More than 25 key industry representatives from Western Australia’s media and advertising industry visited Salvation Army’s Oasis House to learn more about the charity’s efforts to help support disadvantaged youth ahead of the upcoming Oasis Ball.
Along with the Oasis Committee, the representatives gathered at Mirrabooka house to learn more about how the industry’s fundraising efforts have supported Oasis House. The house is designed to provide young people affected by parents’ or guardians’ alcohol or drug addiction with a safe and stable environment and help them transition to independent living.
The Salvation Army’s Oasis Project supports young people between the ages of 16 and 25 who are marginalised and disadvantaged, many of whom have been sleeping rough, couch surfing, or living in unstable and unsafe arrangements.
The primary focus of the Oasis Project is Oasis House in Mirrabooka, but funds raised also support a range of initiatives aimed at providing these young people with a safe, supported, and sustainable accommodation option, empowering them during their transition to independent living.
Michelle Testa, Oasis Committee chair, said the aim of the gathering was to bring members from different parts of the industry to be the changemakers and relay the purpose of the ball back to their teams and organisations ahead of the Oasis Ball, which is now in its 27th year.
“We have an ambition to raise $150,000 to support The Salvation Army and Oasis House at this year’s Oasis Ball, but we also wanted to remind the broader industry beyond this one evening that we are a force for good, we can have a positive impact on our community and this is why we invited the industry to attend Oasis House, why we have created a video to spread the word of the work we are doing,” she said.
“I’ve been beyond thrilled to hear the stories of the morning getting back into offices and the shift in broader understanding of what we are aiming to achieve. It is a powerful moment to realise just how much our industry can do beyond our day-to-day work for clients to create very real and meaningful change.”
During the visit to Oasis House, attendees heard first-hand experiences of how the existence of the Oasis House, and other initiatives provided by the Salvation Army, changed their lives.
Previous recipients of Salvation Army care, Zac and Minnie, shared the personal stories of bouncing between foster care providers from birth, living on the streets, drugs and alcohol addiction to just get by before The Salvation Army was able to provide them with a bed and a place to call home, thanks to funds raised by the WA advertising industry via the Oasis Ball.
Testa added: “The visit to Oasis House was important to really remind our industry of what the Oasis Ball’s core purpose is and that is to connect our industry with our broader community and play a very real role in creating a better society that looks out for our young people and helps them when they need it.”
