A STUDY GUIDE by marguerite o’hara
www.theoasismovie.com.au www.abc.net.au/tv/oasis
www.metromagazine.com.au A feature documentary about Australia’s homeless youth
‘Because they’re tough kids doesn’t mean we should put them in the too-hard basket and believe that nothing can ever change.’
– Captain Paul Moulds, Director of the Oasis Youth Refuge
SCREEN EDUCATION 2 Introduction can be violent, abusive and out of control; some of them seem On any night in Australia, 22,000 resistant to attempts to help; teenagers are homeless. This they stuff up. But, whatever is film tells some of their stories. happening in their lives, Paul OASIS is a shelter for homeless and Robbin Moulds are there young people in Surry Hills to work with them to assist in in inner-city Sydney. It is run turning lives around through by The Salvation Army. This supporting them, however observational documentary often they fall down. They follows the daily lives of both the don’t always succeed and young people and the Salvation unlike many ‘reality’ television Army staff who care for them programs there are no cash and work with them to try and prizes or instant celebrity for make a difference in their lives. any of these people. The film takes an unflinching When you see Paul and Robbin look at the difficulties and Moulds, you understand the triumphs that happen each day slogan ‘Thank God for the and night. Many of these young Salvos’. people have ongoing problems with drug abuse; some of them
SCREEN EDUCATION 3 Synopsis no circumstance too dire, no kid episode, and picks up young too damaged. During his chaotic mum, Emma, and her new Darren is the kind of kid twenty-five years of service he baby from hospital, and moves the world has written off. has helped hundreds of young them into his family home Abandoned by his mother at people deal with unspeakable until he can secure suitable 8, bashed into intensive care childhood traumas, chronic drug accommodation. Tonight he is by his foster carers at 10, he addictions, mental illnesses, and forced to kick a group of boys spiralled into drug addiction all of street life’s other dramas. off the property, sets up Owen and has lived hard on the street Paul is present at the birth of in his first ever independent for over a decade. But since he new babies and there to conduct apartment, and walks the turned up on the doorstep of the funerals of those who self- streets with the Salvos outreach OASIS, a grimy red-brick youth destruct prematurely. On the van intercepting a fifteen-year- refuge in inner-city Sydney, with wall of his cluttered office in old girl who has naively arrived nowhere else to go, one person which many kids have found in Sydney’s notorious red- has been there for him around temporary salvation hangs his light district, Kings Cross, in the clock: Captain Paul Moulds. life’s mission statement: ‘I want midwinter with nowhere to stay. Father figure, counselor, saviour, to run a rescue shop within a Tireless and non judgemental, and an orphan himself, Paul yard of hell’. his life’s passion is to salvage this wasted generation from the is nothing short of a legend Today he stops a kid from wreckage of their lives. amongst kids like Darren, who burning OASIS down, deals stumble into OASIS at breaking with Darren having a psychotic Often it’s hard to comprehend point. No story is too horrific,
SCREEN EDUCATION 4 what keeps Paul buoyant Values Education, Religion and caring management and when positive change is so Society, Health and Human intervention can make a painstakingly incremental Development, Community difference in people’s lives. amongst his extended family. Development Studies, c) Empathise with the But he’s prepared to stick with Psychology, English and Media individuals and the Haley for the long haul, even if Studies. The film is rated M. challenges they face. she has failed to show up for This picture of one aspect several appointments to book d) Understand how an of contemporary society into detox. ‘Every kid deserves observational documentary is stark; the language is a thirteenth chance’, he shrugs can be constructed to confronting and some scenes with a smile. present a detailed and are distressing, though the complex picture of a Charting Paul’s struggle to film is not at all depressing. relatively hidden aspect of improve the fraught lives It raises a number of issues society. of the OASIS kids, this raw about social responsibility and observational documentary commitment; the consequences Student Activity 1 filmed over two years, is a of both substance abuse Before Watching the tribute to the power of one and homelessness and how Documentary man’s persistence in the face of solutions to these problems seemingly unrelenting darkness. might be best funded and • What does ‘home’ mean to you? As time unfolds, some kids pull managed. For Media Studies • What difference is there in themselves out of misfortune students, the skilful editing and meaning between ‘home’ and and aspire to greater things, placement of stories drawn ‘house’? while others sink deeper into from filming over more than addiction and desperation. In a year offers a fine example • Is ‘shelter’ more than just a the midst of all the chaos Paul of the power of observational roof over your head? battles unflinchingly on to save documentary making, where the • What would you miss most if these lost children, and reflects commitment of the filmmakers is you could not continue living on his own past along the