qld trip more than just fun
Camera Iconqld trip more than just fun Credit: Supplied/Bruce Hunt

Camp Future a golden

Staff ReporterEastern Reporter

As part of the Salvation Army Westcare Creating Dreams project, the five-day trip Camp Future has been designed for six Oasis House youth to forget their struggles and experience new things.

Oasis House acting service manager Rebecca Yarnold said the teenagers lived under the care of the Department for Child Protection and Family Support and had not had the best start to life.

Young people placed in medium to long-term accommodation at Oasis House have often experienced family dysfunction, violence and neglect in their lives and can exhibit trauma-based behaviours including self-harm and antisocial, aggressive, manipulative and withdrawn behaviour.

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Ms Yarnold said the Oasis House staff worked tirelessly to create a warm homely environment for the young residents by promoting positive peer influence and hope.

‘To make positive change it is imperative that we model many of the characteristics of family structures which empowers personal development such as saving, setting goals, organisation and working together,’ she said.

‘The majority of the trip has been funded through local businesses.

‘The only thing the kids have to pay for is spending money so we’ve been helping them save in the lead up.

‘It’s all about teaching them the life skills they need in preparation for when they live on their own, and organising this trip has helped put those skills into practice.’

Ms Yarnold said the teenagers were excited and a little nervous for the trip.

‘For some of them it would be their first time on a plane or travelling interstate,’ Ms Yarnold said.

Camp Future was developed by Innovative Hair Loss Solutions general manager Derek Best and was made possible by generous donations from local businesses Century 21 Gold Key Realty, Cash Converters Joondalup, Yanchep Joint Venture and Firth Financial Services.