For more details on how to enter click here 

Thanks to the amazing support of the local community, we’re excited to announce that our candle bag packing production line is geared up and ready to go!

Over the four days our incredible volunteers will be stuffing close to 9,000 Christmas candle bags to overflowing, for sale at this year’s Woolworths Carols in the Domain concert on Saturday 17^th December.

“At this year’s Carols, we are inviting everyone to buy a Woolworths Carols in the Domain Candle Bag for $15.00, with all proceeds going directly to support the cutting edge programs we provide thousands of homeless young people every year,” said Oasis Director Major Robbin Moulds AM.

“Woolworths Carols in the Domain not only provides a great opportunity for families to come together to celebrate Christmas, but it also allows everyone to make a meaningful contribution to a homeless young person by way of supporting the life transforming services we offer at Oasis,” said Robbin.

On behalf of all of us here at Oasis we’d like to send out a massive thank you in advance, to all of our packing volunteers for literally lending us their hands!

We’d also like to spotlight the following companies for generously offering up their amazing teams to our candle bag packing cause:

'Tis the season for giving and here at Oasis we’re thrilled to announce that this year Natalie Imbruglia and Kailis jewellery have teamed up to give our young people an incredibly special gift.

Available nationally from 1^st November 2011, the Natalie Imbruglia for Kailis jewellery collection is doubling the joy of giving this Christmas by donating a minimum of $30 from the sale of each exquisite piece to Oasis.

To view or purchase the Natalie Imbruglia for Kailis collection click HERE

Proudly co-designed by Natalie Imbruglia and Kailis Design Director Simon Henderson, the capsule collection of three silver pieces – necklace, bracelet and ring – features lustrous Keshi pearls set in sterling silver with Kailis' signature black diamond.

“The Natalie Imbruglia for Kailis collection is not simply about buying a piece of jewellery but contributing to someone’s life journey,” Sonia MacKay-Coghill, Kailis General Manager says. “In choosing a piece to wear or give, you are directly helping disadvantaged young people and introducing some joy into their world this Christmas.”

Oasis is incredibly grateful to have been named as the beneficiary of this beautiful collaboration and will be allocating all funds raised directly to the support of the Streetmedia program.

A vital training and development program, Streetmedia provides young people with a positive outlet for self-expression and an opportunity to understand and make sense of their story, through a variety of creative mediums.

"Through this fantastic partnership with Natalie and Kailis, we are absolutely thrilled to be able to provide more opportunities for our young people to develop their creativity and confidence through drama, dance, jewellery making, African drumming workshops and so much more," says Major Robbin Moulds, Director of the Oasis Youth Support Network. 

Through the allocation of these funds to the Streetmedia program, Oasis will hope to support more young people as they work through their past to achieve their full potential.

In addition to the pearls, each piece also includes a shamrock – the traditional four-leaf clover symbol of luck and hope. And the necklace design bears Natalie Imbruglia’s personal mantra of “Breathe, Live, Love.”

Through the Streetmedia training program, Oasis plans to bring Natalie’s mantra to life, providing a safe and nurturing space for young people to find their unique voice, inspiration and self-belief.

And if all that news isn’t exciting enough, we have one more pearler for you - Natalie Imbruglia for Kailis is the most affordable collection from Kailis yet!

So this Christmas experience the joy of helping someone else - by literally giving a gift that keeps on giving.

Natalie Imbruglia has been a long-standing ambassador for Virgin Unite and with much interest and passion, continues to lend her support to the issue of youth homelessness in Australia.

Seeds of hope are beginning to sprout at the Salvation Army’s Indigenous Ministries in North Ipswich thanks to the hard work of Oasis’ Champions, who all got their hands dirty building a community garden during a recent mission trip to Queensland.

“Champions” is a six month leadership program between Virgin Unite and Oasis, in which a number of inspiring young people connect with dedicated Virgin employees and form strong reciprocal bonds as they support each other through the lessons of life.

All members share the common goal of becoming articulate advocates against youth homelessness with the strong belief that anyone can make a success of their life if given the opportunity.

Whilst a large part of the program involves speaking engagements, Champion members are also committed to leading by example and undertook this mission trip as a means of turning words into action - through service to the community.

All alarm clocks were set for the crack of dawn last Friday morning to catch their 6am flight to Brisbane and by 8.30am they were already knee-deep in the red soil of the Indigenous Ministries gardens in Ipswich.

In addition to getting their hands dirty, our hard working Champions also generated the funds to build the community garden through the fundraising initiatives Make Over Your Mobile ($4,000) and Lycra Like Ya Care ($2,000).

Jason Poutawa (Head of the Oasis Friday Freeway Program) who took part in the trip noted that the building of a garden was not only practical, but also served a symbolic function for the community who had suffered much devastation as a result of the Queensland Floods.

“We wanted the garden to represent planting seeds of hope for the future of the community,” said Jason.

In addition to a vegetable and citrus garden, there was also a lot set aside as a memorial garden for people to come and plant a tree in the memory of loved ones who lost their lives.

The Champions barely had time to shake off the dirt before they were back on the bus to Brisbane for special dinner hosted by their Queensland counterparts.

All had the opportunity to reflect on the year that had been and discuss the incredible benefits of being part of this life changing program.

“There was an awesome sense of community and family which is a rare experience for many of our young people in the program,” said Jason. “It was like visiting cousins.” 

Saturday was another big day for the family of Champions, although this time it was their turn to enjoy the fruits of their labour with a much deserved visit to Dreamworld.

The trip wrapped up on Sunday, with one last visit to Ipswich to share in a community lunch and take stock of the beautiful garden and celebrate an inspiring and successful weekend.

Sadly this marked the last official engagement for the 2011 Champions but we would like to take this opportunity to celebrate with them in all they have achieved over the past year and wish them the best of luck for the future.

Team Oasis

If you happened to pass Virgin Active in Pitt Street Mall on Sunday 25 September you may have been forgiven for thinking there was an Olivia Newton John revival happening.

With over 75 participants sporting their best spandex for the Lycra Like Ya Care charity challenge, big-hearted lycra lovers came together in a massive 3 hour sweat-a-thon to help raise a massive $2000 for flood affected communities in Northern Queensland.

Hosted by Virgin Money, Virgin Active and the Oasis Champions, each brave participant donated a $25 entry fee and completed a gruelling circuit of back to back fitness classes in Zumba, Cycling, Yoga, Body Attack and Boxing, with even the fittest of the fit showing signs of fatigue by the final rotation.

All funds raised from the event went towards a community garden which has been built by the Oasis Champions for the flood-affected, Salvation Army’s Indigenous Ministries in North Ipswich.

Many of the incredible participants walked away with more than just exhausted muscles, thanks to the generosity of the Virgin Money and Virgin Active who raffled off a bevy of amazing prizes including wine, mobile phones and a much sought after gym memberships to Virgin Active Health Clubs.

Oasis would like to send out a massive thanks to all the amazing participants who came together to make Lycra Like Ya Care such an incredibly fun and successful day. You are all super stars for surviving the day!

A big shout out goes to Virgin Money, Virgin Active and of course our phenomenal Oasis Champions for organising this stellar event.

Word on the street is Lycra Like Ya Care could soon become an annual event, with talks of Virgin Active holding simultaneous sweat-a-thons across their Sydney clubs.

Watch this space, friends! We look forward to sweating it out with you again next time!

Team Oasis