way. clearly expressed through their at home with your family? film, rather than through either • What is your image of a Curriculum narration or leading the subjects typical homeless street Relevance in interview. person? This is a confronting and moving The activities and information in • In Table 1 (on page 6), observational documentary this guide are designed to help make a list of some of the about the lives of people many students to: reasons why people may find Australians often only see and a) Develop an understanding themselves homeless. In the avoid on the streets. of the dimensions of right-hand column make a It would be an excellent film homelessness. list of the related difficulties to show to middle and senior b) Encourage them to see homelessness can lead to in secondary students of Society how committed and people’s lives. and Environment (SOSE / HSIE),
SCREEN EDUCATION 5 Table 1
Reasons for becoming homeless What else may follow? Family breakdown Loss of affection, company and support of family
• Who should take financial it be a whole community • Table 2 (on page 7) outlines and social responsibility for responsibility? a number of situations, or helping ‘homeless’ people – scenarios, that young people • Do you give to a charity? Local, State and/or Federal may find themselves in that Have you volunteered to work Governments, charitable and result in them becoming for a charity? religious organisations such homeless. Fill in the second as The Salvation Army, St • Have you ever bought or read and third columns to indicate Vincent de Paul Society, The a copy of The Big Issue from what options may be Brotherhood of St Laurence, a street seller? What do you available to them in finding a Mission Australia – or should know about this publication? place to live.
SCREEN EDUCATION 6 Table 2
The home front Where do you go What longer term immediately? accommodation do you find?
You are fourteen and have dropped out of school. Your parents are angry about this and there is constant fighting. You walk out one day.
Your mum’s boyfriend is a heavy drinker and becomes violent and abusive to her and to you. After a really bad incident you decide anywhere’s better than home.
One of your parents has lost their job and as they are unable to pay the rent, they have decided to move to a country town. You’re not prepared to do this so you leave home and school.
There are so many people living on and off in your house that you have no privacy or space and there are constant arguments and fights. You leave.
To support a drug habit you start stealing from your family and they kick you out.
You become pregnant when you are fifteen. Your parents want you to have a termination but you are determined to have the baby. They make it clear you’re not welcome at home because of the shame you’ve brought on the family.
SCREEN EDUCATION 7 About Homelessness1 cities and towns; fifteen incidence of women and per cent find a bed in the children fleeing domestic • On any single night at least homeless service system. violence; decrease in 100,000 Australians are boarding house and other homeless, without safe, • Factors changing the nature of low-cost accommodation; secure or affordable housing. homelessness in recent years: shifts in patterns of substance While some find a bed in increased family breakdown; abuse and availability of a refuge, often run by a de-institutionalisation of illicit drugs; changes to the religious organisation, many people with psychiatric structure of the labour market more are turned away and illnesses and intellectual with fewer jobs for low-skilled sleep ‘rough’ on the streets or disabilities; increases in people. under bridges or in parks or in derelict buildings or cars. • One in every three homeless Australians (over 30,000) is aged between twelve and twenty-five. It is difficult to collect accurate figures on youth homelessness as much of it is hidden; many young people who are homeless stay with friends and family members, camp out or live in squats. • Every day, half the people who request immediate accommodation from the homeless service system are turned away. Two in every three children who need support are also turned away. • Where homeless Australians are staying: approximately half are staying temporarily with relatives or friends; twenty per cent are living in boarding houses and other temporary accommodation: fifteen per cent are sleeping rough on the streets of our
SCREEN EDUCATION 8 • More women experience homelessness than men. Domestic violence is the major cause of homelessness for women. • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are over represented in the homeless service system. While they comprise two to three per cent of the total population, they represent sixteen per cent of people using homeless assistance services. Rejection when a parent that they are unable to return. • Homelessness and mental re-partners illness are closely associated • Young people experience with substance abuse, poor Eviction or time out from a number of negative employment prospects, and family situation educational, social and health consequences as a result of the inability to secure and Ill health, alcohol or other being homeless. They spend maintain accommodation. drug misuse within less time in school; often the family Causes of Youth have behavioural problems Homelessness Pregnancy such as aggression, and • There are many reasons Sexual preference psychological problems why young people