Fusion Village
governanace
Research has shown homelessness services and programs are cost-effective in bringing about positive housing and non-housing outcomes for their clients.
With years of experience in both the youth accommodation sector and as a provider of broader accommodation options across the country, Fusion has been a Tier 3 National Community Housing Service Provider since 2015.
Our proven history of supporting young people through homelessness to reunification and independent living, places us in an optimal position to extend our resources and work, to include care and support of young women and their children in Victoria.
The Fusion Village will draw on our more than sixty years of experience providing housing, support and mentoring to young people and their families.
Governance
The Fusion Village will be governed and managed by Fusion Affordable Housing, a subsidiary of Fusion Australia Ltd. This Registered Housing Organisation will be established in 2022.
The Fusion Village Development Committee, comprised of volunteers with business, construction, and fundraising expertise, will advise on the development and construction of the Fusion Village project.
Fusion Village
development committee
Gemma Bell
Fusion Mornington Peninsula Team Leader
Gemma Bell is the Team Leader at Fusion Mornington Peninsula. Gemma and her family have lived and worked onsite at Fusion’s housing service for young people experiencing homelessness for 15 years.
In that time, Gemma has worked as an educator in youth and community work, as a practitioner, and community leader. She has set down deep, relational roots within the community and in the lives of the people she lives and works alongside. Gemma’s passions are action-based philosophies that build heathy lives for vulnerable people through relational community development.
David Coyle
Project Manager
Educated at Mentone Boys Grammar, David operated his own marine engineering business in Mornington. He has been involved in many aspects of Fusion’s work for over fifty years and helped to establish the current centre at Balcombe.
His other voluntary work included overseeing construction of the 1700 seat auditorium at New Peninsula Church. David has led voluntary teams building schools in both Africa and Vanuatu.
George Savvides
Advisor
George Savvides has thirty years CEO experience in the Australia/NZ healthcare sector. He has lived on the Mornington Peninsula for twenty-five years. He is a graduate in Industrial Engineering UNSW, and MBA from UTS, Fellow of the Aust Institute of Company Directors and former Chairman of World Vision Australia.
Current board roles, apart from Fusion Mornington Advisory Board: Non-Executive Director of IAG (Insurance Australia Group), Chairman SBS, Non-Executive Director of Ryman Healthcare Ltd. and Non-Executive 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 uses his skills to compile accurate project feasibilities and design schemes, developing projects that provide cost-efficient, effective solutions.
Tom has forty years of experience in development. In addition to total project development, he has management of sites from $5m to $150m across all sectors of the property industry and has been involved in the acquisition and development of affordable housing, retired aged care and retirement living. Among other roles, Tom is a senior property specialist at Payton Capital, 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 has a wealth of development and real estate experience, having commenced his real estate career at twenty years of age with Stockdale & Leggo and later with LJ Hooker. Damian has extensive development experience, having founded S&L Projects and worked with Three Pillars Developments.
Now a managing director at Impact Realty Group, Damian has been committed to philanthropy throughout his career. Looking for an opportunity to support families experiencing homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula, Damian gladly brings his skills and experience to the Fusion Village project.
Jason Pater
CEO – Payton Foundation
Jason is a Chartered Accountant (Fellow) with extensive practice, corporate and board experience. He has been on the board 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, and 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 fifteen 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 and provides casework support to young families at risk of homelessness.
Life with her husband and four children is never dull, as they actively seek to engage as a family in their local community. Jaclyn has a passion for parents to be equipped and connected in a way that allows them to grow strong, thriving families.