CLIENT SERVICES
COMMUNITY INFORMATION AND REFERRAL
The Client Services team provides a range of
programs and services including an information,
support and referral service to connect
our community to the people, services and
organisations they need.
Our community information volunteers have
been busy ensuring community members had
access to services, community groups and
other activities in the local area.
Through emergency relief and case management
services, we provide financial and other support
to those experiencing hardship. This includes our
successful housing brokerage project which helps
people access the private rental market through
the provision of no interest loans.
Whittlesea Connect Community Transport Service
provides transport for disadvantaged Whittlesea
residents who have trouble getting to health
appointments, social groups and other important
commitments.
Whittlesea Volunteer Resource Service connects
individuals looking for volunteering opportunities
with organisations seeking volunteers.
ACHIEVEMENTS
$160,834
7,064
4,600
1,733
1,099
940
906
448
352
280
178
50
Distributed in Emergency Relief
Community transport trips
Community information contacts made
Emergency relief assessments made
Casework appointments provided
Community members assisted towards volunteering
People registered for Community Transport
Tax help appointments provided
Community group trips provided
Individuals assisted with intensive casework
Local volunteers trained
Registered organisations
Whittlesea Community Connections Annual Report 2014 -15
WCC partnered with Community Information
and Support Victoria this year to deliver our
own 9 week course for our new volunteers.
The certified course prepares our volunteers
for working with vulnerable clients and
ensures they have the confidence to support
people seeking assistance. 7 students
graduated from the course, most of whom are
still volunteering with WCC.
Highlight: This year, our International
Women’s Day celebration was held at the City
of Whittlesea offices. A new award structure
was adopted to ensure that all nominees
were recognized rather than just those who
received awards. Congratulations to the 14
women who were acknowledged for the
amazing contributions they have made to the
local community.
EMERGENCY RELIEF AND CASEWORK SUPPORT
During 2014-15, our ER volunteers assisted
clients with a range of challenges including
access to food, medication, education
expenses and housing costs to name a
few. We accessed a further $27,000 in
discretionary funds to support clients with
access to medical equipment, whitegoods,
baby items and other essentials.
This year, ER services across the nation took
a hit with the national budget for Emergency
Relief Services decreasing by around 20%.
This will no doubt have an impact on the
level of assistance we are able to provide to
community members and has caused great
concern and anxiety across the sector.
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