Oathman Fazilahmed honours the child he lost by opening crisis accommodation and wellness centre in Mount Gambier CBD

After tragically losing his 18-month-old child, Oathman Fazilahmed found purpose in helping others as he looks to open crisis accommodation beds in the heart of Mount Gambier.

After tragically losing his 18-month-old daughter Hadiya, South East resident and Zimbabwe migrant Oathman Fazilahmed has found strength in his loss by providing a “safe haven” for Mount Gambier’s most vulnerable.

Mr Fazilahmed said he discovered helping people was his purpose in life after losing Hadiya following a liver transplant, which inspired him to open a new 10-bed crisis accommodation service in the town.

“I could have broken down, but I found strength through her death,” he said.

“I want everyone to know that mental illness affects everyone, but you can use the things that have happened to you and try and change the world.”

Mr Fazilahmed has spent the last 12 months working with his mother Sibi Thompson, helping her run and expand Serene Country Living, a regional mental health facility launched to combat a critical lack of services in the South East.

After losing his 18-month old child Oathman Fazilahmed found his purpose, gaining strength from helping others, setting up 10 crisis accommodation beds in the heart of the Mount Gambier CBD after he helped his mother establish and expand Serene Country Living. Picture: Supplied

Looking to continue the family legacy, Mr Fazilahmed will open Gushungo Support Services in the heart of the Mount Gambier CBD, with the centre named in honour of the family’s totem.

Similar to a family sigil, Mr Fazilahmed said his grandmother had a cow on her farm in Zimbabwe, which also bore the name Gushungo.

“Gushungo has many different meaning (across Africa), but for me it’s about love and acceptance for everyone — that’s the value my grandmother installed in us,” he said.

The centre will be a “safe haven”, operating as a community day service for people living with disability, those who identify is LGBTQIA+ and offer drop-in services for people who are struggling with their mental health Mr Fazilahmed said.

“We have now barriers, anyone in the community who needs a safe haven can talk to someone — we will be a referral service and work with all mental health agencies,” he said.

Training and qualification programs aimed at upskilling across a number of industries will also be on offer at the centre, with potential jobs offered to successful participants.

As a migrant Mr Fazilahmed said he was “disgruntled” when he saw the number of homeless people sleeping rough — despite the wealth and available land in Australia.

“I kept walking up and down and seeing people sleeping in shop front stoops,” he said.

“I’m a member of this community and I thought, ‘how can there still be homeless people here — in a city of 30,000?”

By the end of February, Gushungo Support Services will have roughly 10 crisis accommodation beds available on Friday nights.

“Homeless people can come, shower, eat and stay for the night,” Mr Fazilahmed said.

Located on Elizabeth St, near Kaboom Family Entertainment, the centre is still undergoing its fit-out, though it is on track to open on January 15.