OUR SPACE launches in Eastwood

As we pack away the BBQ and chairs we want to thank the many community members who braved the heat to attend the launch of OUR SPACE at Eastwood yesterday, Thursday April 3, to celebrate the unique service model offered through The Salvation Army’s Oasis Youth Support Network (Oasis) in partnership with Ryde Council, Christian Community Aid and Ryde Family Support Service.

The integrated youth hub will provide educational assistance, career advice, sexual health information, counselling and lifestyle activities – giving our local young people a safe and central space for support.

“Today, more than ever before, I believe we need to partner with organisations like OUR SPACE partners, bringing together skills and expertise that on our own we could not achieve.” said Major Keith Hampton, Director of Oasis Youth Support Network.

This leading service model which targets a recognised gap in youth services for 12-18 year-olds, City of Ryde Mayor, Clr Roy Maggio, came together with Major Keith Hampton, and The Hon. Victor Dominello, Minister for Citizenship and Communities and Member for Ryde. Before signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, guests heard from The Hon. Victor Dominello that he believed this style of service offering was ground breaking and a valuable development in service provision to our youth.

With an emphasis on a holistic view of academic, social and emotional development, Oasis will provide support through: encouraging and equipping students to identify their own individual learning style, tailoring academic work to meet the needs of these individual learning styles, provision of project-based learning and targeted support with literacy and numeracy, in addition to careful modelling of emotion regulation, conflict resolution and communication, all in conjunction with family support and programs.