become including depression and low Family poverty and homeless, including: self-esteem. Drug and alcohol resulting stress abuse can compound these Relationship and family Premature school leaving, problems. conflict or breakdown school avoidance and About The Salvation Army Physical, sexual or failing at school emotional abuse The Salvation Army is a Mental illness Christian Church whose Domestic violence Low income or severe primary expression of religious Lack of support from economic hardship principles is directed to helping parents the poor and those in need. • Many kids may experience Inadequate emotional some of these things, but Each year they conduct their support, being blamed all often several of these factors Red Shield Appeal to raise the time and unresolved combine to cause young funds to continue their many grief or loss people to leave home and get social programs. The new into situations where they feel slogan for the annual appeal is
SCREEN EDUCATION 9 ‘We’re all in this together’. Most their own film premiere as part About the of the Salvos’ work is funded of a special training program through public donations and, with Foxtel. Filmmakers The Oasis was made with a as we see in the film, collecting Other organisations money on the streets and in relatively small crew. As you pubs where they sell their Apart from The Salvation Army watch the film think about why magazines is a regular part of there are many other groups this may be the case. throughout Australia involved members’ commitment to the Documentary crew: Church. in Youth Support work. They include Mission Australia, Directors: The Salvation Army web site Anglicare, St Vincent de Paul Sascha Ettinger Epstein at
SCREEN EDUCATION 10 Directors’ statement: Our inspiration to make the documentary was the awe- inspiring work of Captain Paul Moulds with the street kids of Sydney. Running through the parks, squats and boarding houses of the inner city, we were shocked and ashamed at the depths of squalor and deprivation these young people were facing at a time of apparent prosperity in Australia. We raised funding to make film, you could read about the the film, each group could focus the film from philanthropic experience of the filmmakers their attention on one or more foundations who shared our who worked on the film in the of the individuals in the film concern for the plight of young section entitled ‘The Making of and make notes on what we homeless people. Realising the The Oasis’. see and hear from this person about their background, their enormity of the problem, we Student Activity 2 raised additional philanthropic life challenges and aspirations. funding to establish an Watching the Film Watch too for how other family members are represented. independent commission into People’s Lives youth homelessness. As you follow these stories, This film shows what a complex consider how Paul and Robbin We hope this film, backed up and difficult issue youth Moulds provide a continuing by the independent report and homelessness is. In following presence in the kids’ lives. major outreach campaign, will the lives of several young give a confronting and moving people who have been assisted Use Table 3 (below) to record glimpse into a part of our by OASIS, we are taken on an your impressions. Later, share community largely ignored and emotional roller-coaster ride. your observations and see what forgotten, and have the power Drug abuse is shown to be one common aspects there are to to catalyse significant social of the biggest challenges in these stories. change. helping these disadvantaged – Ian Darling and Sascha kids. While there are some Ettinger Epstein common elements in these When you have completed the stories, each person’s story is an Student Activities in this guide individual one. Before watching which give you a chance to The Oasis, divide your class into respond to the stories in the several groups. As you watch
SCREEN EDUCATION 11 Table 3
Individual Their story about Particular challenges Where they are how they came to faced at with their lives OASIS today
Haley
Emma
Trent
Owen
Darren
Beau
Chris
Each of the young people psychiatric unit. During this time, You could write about the whose stories are featured in an OASIS team goes into his flat individual whose story you the film exemplifies a particular to clean it up before Beau, who focused on while watching aspect of homelessness, though has put on eighteen kilograms in the film. for many there is more than this time and looks and sounds Paul and Robbin Moulds one factor compounding the much better, returns home to his and their family difficulties they are facing. As cat. He is now on medication Paul Moulds says, ‘drugs are and we see Paul praying with • What sort of personal often just the surface’. Beau that his life may be more qualities do the Moulds have stable now. that make them able to do When Beau comes to see Paul, this work in the refuge every he is suffering from some kind of • Outline some of the other day and year after year? mental illness and is delusional. stories shown in the film He clearly needs professional and explain how OASIS • When did Paul Moulds start help. Paul organises a mental intervention and support has working with young people? health team to come in and helped different individuals. For me personally faith is a take Beau to hospital, where Keep in mind that not all kids’ sustaining element. On my he spends nine weeks in a lives can be turned around.
