Oasis At A Glance

Education Centre

Early Intervention House

Reconstruct

Video Program

StreetNet Bus

Streetradio.net

Choices Program

WorkiT Program

CHOICES

"Where hope and freedom become reality through making positive choices."

The Oasis Youth Support Network's Choices program provides therapeutic inventions for homeless, disadvantaged and disconnected young people, aged 16-25, who find themselves 'stuck', especially with additions.

Choices offers individual counselling and group work to address issues including:

• drug and alcohol addictions
• relationships (past and present)
• anger and emotional management
• stress
• mental health
• confidence
• trust.

These issues are addressed by one-on-one counselling and participation in groups such as Girls' Club; Laughter Club; Young Mothers' Club; 'Choices Wednesday' at the new Oasis accommodation facility in Francis St, East Sydney; and Freeway outdoor adventure therapy (day trips and week long camps outside the 'big smoke').

The aim of Choices is to re-engage young people into the wider community, focusing on their independence and resilience to identify and enhance their true potential, thereby moving away from dependence/reliance on social support services.

Choices is all about encouraging and motivating disconnected young people to identify negative beliefs, patterns, behaviours and feelings, and to replace them with positive 'choices' to empower participants to continue getting their life back on track.

Most participants in Choices are able to overcome multiple social barriers and seize the chance to break the cycle of homelessness and addiction. They gain invaluable skills in self respect, discipline, responsibility and pride.

The key objective of Choices is to provide disadvantaged young participants with vital support in striving for a future where they are in control.

Choices has attracted extremely positive feedback from participants and staff:

"Girls' Club taught me how to commit."
"I hate missing Girls' Club."
"I miss the Laughter Club."
"The kids were in such a good mood after the Laughter Club." (youth worker)
"I feel so much better at school when I've been to the Laughter Club in the morning."
"I wish I didn't have to come here from probation and parole because I would come anyway because I love coming to talk with you."
"You have made my day." (woman at community centre during Mental Health Week)
"I really enjoy conversations after Laughter Club. When we go for coffee, it stimulates my brain."

Choices is just one of more than 20 programs operated by The Salvation Army's Oasis Youth Support Network. Oasis accommodates and cares successfully for some of our most neglected and disadvantaged young people.

We give hope and resources to deal with addictions, health issues and shelter. As they recover, these young people begin to realise employment and education are possible.