Fusion Village

Fusion Australia

Fusion

Research has shown homelessness services and programs are cost-effective in bringing about positive housing and non-housing outcomes for their clients.

Fusion has a proven history of supporting young people through homelessness to reunification and independent living. In 16 locations around Australia, Fusion is a nationally accredited organisation, with the necessary governance and frameworks. Fusion is in an optimal position to extend its resources and work, to include care and support of young women and their children in Victoria. 

The Fusion Village will draw on Fusion’s 60 years of experience providing housing, support and mentorship to young people and their families.

Governance

Fusion teams are made up of unpaid and paid staff, team members and volunteers who all work side by side to see communities transformed across the nation. Fusion Australia Ltd is governed by a Board of Trustees, consisting of Trustees elected by the team members at the Fusion Annual Conference, and some externally appointed Trustees.

Their work on the Mornington Peninsula is managed under the direction of the Team Leader, Gemma Bell. She reports to the CEO and Fusion Australia Board. 

The Fusion Village will be governed and managed by Fusion Affordable Housing, a subsidiary of Fusion Australia ltd. This will be a Registered Housing Organisation, to be established in 2022.  The development and construction of the Village project, will be advised by the Development Committee which is comprised of volunteers with business, construction and fundraising expertise.

Fusion Village Development Committee:

Gemma Bell

Fusion Mornington Peninsula Team Leader

Gemma Bell is the Team Leader at Fusion Mornington Peninsula. Gemma has lived and worked onsite at Fusion’s housing service for young people experiencing homelessness with her family for 15 years. Over those years she has worked as an educator in Youth and Community Work, practitioner, and community leader. Gemma has set down deep relational roots within the community and in the lives of folks she lives and works alongside.
Gemma’s passions are action-based philosophies that build heathy lives for vulnerable peoples through relational community development.

David Coyle

Project Manager

Educated at Mentone Boys Grammar, David operated his own Marine Engineering business in Mornington.
David has been involved in many aspects of Fusion for over 50 years helping to establish the current centre at the old Army Barracks in Balcombe. His other voluntary work involved the over-sight of the building of a 1700 seat auditorium at New Peninsula Church. David has also led voluntary teams building schools in both Africa and Vanuatu.

George Savvides

Advisor

George Savvides has 30 years CEO experience in the Aust/NZ healthcare sector. He has lived on the Mornington Peninsula for 25 years. Graduate Industrial Engineering UNSW, and MBA from UTS. A Fellow of the Aust Institute of Co Directors. Former Chairman of World Vision Australian.

Current board roles apart from Fusion Mornington Advisory Board : Non Executive Director of IAG (Insurance Australia Group) , Chairman SBS, Non Exec Director of Ryman Healthcare Ltd. and Non Exec Director BuildXact.

Tom Paras

Development Manager.

As an experienced property developer, project director and senior property specialist, Tom consistently brings a passion for devising and delivering great projects for clients. With his extensive management experience in property development and Funds Management, Tom is able to use his skills in the compilation of accurate project feasibilities and design schemes to develop projects that provide cost-efficient and highly effective solutions. Tom has nearly 40 years’ experience in development. As well as total project Development management of sites from $5m to $150m across all sectors of the Property Industry and has been involved in acquisitions and development of Affordable Housing, Retired Aged Care and Retirement Living. Amongst other roles, Tom is a senior property specialist at Payton Capital and has a heart to ensure children have the best start in life and has mentored many who are now successful in their own right.

Damian Merchan

MD – Impact Realty

Damian brings a wealth of development and real estate experience, commencing his Real estate career at 20 years old with Stockdale & Leggo and later with LJ Hooker.
Damian has extensive development experience, founding S&L Projects and working with Three Pillars Developments. Today Damian is a managing director at Impact Realty Group. Throughout his career, Damian has remained committed to philanthropy and had been looking for an opportunity to support families experiencing homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula.

Jason Pater

CEO – Payton Foundation.

Jason is a Chartered Accountant (Fellow) with extensive practice, corporate and board experience. He has been on boards of numerous charities for most of his career including the Safe Harbour Foundation and Bendigo Bank Community Bank branches. Jason brings a focus on governance and diligence as well as a heart for those in need.

Jaclyn Jenkins

Fusion Families Co-ordinator

With a background in counselling and the arts, jaclyn has spent the last 15 years working with children and families in a number of creative and supportive roles. Jaclyn currently coordinates the “Families” parenting course and mentoring at Fusion Mornington Peninsula as well as the casework of young families at risk of homelessness. Living life alongside her husband and four children life is never dull, especially as they actively seek to engage as a whole family in their local community. Jaclyn is passionate about parents being equipped and connected in a way that allows them to grow strong, thriving families.

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