SCREEN EDUCATION 12 worst days, it’s not just about of Sydney to collect funds school, etc. they don’t want me; I believe that if you take to keep the programs going. a bar of it, and you’ve just Jesus seriously, you can’t live a Why do you think they do got to keep working away, life that is self-centred. this and is it a good use of offering, believing, giving them – Paul Moulds their time? What percentage experiences that are different to of their funds comes from what they’ve known. If they can The way we can best honour voluntary donations? just be inspired and grab hold of God is by persevering, not one of those things then we’re giving up, not allowing this • Describe any occasions getting somewhere. world to knock us down, to have shown in the film when courage and faith. Paul Moulds’ patience and • What do these comments – Paul Moulds optimism are especially tell us about Paul Moulds’ tested. optimism, idealism and • How do their Christian essentially realistic approach principles and religious faith People write them [the kids] off. to his work? underpin Paul and Robbin But behind that behaviour is a Moulds’ work? person; behind that person is • Apart from providing the journey that’s led them to emergency short-term • What is there in Paul’s that point. accommodation, what are childhood that he some of the programs offered acknowledges may have I go in thinking that today might through OASIS designed to influenced his choice to be the day for someone when change the patterns of many do this kind of work and it’s their day. of the kids’ lives? empathise with many of the Despite everything we’ve got, kids at OASIS? video programs, radio programs, • What do we see of Paul and Robbin’s home life that illustrates how they try to maintain ‘a balance’ between work and home life? • How do his own children, Nathan and Sarah, react to their parents’ shared commitment to other kids? • A wedding, a funeral and several births. How are these events shown to be part of the continuum of life for the Moulds family? • We see Paul and Ken rattling the Salvos tin on the streets
SCREEN EDUCATION 13 Ken DePena spend all his money and ruin Student Activity 3 himself … sometimes they don’t Ken has been working as a come back’. Chris Nock does The Heart of the Matter volunteer with the Salvation not come back. • What did you really think Army for more than fifty years. about these kids and how While he is obviously committed Ken’s view of the work is: OASIS helps and supports to making a difference, he does Our job is to encourage them them? voice some of the views people to move on, to get a job, to do in the wider community have something. You can’t stay idle • Living as these young people about working with these kids. all your life. That’s the problem do can hardly be seen as a He’s upset about the vandalism with the Welfare System … it ‘lifestyle choice’. Read the of the toilet, as is Paul Moulds doesn’t encourage working. It’s following observations made (‘don’t disrespect the place’) not what it should be … they’re by some of the kids appearing and the kids picking the roses encouraged to do nothing. in the film about their lives he has tended. When Paul and aspirations. lends Emma money to tide her • Given his long experience ‘I’m worried about myself. I’ve over till pension day, Ken says, working in this area, might been injecting ice and my life ‘it’s a never-ending story of there be something in what keeps going downhill.’ paying … I wonder how much Ken says, considering what – Chris to his mum on the they contribute to the Salvation he does year after year? phone from OASIS Army?’ When Chris Nock goes off with his money, Ken says, ‘My dream is to have kids, get ‘he’s off to King’s Cross to married, live in my own house, become a nurse.’ – Haley at fourteen when she first came to OASIS I was kicked out of home when I was fourteen because I didn’t get on with my mother’s boyfriend and I got bashed every day, and my mum was on drugs pretty bad. I hate it. I’m slowly disappearing. I’m losing it. – Haley at 22 When I was eleven, twelve, thirteen, I smoked heaps of ice and crystal. I didn’t care if I died. Nothing would make me happy. I loved getting stoned but I don’t love the way it
