The Mandurah Conference of St Vincent de Paul is opening its Community Support Centre on Monday the 31st October.
The Conference has been operating and emergency relief office catering to the poor or disadvantaged in the Mandurah area through assistance with food, clothing, furniture, household goods and some bills and expenses. The development of this operation into a more holistic service which will not only look after the immediate issues but will assist in the provision of help and guidance designed to provide long term benefits to people in need.
With this in mind the new support centre will provide clients with the necessary information, guidance, advocacy and other associated services that will enable the root causes for their condition to be addressed and rectified. The centre will try and live the Society’s aim of “giving a hand up not just a hand out”.
Additional services that will be available from the centre include:
- Assistance with NILS and Step Up Loans through the National Australia Bank.
- Tenancy advocacy and assistance through Peel Community Legal
- Welfare advocacy through the Department of Human Affairs
- Financial Counselling
- Financial Literacy training and guidance
- Gambling help financial counseling
- Assistance with development of Resumes and guidance on job interview protocols
- Drug and alcohol related issues through Palmerston House referrals
- Tax assistance including tax return help
- Mental Health First Aid with referrals to Peel Mental Health
- Medical advice from a visiting Nurse – shared service with Passages.
- Assistance for homeless – provision of swags etc.
Appointment for the above services will be made on allocated days for each of these services.
This Support service has been made possible by the generosity of:
- The Government of WA – Department of Regional Development through a Royalties for Regions Grant
- PEACH – Personnel employed at Alcoa Charity Help
- ALCOA of Australia
- Agencies providing the specialist services including Peel Community Legal, Department of Human affairs, Anglicare, West Aus Crisis, Finucare Financial Counselling, Peel Mental Health, Palmerston House, Uniting Church and many others.
- Donations of cash and items from the generous public of WA.
