New Oasis centre for Western Sydney
New Oasis centre for Western Sydney
3 February 2023
An initial concept drawing of The Salvation Army’s Western Sydney Oasis centre, which gained $40 million in government funding on 1 February.
The Salvation Army has been awarded a $40 million grant to develop an Oasis centre of transformation in Western Sydney.
Greater West Team Leader Major Paul Moulds said God gave him the vision for the centre after being appointed to the area last year.
Major Paul Moulds believes the Western Sydney Oasis centre will be a place where “lives will be rebuilt”.
“As I prayed and dreamed and reached out to others with a similar heart, God gave me a compelling vision to bring a group of partners together, united in our desire to see the most marginalised and disadvantaged receive the support and care they need to have opportunities to heal their hurts and achieve their dreams and potential.”
Months of prayer, planning and working with The Salvation Army divisional team, building concept partners and potential mission partners went into the grant proposal. The successful outcome was announced on 1 February by NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.
The funding will cover half the cost of constructing Western Sydney Oasis. This facility will provide multiple services from a collective of partners to bring hope, support and transformation to countless individuals and families in Western Sydney.
The Salvation Army will fund the remainder of the cost through philanthropic donations, selling some currently owned properties, renting from partner groups that use the space and further fundraising as required.
Based in St Marys, Western Sydney Oasis will house multiple community services from partner agencies and organisations, all working together to provide a one-stop shop of hope and support.
The Western Sydney Oasis centre will provide multiple services.
Paul said a significant emphasis was also being placed on providing spaces and opportunities to make arts and creative activities more accessible to the community. “During my time at the Oasis Youth Support Network in inner Sydney, I saw the arts and creative activities being truly life-transforming, particularly for young people who are struggling to find meaning and ways of expressing themselves,” he said.
“God is in the business of redemption and restoration. This is true of communities and individual lives. It is my story and testimony. Western Sydney Oasis [will be] a centre of hope and transformation, a place where broken walls will be repaired, lives will be rebuilt, destinies changed, and communities transformed.”
Also included in the list of WestInvest recipients was Norwest Salvos, which was awarded $3.1 million for a project to create a Hope Market Warehouse and Norwest Recreation Centre. The centre will increase The Salvation Army’s ability to deliver essential social support services in the area and allow it to provide recreational activities for young people with a disability.
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