SCREEN EDUCATION 14 fucks you up in the head and turns you mental. – Owen ‘There’s gotta be something better at the end of this.’ – Darren at the end of his interview in squat What sorts of insights are revealed here and what are the factors that make it so difficult for many of the kids to make changes in their lives? Think about how difficult it can be for any of us to try to kick addictions, become teenage kids, e.g. Paul having ‘It’s their choice to be independent and resilient and breakfast with Darren, lending homeless.’ change our lives. Emma money, helping kids ‘Young girls who are move house, acting as an The drugs are just the surface streetworkers sell themselves intermediary between mother stuff. If people are going to get because they want to.’ over the addiction, it’s no good and son (Chris), finding them ‘No point giving money to just taking the drugs out of your jobs, having a heart to heart kids begging; they’ll just blow system when the hole in the chat, minding the baby. In it on drugs.’ heart is still there. what ways are these daily – Paul Moulds interactions important in ‘The families should be made everyone’s life? to take responsibility for their • How does the film show the kids.’ importance of employment Student Activity 4 and secure affordable housing ‘Anyone can find a job if they Confronting the realities to people wanting to get off want one. Why should we of prejudice through role drugs or alcohol? How does it support kids who don’t want playing demonstrate the importance to work?’ of loving relationships in • Here are a number of ‘Nothing ever changes mending ‘the hole in the things you may have heard for some kids; they’re heart’? people say about homeless just determined to write kids. In pairs, conduct the • Several scenes in this film themselves off.’ conversation you would have show Paul and Robbin Moulds with the person making each ‘It’s the drugs and grog responding to the kids in statement. Take turns in this that are at the heart of all situations that are quite role-playing exercise at being this stuff. We need tighter recognisable and common speaker and respondent. controls.’ between parents and their
SCREEN EDUCATION 15 Student Activity 5 homelessness. Try to be means to you. Homelessness honest about your feelings – with its linked connections to What are we going to do before looking at possible substance abuse, mental health about the current situation programs to make a problems, domestic violence, and how can we all take difference. Consider what we poor education attainment and responsibility in addressing see in the film about programs long-term unemployment – is at the complex issue of youth that can make a difference. the heart of this film. homelessness? How can the complex and Paul Moulds spends much of interrelated issues of family The Moulds have vast his time finding safe and secure breakdown, substance abuse, experience in working in this accommodation for the young unemployment and the area of youth at risk and use a people he works with. Initially, need for safe and affordable range of approaches to helping this may be in the form of short- housing be unraveled? What the people who come to OASIS. term crisis accommodation at kind of early intervention Early in the film Paul says, OASIS or other shelters, but needs to be undertaken with ‘these kids are pretty damaged his work is also about securing families and kids at risk of … the challenge is what are we and setting up people in their becoming homeless? Who going to do about it?’ own accommodation. As Darren should intervene and how? • Conduct a class forum about says when he is in his own what you think might be A place to call home place – ‘this is home’. the best ways to address The pre-viewing questions in At the end of the film, we see some of the problems and Activity 1 in this guide asked Owen, Darren, Emma and Trent, consequences of youth you to consider what home and Beau all living in their own places. Having a place to call home is increasingly difficult for many people in Australia today. As house prices, interest rates and rents rise, many people find themselves unable to find safe and affordable accommodation. Australia has very low levels of public housing – only five per cent of overall housing stock. More people are falling between a limited supply of emergency housing and some pretty rough alternatives, including the streets and parks, the car, or couches at a friend’s place. Job-searching from any of
SCREEN EDUCATION 16 these places is very difficult and for many people, not a priority in their daily hunt for a bed for the night. • As a group, brainstorm as many ideas as you can come up with for creating more affordable and safe housing for those thousands of Australians who are ‘falling between the cracks’. Think about what matters to you in choosing a place to live in and call home. Be as bold and radical as you like in devising solutions, e.g. turning movie.com.au> to read full Moulds, ask for food vouchers, every city car park into low-cost statements from the filmmakers) have a shower and access or mixed housing for people, various support services. legislating that developers of Spending over a year immersed apartment blocks set aside a in the chaotic world of an The first