Our History

Fusion in Victoria has been characterised by an entrepreneurial approach to mission that has always been focussed on building community and bringing hope to young people.

When the organisation changed its name from Teen Crusaders, it took its new name from a drop-in centre in Warburton started by Victorian pioneers Bob Adams and Neil McRae.

“Fusion” has increasingly become an accurate description of the organisation’s role in reconnecting communities for the sake of the next generation.

In the early phases this commitment was seen in pioneering festivals work through the Moomba Festival and Bendigo Easter Fair, along with Christian Rock concerts.

What is now the Moorabbin youth refuge, started before funding was available for such programs, and has developed to a point where the current refuge is the culmination of  a groundbreaking partnership with the state government. Fusion’s first youth café was opened in Bendigo and Victoria was also the state that pioneered Fusion’s first youth night club.

Fusion’s first arts colony emerged at Mornington and then in Malmsbury. The Arts colony has now moved to Poatina.

As the work developed, it was in Victoria that Fusion first started a community centre, causing a whole re-alignment for the work nationally as we became a youth and community organisation.

It was also in Victoria that Fusion pioneered our approach to intentional community through both Kilmany Park and Balcombe (Mornington). The lessons learnt at both places formed the basis for the remarkably successful Poatina village

Kilmany Park and Mornington also pioneered Fusion’s approach to residential training. What is now the Certificate IV in Christian Youth and Community work was  first delivered residentially at Kilmany Park in Sale and then subsequently at Mornington before transferring to Poatina in 1996.

Fusion took a decision to undergird the Awakening movement in 1989. Fusion was also at the heart of the Awakenings spread around the state , as at one stage over 100 cities and towns hosted Awakening festivals or other events.  Anne Nanscawen was Victorian state coordinator at this stage and Fusion provided almost all the infrastructure that created the platform for thousands of people to take to the streets both at Easter and subsequently with the 1994 and 1996 global marches.  You can find more about the awakening at www.awakening.org.au

As I took over the mantle of State Coordinator from Poul Bottern my predecessor there was a sense of honour and responsibility to continue the legacy of an entrepreneurial approach to mission that has always been focussed on building community and bringing hope to young people.

At the start of 2006 we were proud to host Fusion’s very first Certificate III in Youth and Community work (Christian) as part of the 90 days of mission.

All up there were 47 students, with a number coming from overseas including seven Indonesians, four Nigerians, two Indians, two Jamaicans, two South Africans and others from the UK, Canada and Germany.

They arrived, along with others who were coming to help support, on the 17^th of February and stayed until Easter Sunday 18^th April.

It was a mad, exciting, exhausting, growing, productive, stretching, uncomfortable and fun time as we started to get to know the 60 new people who had joined the state team all at once.

Every Monday everyone would descend on Mornington for a day of training and reflection, which meant we had to cater for 100 people each week.

Each Fusion centre grew by 10 to 12 people and it felt like somebody planted their foot on the accelerator of Fusion’s growth in Victoria.

One of the exciting developments that happened hand in hand with the “90 days of mission” was the start of a brand new Fusion centre in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne. This meant that in the 15 months I have been in Victoria, we have gone from having 3 functioning Fusion centres to six – a fact I remind myself whenever I wonder why I have been feeling stretched.

During the 90 days of mission which incorporated the Certificate III new work was planted in 16 high schools and the team of full time permanent staff grew by 12.