Guy Barnett (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Tonight I would like to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of the Australian based organisation Fusion International as they celebrate 2010 with having contributed 50 years as a Christian based voluntary youth and community organisation. I recently attended Fusion’s expo day at Poatina, in the northern midlands of Tasmania, where I launched Fusion’s 50th anniversary year and the next 50 years of excellent work. The expo day was attended by Fusion leaders from every continent, many of whom I met. They shared stories of the work Fusion is doing across the world.

Having been established by Mal Garvin AM in Hornsby, Sydney, in 1960 as a community movement aimed to ‘bring young people and their communities together with hope’, Fusion now has operations in almost 30 centres in Australia, operating in every state and territory, and in over 20 centres overseas. These centres support thousands of volunteers who contribute to their local communities through Fusion’s programs—a fantastic effort.

Incredibly, Fusion provides 40,000 nights of accommodation for people at risk annually in its 12 housing service centres in Australia. Fusion now also manages a new purpose built community residential facility in Geraldton, Western Australia, for individuals with mental health needs. Fusion is also now a registered training organisation offering nationally recognised training in youth and community work and a range of vocational areas that have proven effective, in Australia and overseas, in building strong social capital. Through values based practical training Fusion has been able to bring personal development, self-awareness and life skills to people who want to make a difference in developing networks of care with others.

In 1995 Fusion acquired and developed the village of Poatina, a former hydro village, which has been a highly successful social experiment in which at-risk young people have become productively integrated into a safe and supportive community.