major hurdle was to number of apartments in each inner-city youth refuge is an overcome the rumour that I was development for low-income eye-opener for even the most an undercover police agent tenants, converting empty hardened streetwise city dweller. which many kids, especially shop-top dwellings into housing Fights, drug psychoses, teenage those heavily into crime and for people in need. Think pregnancy, police busts – the drugs, were convinced of! outside the current solutions, culture of the streets is one of After I shook off that stigma, many of which have failed. never-ending turbulence. But and proved that I could keep OASIS is also a place rich with up on missions around the Making The Oasis inspiring workers and colourful neighbourhood, the young Read through the following characters, who have each lived people really began to let me statements about the challenges through intense experiences into their world. Kids as young in making this film before in their short lives, and whose as fourteen were eking out an answering the questions in stories are rarely heard but existence washing car windows Activity 6. definitely worth telling. for small change, eating at charity food vans, squatting in Sascha Ettinger Epstein, I arrived at OASIS in December abandoned buildings, sleeping co-director of the film, spent 2005 knowing no-one, and rough in parks in mid-winter. It over a year working as the just started hanging around in was shocking that in the new principal cinematographer on the carpark with my camera, millennium, in a rich western the Oasis shoot. Here is part of trying to fall in with the locals country, kids are still subject to her account of the experience. who congregate every day to such serious deprivation. (visit SCREEN EDUCATION 17 who were paranoid about the camera. Aside from running wild with the kids, what I found fascinating and deeply enjoyable was spending time with Paul. With him as my guide I was able to access places (like detox centres and hospitals) I had never seen and get a great insight into the situation of youth homelessness. What frequently amazed me was the resilience of Paul and his deep belief, despite being lied to, ripped off, and abused, that every kid could be salvaged from the wreckage of his or her life, no Days of shooting were often started to get interesting, as the matter how horrific the past had uneventful and there were streets come alive with ‘shady been. Every day he was dealing long patches of ‘hanging activities’ easier to get away with with problems on a practical around’ where nothing actually under the cover of darkness. level. Paul’s connection with happened. Despite always There were food vans to visit, the young people was so warm needing basic necessities like fences to climb, abandoned it transcended any notion of food and accommodation, buildings to explore. Aside from mere ‘youth work’. He is literally the kids often prioritised less being curious adventurers with surrogate father to a whole productive pursuits, such as the city as their playground, community of dispossessed kids. drugs and alcohol, driven by the kids did need to find places Paul ultimately aims to keep their addictions and mental to sleep and hang out where the kids alive and safe from as illnesses. Hanging around they would be out of the cold, much harm as possible until watching young people get safe from street predators, and they can start to make positive wasted and burn their brain away from the police. Things changes in their lives. He just cells is not particularly inspiring weren’t all just fun and bright never gives up. And his manner but such is the reality of street lights though. The streets do of dealing with every person, life – unfortunately even kids this get wilder at night with drugs from Ken to a kid in the most young have been through so and prostitution really upping dire situation, was always one of much and find reality so bleak, the various dangers. I generally absolute dignity and patience. that they try to escape their felt safe when I was out with a problems by getting ‘off their crew of OASIS kids no matter It was inevitable that the face’. where we roamed, as they often making of this project and protected me if I came under immersion in this world would Dusk was usually when things attack from other ‘streeties’ have a profound impact on me SCREEN EDUCATION 18 personally. Probably the most of person they are below the the establishment of an unnerving event I filmed was surface or what kind of life they independent National Youth Darren having his ice psychosis have lived. Alongside the cruelty Commission, culminating in as he was very erratic and and barbarism of street culture the release of a comprehensive no-one knew what