Woodside Energy and TV renovator team up to transform DAYS

Mission Australia’s Drug and Alcohol Youth Service (DAYS) in Perth’s Carlisle is receiving a much-needed makeover this week thanks to volunteers from Woodside Energy and designer Christie Blizzard. 

During the week, 110 volunteers from various Woodside Energy departments will paint, scrub, fit lighting and assemble new furniture with the aim of making DAYS a more comfortable place for young people.

The DAYS Residential Rehabilitation Service provides supervised accommodation for young people with substance abuse problems.

DAYS, which also has a detox unit in East Perth, is a partnership between the State Government’s Drug and Alcohol Office and Mission Australia. It offers intensive support through counselling and educational groups in areas such as substance abuse, legal issues and health.

The Woodside Energy volunteers began their week-long project on Monday, with the team from Woodside’s Business Unit cleaning the walls, sanding and using paint kindly donated by Taubmans to transform both inside and out.

Professional interior designer Christie Blizzard, who has appeared on Channel Ten's The Renovators, was also on hand to motivate the volunteers and help them to bring her vision to life.

Teams from Woodside’s Liquid Nitro Gas and the Oil and Gas division will roll their sleeves up on Tuesday and Friday, with professionals coming in mid-week to work on the flooring.

Mission Australia WA State Director Melissa Perry said the makeover was she was looking forward to joining the volunteers at work.

"DAYS Residential Rehabilitation Service opened 10 years ago and has been operating at capacity ever since, so a fresh new look will be welcomed not only by the young people who stay there, but by the great people who work there," Ms Perry said.

"Woodside Energy employees have done an outstanding job supporting Mission Australia over the past 11 years, raising well over $300,000 and giving so much of their time to help with projects like this.

"It's a wonderful relationship which demonstrates the great good that can be achieved in the community when corporate Australia lends its support to such a worthy cause.”

Current DAYS residents are spending a week at a camp while the work is being carried out. The aim is to paint the building, fit it with new lighting and tiles, floor coverings, beds, towels, linen and desks – all selected by Ms Blizzard - ready for the young residents to return to on the weekend.

Many thanks to all of the volunteers from Woodside Energy, who are not only funding the project, but also donating their time. This project follows on from the Beds for Christmas project in late 2010, which saw volunteers decorate six bedrooms at Mission Australia’s Youth Accommodation and Support Service (YASS) in Perth.