It looks like the 29 Nov Market Collective will be a very big all-in event and potentially the last for The Oasis Townsville. Homebase has been as busy as ever this last month, and we are working with groups to investigate repositioning their activities after we close on 12 Dec, probably for good, without Recommendation 86 funding coming from the Government. We are also proud to have Phil Thomson, OAM, MP, officially open our Remembrance Path. We have been working with Julie-Ann Finney on the details for a photo display of the veterans who have taken their own lives, at Homebase on Remembrance Day, which will be very sobering. Efforts to ensure veterans and partners on our books are looked after are well underway, with some great support from our network. Our online partnership with the Skilliphy platform for veterans and partners (no longer AUKUS) is proving successful, but we have paused signing the Queensland Government's $1.2mil grant for Employment due to our uncertain funding future. The last VBA O-GROUP for the year, and possibly ever, is on 21 November. Morning Magpies at Dirty Boots Cafe has been a big hit. Veterans’ Health Week is at Homebase on 22 Nov in collaboration with Invictus Australia. Our efforts on Operation COMPASS continue to progress strongly. The Queensland Government is seeking input on the Veteran Strategy Survey.

It looks like the 29 Nov Market Collective will be a very big all-in event and potentially the last for The Oasis Townsville. We know that Christmas can be a difficult time for many, and what better way to show support than with a market focused on community connection. There will be something for everyone, and we encourage all our clients, connections, participants, employment candidates, and VBA members to come along. It could be the answer to the connection needed if we cannot reopen in 2026. We’ll have traditional stallholders selling their market wares, businesses offering employment opportunities, organisations providing support and services, and clubs showcasing their activities. The Last Hurrah?

Homebase has been as busy as ever this last month, and we are working with groups to investigate repositioning their activities after we close on 12 Dec, probably for good, without Recommendation 86 funding coming from the Government. Articles in ONtarget this month’s cover: Cooking Workshop, Cobra Project, Banjos, Back on Track and Oasis Yoga. It has been an interesting observation that about 65% of our connection activities at Homebase are now outside core hours. We have been heartened to see that what this has meant is that those who were attending by day, who may have been without a job or a sense of purpose, gathering with each other, are now joining those who work, who are taking advantage of the digital access at night and are gaining greatly from the interaction. We are sure the Queensland Government will keep the purpose-built community centre as is, and that the space can continue to be used by the community if The Oasis is forced to close on 12 Dec 2025.

We are also proud to have Phil Thomson, OAM, MP, officially open our Remembrance Path on 14 Nov. Everyone with a brick in the Path has been invited, and, of course, anyone in our community is welcome to come along. It has been a magnificent project that will remind visitors that whatever happens at this community centre, it began as a veteran community centre.

We have been working with Julie-Ann Finney on the fine detail for a photo display of the veterans who have taken their own lives, at Homebase on Remembrance Day, which will be very sobering. Keep an eye out on the website. Julie-Ann as the mother of a veteran who took his own life and is a passionate advocate for all veterans’ mental health and for progress on Royal Commission recommendations.

Efforts to ensure veterans and partners on our books are looked after are well underway, with some great support from our network. There are so many great NFPs and charities coming forward to help. We have had a close relationship with all of them, and they are understandably very disappointed. Many are upset and worried about the workload. We are very grateful for their support, collaboration, and enthusiasm in supporting the veteran community.

Our online partnership with the Skilliphy platform for veterans and partners continues to deliver great results. While we’ve paused the signing of the Queensland Government’s $1.2 million Employment Grant due to uncertainty about our future, engagement through the platform remains strong with 13 candidates this month, double last month’s number. Employers can find the related article and link in this month’s ONtarget. It’s encouraging to see this growth, and we can only imagine how much more could be achieved if The Oasis Townsville continues to operate as a veteran support capability with ongoing Government funding.

The final VBA O-Group for 2025 and possibly our last will be held on 21 November. We look forward to welcoming our current VBA members from 5–6pm at Homebase to reflect on the year’s highlights and discuss how our events have helped create meaningful employment opportunities for the veteran community. A heartfelt thank you to all our members for your ongoing support, collaboration, and commitment to improving outcomes for veterans and their families. We couldn’t have achieved this without you.

Morning Magpies at Dirty Boots Cafe has been a big hit. If we are supported by the Government to open in 2026, we expect to add another day to opening hours. We especially appreciate the local community supporting and mingling with our veteran community. We recognise integration is the key.

Veterans’ Health Week at Homebase on 22 Nov is in collaboration with Invictus Australia. A day filled with movement, nourishment, physical recovery, creativity and community connection, this event will be for the whole family. The event program includes a Family RESET Yoga session, a Christmas 3D Card craft workshop, a nutritionist and a physical Recovery Lab session. Fuelling attendees from the inside out will be the smoothy bar curated by The Moring Magpie at Dirty Boots Cafe.

Our underlying efforts in the prevention of veteran suicide on Operation COMPASS continues strongly. We have received messages of support from many organisations involved in the Suicide Prevention effort, from the TSPN to Black Dog and Suicide Prevention Australia.

The Queensland Government is seeking input into the survey for the Veteran Strategy. See the link in the November ONtarget. Let's ensure we give our input.