he was I witnessed generosity and report to accompany the film. capable of doing after such a compassion beyond my greatest Directors: massive amount of drugs. The expectations, and encountered hardest thing for me as a female kids with enough humour and Stylistically we all shared the from a supportive family, was wit to keep me entertained for same vision and had embarked observing the number of young weeks. The really enriching thing on the project with a taste for girls who fell pregnant, often to about entering a world you are cinéma-vérité, a flavour which boys who didn’t care about them unfamiliar with is that seeing life we felt would most effectively or were too caught up in drug from a different vantage point show the reality of life at a addictions to help out. From the really helps to broaden your youth refuge. The general journeys of the girls I witnessed it perspective on the world. desire was to create a sense was obvious that being a young of reality unfolding without too Please view SCREEN EDUCATION 19 Editor: could tell our story without an make it sound more up beat. outside narrator’s voice and in a This time I was told to make Because of the observational sense that is what Paul’s voice the music darker on a regular nature of the film and because becomes. Paul’s own story and basis! When you hear the kids’ we wanted the kids’ voices that of his family and faith was stories and put the score into above all to be heard, we vital, but he was also the figure context, although it is dark, decided at the outset that we that would guide us through the it is absolutely right. I feel we would not use a formal narrator. lives of those kids whose stories achieved a real emotional We are often TOLD about the we featured. honesty in the soundtrack lives of homeless kids – in without going into sentimentality newspaper articles and more Where certain factual elements and the dark beauty that current affairs type television were missing we chose to use the directors leant towards programming – but we wanted text on screen but always tried is fortunately just about my the kids to TELL their stories to edit this to the absolute favourite place to be, musically. themselves and if we needed minimum so as not to take the an anchor or guide that we audience ‘out’ of the story. Student Activity 6 would use the one person Composer: whom they all trusted and who The Making of The Oasis often knew them better than Stylistically the music sits in • What do you think was the members of their own family. a very dark place, which is motivation of the filmmakers That person was Paul Moulds. natural to me. I am usually in making this documentary? We firmly believed that we told to ‘brighten up’ a cue or • Why do you think the staff and some of the kids at OASIS were prepared to have their stories told on film? • Over what time frame was this documentary filmed? • Who are people appearing in this film talking to – the camera, the camera operator, other film crew, an unseen and unheard interviewer? • How might the presence of a camera and outsiders change behaviours and responses? • How does the editing work in moving the viewer between situations and individuals? Is the narrative sequenced in a way that allows us to SCREEN EDUCATION 20 see both the progress and setbacks? • The soundtrack of this film includes a lot of street background noises of ambulance and police sirens; this is layered with the raw language of the kids and interspersed with people telling their stories. There is also music in the background at some points. Is this mix of sounds distracting for the viewer or does it provide a The challenge of managing back on their findings as a gritty realism? homelessness in ‘the lucky prelude to developing a national approach to effectively making • Unlike some observational country’ – political social a difference to this situation. documentaries, there is no and financial issues voice-over linking stories in During the 2007 Federal Election • Are governments the best this film. Why do you think the campaign, the leader of the people to initiate and filmmakers chose not to use a then-opposition Labor Party, fund programs to take a narrator? Kevin Rudd, now Prime Minister, comprehensive approach to reducing the numbers of • How does the text information visited a homeless shelter in homeless young people and that appears periodically on Melbourne one night. This was dealing with their issues, screen provide background not covered by the media as such as a lack of affordable without impeding the story? it was unheralded and not an official campaign activity. He and suitable housing, drug • Describe three scenes which was reported much later as and alcohol abuse and best demonstrate the positive having