Rugby heroes to join MA staff at Brisbane Winter Sleepout

Queensland Reds and Wallabies players Radike Samo and twins Saia and Anthony Faingaa will tonight join a group of Mission Australia staff from the Brisbane South Employment Solutions team sleeping rough to raise money for our homeless services.

Mission Australia’s Elia Tuqiri said staff taking part in the Sleepout at Citipoint Church are aiming to raise up to $10,000 to help people experiencing homelessness.

“In my job I meet a lot of people who are desperately looking for work as they are at risk of losing their home, or worse, are already homeless,” Elia said.

“In many cases, it’s not just individuals who are homeless, but families with young children without a stable home. Many are couch-surfing at friends’ places or sleeping in their car, because they haven’t got a place of their own. In the toughest cases they are sleeping rough in our community.

“I often think of myself as very lucky to have stable full time employment and the ability to pay my rent, have food on the table and a safe place to shower and sleep.

“Sometimes we take these things for granted – and that is why we have organised this Winter Sleepout to build awareness and raise important funding for Mission Australia’s homeless services.”

Former Reds player, Charlie Fetoai will also share how he turned his life around after suffering a serious spinal injury that brought his Rugby Union career to an end.

Charlie now works as a Mission Australia Indigenous Employment program mentor, helping young Indigenous men and women to overcome challenges in their own lives and get the training and support they need to find work.

“When I suffered a serious spinal injury on the field, I went from the highest point in my life – doing what I loved, playing professional rugby – to the lowest point, where I was terrified I might not walk again,” Charlie said.

“It was through self belief, staying positive and the support of my family, friends and team mates that I was able to recover and walk again. The experience completely changed my outlook on life, and has motivated me to help others who are struggling with barriers in their lives that are holding them back.

“The Winter Sleepout is a great cause, aimed at helping people out there who are struggling with circumstances hard for any of us to imagine – and that is why I am pleased to be a part of this event.”

There will be performances by school and dance groups from 6:30pm and the players will be signing autographs from 6pm.

Meanwhile on the Gold Coast, more than 30 staff from Mission Australia’s Employment Solutions offices and the crew from Southport Rotaract Club offices will brave the winter tonight to raise money for the homeless.

Good luck to all everyone camping out tonight for Winter Sleepout to help us reach our $250,000 fundraising target. To find out more about Winter Sleepout or to make a donation, visit: www.wintersleepout.com.au

Thanks to our City2Surfers for going the distance
Huge thanks to the 150 people who ran, walked and even skipped the 14km in last weekend’s Sun-Herald City2Surf in support of Mission Australia. There was a blur of red and white singlets in almost every category of the event, from the speedy runners to the walkers.

A few even ran the whole distance in their PJs, in support of our Winter Sleepout. Along the way hundreds of well-wishers, including Senator Mark Arbib and NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, offered their support.

Of all our fundraising supporters, first-time City2Surfer Sook Smith outdid herself, raising over $9,000 for our services and sitting at number eight in the overall top ten individual fundraiser ladder for the event.

She joined Mission Australia staff, supporters and members of Team MA, made up of clients of our homeless services, at a post-race barbecue in North Bondi.

All those weeks of training with the Sydney Roosters paid off for Team MA, with all members crossing the finishing line. Among them was Wayne Richards, who has taken part in every City2Surf since 1974.

In the lead-up to the City2Surf, Wayne attended every training session with players Ethan Lowe, Cheyse Blair, Lama Tasi and Boyd Cordner.

Thanks to Wayne, his team mates, all our fundraisers and their supporters for playing your part in this fabulous community event. Your efforts have raised a much-needed $20,000 for Mission Australia’s support services.

Queensland Reds tackle Indigenous youth unemployment with Mission Australia

Mission Australia is thrilled to announce an innovative 18-month partnership with the Queensland Reds, which will see the two organisations work together to tackle Indigenous unemployment in south Brisbane.

The Indigenous Employment Project (IEP) will see Mission Australia Employment Solutions and Queensland Reds work with 35 Indigenous youths from south Brisbane to create positive long-term educational and employment benefits.

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the initiative is an Australian-first, and one Mission Australia is hoping can be rolled out throughout the country in the coming years.

Mission Australia Employment Solutions General Manager for Queensland Phil Schultz said the participants are looking forward to starting the project.

“We have 25 Indigenous youths eager to meet with the Queensland Reds and start working towards long-term employment,” Mr Schultz said.

“In south Brisbane alone, Mission Australia has over 200 Indigenous people registered as active job seekers. We see the IEP as a step in the right direction towards tackling Indigenous youth unemployment.”

As part of the IEP, participants will learn about motivation, goal-setting, employer expectations, nutrition, fitness, healthy lifestyles and career planning through ongoing contact with Mission Australia and the Queensland Reds.

Queensland Reds players will act as mentors for the participants over the 18 month project – and will be available weekly to offer guidance, support and motivation.

Queensland Reds Hooker Saia Faingaa said he was looking forward to working with the youths involved in the project.

“I know I speak for a lot of the boys when I say that I’m really excited to be able to work as a mentor and confidant to these indigenous youths,” Saia said.

“We’re keen to show the participants that there are opportunities out there for indigenous youths, and that there are organisations out there such as Mission Australia who have the programs in place to assist them with their education and employment goals.”

Queensland Reds join Mission Australia clients in friendly touch football match

Blair Connor conceeding
a try by a Reconnect client

Mission Australia’s Roma House, one of Brisbane's leading homeless services, opened its doors this week to host players from the Queensland Reds rugby union team for a day of fun, music and football.

Roma House, which provides 24-hour, intensive care, support and accommodation for people who are chronically homeless, welcomed ten Queensland Reds players including Mark McLinden and Ben Lucas, who played touch football with the clients and provided them with coaching and fitness tips.

Roma House Manager, Rachel Watson, said the clients were extremely excited about playing with some of Queensland’s top sportsmen.

“We regularly organise touch football games down at the Roma St Parklands for our clients, and the guys really enjoyed having a game with the Queensland Reds,” said Rachel.

“We also organised for a special lunch, including entertainment, for after the game - so it was a fantastic day!”

Mission Australia teamed up with Community Queensland and Reclink – a charitable organisation that facilitates sporting, social and arts activities to enhance the lives of disadvantaged people – to organise the event. Reclink’s street orchestra project ‘The Reclaimers’ provided entertainment at the lunch.

The attendance by the Queensland Reds was facilitated by the Rugby Union Players’Association (RUPA) Foundation which announced a joint initiative with Mission Australia via the organisation’s ambassador program earlier this year.

Mission Australia State Director Tony Stevenson said the partnership provided a great opportunity for Mission Australia’s clients.

“I know many of our clients were inspired by meeting the Queensland Reds players and hearing about how they stay positive, keep their focus and rise to the challenges thrown at them while playing sport at an elite level,” Tony said.

“Likewise, I’m sure, after meeting our guys, the Queensland Reds players learned a thing or two about how to overcome adversity and stay focused when life doesn’t go your way.”