Reaching out

By Lia Bichel
HAMPTON Park residents in need of jobs, health services or other counselling will be able to jump on a bus to receive personalized assistance.
The mobile Employment and Community Health Outreach and Advisory service will be located in Stuart Avenue car park from 10am until 4pm on Wednesdays.
The mobile outreach service allows residents to receive access to free employment services and community health services such as assistance with job seeking and referrals to women’s, men’s, youth and children’s programs, refugee health clinics and personal, family and financial counselling.
City of Casey Manager of Community Strengthening Janette Green said the initiative was the first of it’s kind in the municipality and was developed after community consultation was undertaken in 2008 to develop a Local Action Plan for Hampton Park Community Renewal (HPCR).
Ms Green said the consultation identified a need for specialist services for Hampton Park.
“A Hampton Park Community Renewal project officer, working in partnership with South East Local Learning and Employment Network (SELLEN), negotiated with Job Service Australia to attract employment services to Hampton Park,” Ms Green said.
“In September this year, SELLEN put HPCR in touch with the Green Cross Organisation who operate the Green Cross Outreach Bus.
“Green Cross offered the outreach bus, enabling Echo Australia, a job service agency, and Southern Health Community Health Services to join forces and provide the six-month free advisory service to the residents of Hampton Park.
“The delivery of this service is due to the continued advocacy, persistence and expertise of the Hampton Park Community Renewal team to encourage service providers to service the community of Hampton Park.”
Bookings are not needed to jump on board the bus.
For more information, contact Hampton Park Community Renewal on 8787 5570.