Fusion News... sharing stories of changed lives! No Images? Click here October 2018 fusionwesternsydney - helping communities thriveFusion is committed to building resilient young people, stronger families and safer communities. R U OK Day is a national day dedicated to suicide prevention, challenging all of us to have regular, meaningful conversations with those around us so that we can know when someone is struggling. This year the Fusion team decided to show its support of R U OK Day in our local community by holding a free bbq and fun activities to highlight simple ways we can all get alongside our friends, family and workmates by asking R U OK? On Thursday 13 September, the Fusion Cafe was buzzing, with visitors from the local community coming along to enjoy the activities and to gain skills and confidence to start a conversation with anyone who might be doing it tough.
The day ended with a fundraiser Trivia Night for R U OK in the Fusion Café with local businesses from Queen Street, St Marys gathering together to show their support of this important issue. Special thanks to Puzzle Box Finance, Evoque, Aussie, St Marys Town Centre Management, The Professionals Real Estate, St George Bank, Penrith Council, Jamjo Home and Gifts, Nova Craft, Essential Locksmiths, Chemist Outlet and The Office of Emma Husar MP for your enthusiasm and participation. Suicide prevention is an enormously complex and sensitive challenge. R U OK Day helped enhance community wellbeing and got more people asking those around them R U OK? By coming together we could show that St Marys is a community of hospitality and care where people are seen and valued. Thank you eddie&elizabeth Each week in western Sydney our team of twelve youth workers, chaplains and wellbeing workers connect individually with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and those experiencing significant hardship. Hearing of the challenges faced by a particular family, Eddie, one of our youth workers, was moved to lend an extra hand to help bring stability and support.
youthwork For the last sixty years, Fusion’s vision has been to see transformed communities where young people and families thrive. In western Sydney our team provide preventative and resilience building programmes both in high schools and in after school and holiday programmes. Amidst the fun, laughter, games and learning of new skills, the young people often share real and personal struggles. From investing one on one time, the team build close relationships and can often pick up on behaviour that is unusual or out of character for a young person. It is not uncommon for young people to share feelings of depression stemming from conflict with peers or family, school stresses, low self esteem and fear of the future. This year the team have gained insights and understanding of young people and the concerns and issues they face through some new programmes. Rock & Water uses physical/social exercises to help young people grow in self-confidence, self-respect and boundary awareness. The students learn about their breathing, emotions, communication and how to deal with power, strength and powerlessness. Many have loved the physicality and symbols in the Rock and Water program so much so that none of them wanted their journey to end. One particular school is excited then to expand the program so that more students get to experience the opportunity to be more aware and grounded in difficult social situations Love Bites addresses the topic of safe and respectful relationships, a growing issue for young people. At one of the sessions held in a local high school, it was special to see the excitement in one young lady as she produced an artwork she was proud of, expressing some difficult experiences in her life. Exhale, an outdoor adventure programme, gives opportunity for growth in leadership skills and personal thinking around faith and important life issues in our peer leaders. A small group of young people and leaders have challenged themselves in outdoor adventures such as bike riding, rock climbing, bushwalking and abseiling, pushing themselves to take up the challenges of teamwork and trust.
Fusion Youth is planning a camp for young people in the January 2019 summer holidays. If you’d like to help sponsor a young person to come along to experience a time away from everyday stresses and enjoy fun activities and new experiences in a safe and caring community, please donate now to Fusion Western Sydney. Storage King Blacktown, thank you for your continued support… fusion cafeServing quality specialist coffee, just opposite St Marys Station. Our Cafe also does a range of tea, fresh juices and smoothies, as well as light snacks or lunch. In addition to doing great food and drinks, Fusion Cafe is a social enterprise, meaning the profits go directly back into the vital work that Fusion does in the St Marys community. Eat in or take away. Corner of Queen and Station St, St Marys. Open Mon - Fri 6am - 2pm fusion families courseFusion's Families Course forms a framework to build a healthy, strong and loving family life. Register now for the next Families Course. November 12, 19, 26 & December 3 Mondays 9:30am - 12:30pm, 113b Station St, St Marys. Registrations essential. Sponsored places are available. Call 0431 433 422 to enquire. fusion charity mobile planEver wish that you could use your phone to make a real difference to the world? Turn your phone bill into a force for good! Fusion’s Charity Mobile Plan takes 5% of your monthly bill and places it into a fund that helps support our programs and volunteers to continue doing what they do best. And you don’t have to pay a cent more than you currently do. |