Melbourne West

Since the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and the beginning of the work of Fusion in Melbourne West there has been a continual growth and impact on people across the region. 

There are growing connections with churches and community groups of similar heart in Melton, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Mooney Valley and Maribyrnong City Council’s.

At Fusion Melbourne West we are working in the region bounded by Tullamarine Airport through to Werribee, and from Melton through to the city.  Its our aim to work with local people of similar heart to see every young person, their family and their community have the chance to experience more of life and of a healthy and supportive community.

We have been working in several areas amongst the community some of which are detailed below.

The Schools
Some of our aims with schools work is to work with the school in building community in the playground.  This also assists to develop relationships between young people and their peers, the growth of young peoples self esteem, their place and purpose in the school, as well as growing connections with their local community.

At the moment we are running Lunchtimes With A Difference in Kealba Secondary College and St Albans Secondary College once a week.  This involves a variety of values based activities that assist in building bridges amongst people.  The activities use ice breakers, team work, lots of messy games, festival activities and more.

At the schools there is a growing connections amongst the students as well as with the team.  Connections amongst the community are also growing in their role and support of the programs.

Christmas
Fusion Melbourne West worked with local churches to run the festival at the Christmas festival and carols in December.  The event went quite well considering that it was 44 degrees and smokey from the Victorian bushfires.  A few people turned out for the festival and it was a great time just hanging out with people.  Several of the young people learnt how to use the spinning plates and Chinese yo-yo’s and then went on to teach other people older than themselves.  The beauty and freedom of being younger…  As the temperature dropped lots more people arrived for the carols, a beautiful day.

Easter
This Easter Fusion worked with churches, Councils and community groups in Brimbank and in Melton to run Open Crowd community festivals on Sunday 1st April and the following Saturday 7th April respectively.  Both of the festivals were a great hit for the community with free face painting, stilts, BBQ’s, tug-o-war, woodwork, crafts, women’s gumboot toss and much more.  Several local people commented that it would be great to have more of these festivals and how it brought the community out so they could relax and have fun together.  Others commented how the festivals gave an opportunity to really celebrate Easter and the freedom of life that we have been given, seen amongst people as they freely enjoyed the day and each others company.

This is particularly exciting as the churches in Melton are keen to do it again next Easter.

Youth Adventure Daytrips
Are drug and alcohol free events for Secondary College age young people and is run on the first Saturday of each month and.  It gives young people the opportunity to meet new people in a safe environment, to try new things, push the boundaries of their personal abilities and have an awesome time.  Daytrip’s are run at a variety of locations to give young people different opportunities over an entire day of challenging and adrenaline pumping activities.

Coming Up
We are continuing to talk with churches and community groups regarding lots of possibilities, some of which are:

  • Open Crowd community festivals in Mooney Valley, Brimbank and Melton
  • Talking with more of the local Secondary Colleges and the Victorian University (St Albans) in Brimbank about their needs and how we may be able to assist them.
  • Bringing more young people together at Fusion’s Youth Adventure Daytrips.
  • Talking more with local people to hear what is happening in the area and looking at what we may be able to do together to continue to develop the sense of community amongst our community.

For more information
You can contact us in the office on 03 9364 5735 or at melbournewest@fusion.org.au