been moved by the plight unemployment? influence of the unshakeable of these people and impressed • Recently, Federal support and concern by both staff and volunteers Government intervention in demonstrated by the Moulds. who worked there. One of aboriginal communities, to • Describe three scenes with Rudd’s first acts on assuming protect children, has had the kids that you found Government was to ask all bi-partisan Government especially emotionally Members of Parliament to make support, though not powerful. it one of their first priorities everyone thinks it is the to visit a homeless shelter in • How do you think watching best way to address the their electorate and talk to the a film like The Oasis might problems. Who is best people who were staying there make a difference to people’s placed to devise, fund and those who work with them. lives and the work of The and manage intervention The MPs were then to report Salvation Army? programs to address SCREEN EDUCATION 21 Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. The NYC report and the OASIS documentary were released in April 2008. The report is viewable at: SCREEN EDUCATION 22 To prevent more young volunteer work at Oasis. Half the cost of each magazine people becoming homeless sold goes to the seller. Owen is attending a film & TV we need to find lasting training program and wants to Books solutions based on what be a cameraman. works. Justin Healey (ed.), Issues in Beau is studying at TAFE. He Society, Homelessness, volume (Note: the establishment of continues to live in independent 243, The Spinney Press, 2006. OASIS in 1990 was a direct housing with his cat. result of recommendations in Justin Healey (ed.), Issues in the 1989 Burdekin Report into Emma and Trent are busy caring Society, The Homeless, volume youth homelessness.) for Destiny and Malakai. They 159, The Spinney Press, 2002. are in weekly contact with Paul Many people, including Andrew Byrne, Homeless: true at Oasis kids who have experienced stories of life on the streets, homelessness, have talked to How is Paul Moulds’ optimism New Holland, 2005. vindicated by what we see and the commissioners conducting Helen Sykes (ed.), Youth read on screen about some of the 2007 inquiry. You can Homelessness: Courage and the kids at the end of the film? read more about this Inquiry Hope, Melbourne University at SCREEN EDUCATION 23 characters; read statements The Oasis Youth Support http://www.documentary from the filmmakers about Network site with information australia.com.au/da/index.php aspects of the filmmaking about the range of programs Documentary Australia’s web process; hear the soundtrack; offered to young people. site outlining their principles and view updates to characters over guides to assist in making issue http://www.salvos.org.au/ time; download the report and based documentaries. about-us/news-and-resources/ view many links to government documents/OTSAUT06web.pdf http://www.lifeline.org.au/ and community service find_help/24_hour_counselling agencies. Stories profiling the work of The Salvation Army, including the _service http://www.abc.net.au/tv/ work of Robbin and Paul Moulds. Lifeline 24 Hour Counselling – oasis 13 11 14 The ABC hosted site for the film http://www.salvoaudio.com/ screening on ABC on 10 April sermon/captain_paul_moulds. http://www.kidshelp.com.au/ 2008. You can view a streamed htm home_KHL.aspx?s=6 copy of the film here. Watch a video of a talk Paul Kids help Line – 1800 55 1800: Moulds gave in 2007 about http://www.nyc.net.au http://www.getup.org.au the 1989 Burdekin Report into The National Youth Commission youth homelessness and about Getup! – Action for Australia All into Youth Homelessness web the new 2007 Report being websites accessed 27 March site outlining the Commission’s prepared. Hear his views on 2008. terms of reference and method what happens at OASIS and and download the report. his hopes for this documentary Marguerite O’Hara is a freelance to raise awareness and lead http://www.salvos.org.au/ writer from Melbourne. to better targeted and funded need-help/youth-issues/ programs. Endnote The Salvation Army site giving 1 From Justin Healey (ed.), an overview of the range of http://www.afho.org.au Issues in Society, Homeless- services they provide for young Australian Federation of ness, volume 243, The people. Homeless Organisations. Spinney Press, 2006, This study guide was produced by ATOM © ATOM 2007 [email protected] For more information on Screen Education magazine or to download other free study guides visit www.metromagazine.com.au For hundreds of articles on Film as Text, Screen Literacy, Multiliteracy and Media Studies, visit www.theeducationshop.com.au Education and Outreach funding provided by SCREEN EDUCATION 24