OnFire !

Frequently Asked Questions about ON FIRE !

What is the vision and purpose of ON FIRE ! ?

At ON FIRE ! we are inspired to provide children and young people (whose parents or siblings have mental health issues) with opportunities to learn, grow, and flourish!

We do this by providing children and young people with opportunities for:
- Peer support and friendship
- Fun and leisure
- Learning valuable life skills
- Making a positive contribution in the community

ON FIRE ! activities are facilitated within a positive, strengths-based, peer-support framework that enables children and young people to further develop their resilience and wellbeing.

What activities does ON FIRE ! provide?

ON FIRE ! provides a range of peer support, life skills development, & leisure activities.

These fun and exciting activities include:
- Camps, Fun Day Outings and sleepovers
- Peer Support Groups
- Creative Expression Groups
- Skills 4 Life Groups
- Mental Health Learning Groups, and a,
- Personal Coaching Program

Young people play a key role in choosing activities - making sure these are fun, interesting, & relevant.

Who are ON FIRE ! ?

ON FIRE ! are a group of volunteers who share a common purpose to promote the mental health & well-being of children and young people living in Sydney, whose parents or siblings have mental health issues.

ON FIRE ! is a not-for-profit community group that is volunteer led & driven. These volunteers have a range of professional, business, & life experiences. A significant number of these volunteers work in mental health. Volunteers receive training & support. All leaders complete mandatory child protection documentation.

ON FIRE ! is a Major Winner of the Eli Lilly Partnerships in Well-being Award

Which young people do ON FIRE ! work with?

Children and young people (generally 8 – 18 years), whose parents or siblings have mental health issues. Our target area is children and young people from Southern and Eastern Sydney but children and young people from other parts of Sydney are also very welcome.

ON FIRE ! does not work with young people who have significant self-harm, aggressive (especially bullying), or 'acting out' behaviours. ON FIRE ! expect children and young people to cooperate with leaders and treat their peers with respect.

Other forms of support can be recommended for children and young people who have significant needs, or who are not able to behave in a manner consistent with the positive peer culture that has already been established at ON FIRE !

How was ON FIRE ! established?

ON FIRE ! was created in early 2001, following the desire of a small group of people to make a positive difference in the Australian community. Young people whose parents or siblings have mental health issues were chosen as the group to support because of the notable lack of direct support for these young people and their families (Burdekin Report 1993).

One of the many inspirations for the creation of ON FIRE ! was the work of the Moore Park Recreation Centre, which provided a range of opportunities for local young people. It is hoped that ON FIRE ! will in turn, serve as a catalyst & inspiration for other people, to make a positive difference.

Who supports and funds ON FIRE ! ?

ON FIRE ! proudly works in partnership with the Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW Inc (SFNSW). The Fellowship provides the auspices and other much needed support for ON FIRE! activities.

ON FIRE ! is totally funded by the generosity of the community. Community organisations, businesses, and individuals provide tax-deductible donations, in-kind support, and sponsorships to support young people whose parents or siblings have mental health issues.

Who is ON FIRE ! managed by?

ON FIRE ! is a delegated authority of the SFNSW Inc. Nickolas Yu is the volunteer ON FIRE ! Coordinator. He has expertise in mental health, coaching and leadership development. Nickolas has the pleasure of working with a number of talented & dedicated volunteers who have a range of professional, business, & life experiences.

Why support children and young people whose parents or siblings have mental health issues?

It is estimated that there are about 300 000 young people whose parents have mental health issues in Australia today. The experiences of and outcomes for these young people vary considerably.

"These young people have the potential to develop significant strengths and resilience as a result of their growing up experiences. These young people also have associated risks having a parent with mental health issues " (The Schizophrenias, NSW Health & SFNSW 2001).

Supporting young people and their families can help make the difference.

How can you support ON FIRE ! ?

The valuable work of ON FIRE ! is made possible because of the generosity and commitment of volunteers and community support.

If you would like to assist in some way, contact SFNSW on 98792600 or Nickolas on 0413294808:
- Let us know about organisations, businesses, and individuals that may be interested in supporting ON FIRE ! in some way eg tax-deductible donations, sponsorships, discounts. Please make cheques payable to: The Schizophrenia Fellowship NSW (ON FIRE !)
- Tell people about ON FIRE !
- Refer potential volunteers & young people