Fusion is a national and international Christian youth and community organisation with branches in places from Tasmania to Nigeria. Fusion Sunshine Coast is the local branch here in Queensland based out of the Alcooringa Youth & Community Centre in Buderim. Where at the local branch our focus is on ensuring that the Sunshine Coast has strong youth, because we believe that strong youth equals a bright future. We do this through creating safe and inclusive environments to connect with young people to encourage growth. As a part of this we run programs in high schools, run high energy youth holiday programs, weekly Fusion Youth program, mentoring programs and heaps more.

NOTE FROM THE TEAM LEADER

Welcome to Fusion Sunshine Coast!  We are a group of people who are committed to making a difference for youth on the Sunshine Coast.

To do this we run a variety of innovative programs, from lunchtime programs to the new Streetwork Trailer, each with a distinct purpose.  Our programs and services are aimed at both youth who are troubled and those who are looking for something to do or even want to develop some leadership skills. The majority of our work is run by volunteers who give their time and energy, for the good of others.

If you’d be interested in being involved, either as a youth, volunteer or as a donor, please get in contact with us.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Jesse O'Neil

Team Leader, Fusion Sunshine Coast

JESSE

TEAM LEADER

Jesse grew up in Fusion as a young kid when his parents were both heavily involved and has stayed around ever since. He completed a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honors) in 2004 and is a pharmacist by trade and owns a number of pharmacies while also working part time for Fusion. He also has a Diploma Youth & Community Work (Christian), Certificate IV Training and Assessment and is a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor.
Jesse is married to Marie and has two young children. In his spare time he loves going to the beach, watching the cricket and spending time with his family.

LAURIE

YOUTH WORK COORDINATOR | VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Laurie is a born and raised Sunny Coast local who became involved in Fusion as a young person and has stayed connected in various roles and parts of Australia since, working in Sydney with Fusion for a couple of years before getting married. She now lives on the Sunshine Coast with her husband, two dogs and her daughter Lucy. She has completed a Bachelor Arts (Psychology & Youth Work) and is a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor. She is passionate about social justice issues and caring for others. In her spare time she is into photography, craft, and gaming but mostly playing with her very energetic toddler. 

Nikky

YOUTH WORKER

Nikky joined Fusion when she was just 18 years old and was our little ray of sunshine. She has six siblings and was home-schooled by two wonderful parents. She has a Diploma of Children’s Services, a Diploma of Youth & Community Work (Christian) and is currently studying a Diploma of Counselling. She is First Aid & Youth Mental Health First Aid certified. Nikky aspires to help young people feel a sense of belonging, worth and purpose. She is passionate about people and has been volunteering in programs since the age of 12. Nikky is a creative soul who enjoys playing music, songwriting and taking care of her plants. She also enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Daniel

YOUTH LEADER

Daniel grew up on the Gold Coast where he was given many opportunities at school to grow as leader. Appointed School Prefect and Sports House Captain in 2003, this foundation led to his success in the Trade Industry before enlisting in the Defence Force where he attended the Royal Military College for Officer training. After medically discharging in 2019, Daniel along with his wife and three children relocated to the Sunshine Coast, where he found a passion for improving mental health, coaching and mentoring. Since then, Daniel has completed his Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) while working and volunteering part-time at Fusion and has developed an ambition to continue on to complete his master’s or doctorate in clinical psychology. In his free time, you’ll likely catch Daniel either down at the beach, coaching high school soccer, watching the Rugby or spending time with his family friends.

 

Andrew

OFFICE MANAGER 

Andrew started as our Office Manager in October 2023 after a short retirement from many years of working for the Queensland Government. He is responsible for the business operations of the Fusion office and our four Op Shops. He has a Diploma in Project Management and was responsible for the delivery of many capital works projects, as well as Workplace Health & Safety, at many government locations in the Sunshine Coast area. He loves being able to allow other Fusion staff to make a difference by him taking care of the not-so-glamourous side of the business! A long time Sunshine Coast resident, Andrew is married to Cheryl and they have two children Teah and Emi. They have a passion for nature and the environment, spending many hours maintaining their hinterland rainforest property, complete with a Japanese garden. They have a love of travel and are particularly fond of Japan, having been there 8 times! Outside of his work at Fusion,  Andrew spends many hours helping other musicians reach their full creative potential either in his home recording studio or encouraging them to perform at music events held on the family property.  He loves being able to help younger people build their self-confidence and firmly believes in the healing and nurturing power of music.

 

Jessica

YOUTH WORKER

Jessica is an experienced youth worker having done this since she was in her young teens helping volunteer with youth programs with her church to then working with a disability company taking young people out for eco therapy, to then completing a certificate III in chaplaincy working in a high-school and primary school to now running a youth group within her church. She holds her first aid certificate. She has a passion for empowering and inspiring young people and joined fusion at the start of 2024. She is recently married and still new to the Sunshine Coast having moved up 2 years ago from a little beach town called in Victoria called Ocean Grove. She has a zest for life and enjoys various hobbies, to mention a few, drinking coffee, dancing, skateboarding, hiking and drawing.

Sydney

JR YOUTH WORKER

Sydney was born in the USA and moved to the coast with her family in 2010. She first found out about fusion in 2017 through our lunchtime with a difference and started coming to fusion youth shortly after. Since then, she has been a part of many of our programs including leadership camps, 2019 Pilgrimage to Uluru, Hiking camps and Holiday programs. Sydney has been volunteering in different Youth & Kids programs on the coast since she was 13. She is Youth Mental Health First Aid certified and has her First Aid and CPR qualifications. Sydney will commence studying her Cert IV in Youth Work in July 2024 after graduating from our youth work internship last year that her younger sister Sophie is now a part of. Sydney is an avid reader and loves music, she can also be found down at the beach looking for shells or rock climbing in her spare time.

Katie

JR YOUTH WORKER

This is Katie and she got involved with Fusion as a young person through the Uluṟu trip in 2019 and has been coming to fusion youth and other programs ever since. She completed Fusion’s internship in 2023 as our Jr intern while finishing yr 12. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Science and a Cert 4 in Youth Work. In her spare time Katie loves doing pottery, she creates amazing handmade ceramics which are thrown on the wheel and painted with her beautiful art. 

 

Chloe

JR YOUTH WORKER

Chloe grew up on the sunshine coast and starting coming to Fusion as a youth when she was 13 years of age. She has been involved in various fusion programs, including Fusion’s internship program in 2023 after she graduated from highschool. She is now one of Fusion’s junior youth workers and is currently studying social work at the university of the sunshine coast. Chloe volunteers and works at fusion because she loves working with young people and getting to know their story. For fun Chloe likes to paint beautiful artwork, go for walks, and spending time with friends and family. 

Interns

INTERNS | SOPHIE | SEBASTIAN | RUBIE

Meet our interns for 2024. This crew are taking the year to learn what leadership looks like, how to run programs and gain a glimpse in the world of being a youth worker. Each of them bring their own unique skills and perspectives that help create a great space for youth to connect, have fun and feel valued. 

We are so proud of these amazing young leaders. 

Fusion Volunteers

These guys & girls aren’t all that hold up Fusion Sunshine Coast. We have a great team of volunteers that work hard to keep our programs running.

Want to join the team?

There are heaps of ways for you to get involved. Get in touch and let’s find the perfect spot for you.