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Welcome...
UnitingCare West is committed to achieving justice, hope and opportunity for all, and works to support and empower in particular those most in need in the WA community. It is a not for profit community services organisation and part of the mission of the Uniting Church in Australia and UnitingCare national network.
We are delivering creative and innovative programs and services in several locations covering the Synod of Western Australia (the geographic area south of Broome.) Our aim is to locate our services where people most in need can easily access them.
The agencies that formed UnitingCare West have been serving the community of Western Australia since 1830 and touch the lives of many thousands of families and individuals each year.
Financial Boost for Most in Need
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The Honourable Jenny Macklin, Federal Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs presented a cheque for $300,000 to UnitingCare West during her visit in February.
The money will go towards providing emergency relief services for families and individuals facing financial hardship in Stirling, Joondalup, Wanneroo and Swan.
This substantial increase in funding is welcomed by Chris Hall, Chief Executive Officer of Uniting Care West.
“With emergency relief requests we struggle to meet the demand. The effect from the global financial crisis means we are seeing more West Australians looking for immediate help from community service organisations.
“UnitingCare West assists on average 330 families and individuals per month who are seeking emergency relief, yet each week we are forced to turn away many because we do not have the funds to assist them.
“In the last seven months, we have had to turn away 2,175 individuals and families, that equates to 77 people a week” said Mr Hall.
Emergency relief provides support for socially disadvantaged people with assistance given for utility bills, rent, food, clothing, accommodation or any other crisis needs.
“Often people can get caught in unforeseen circumstances and need emergency relief to help tide them over. The loss of a job, a relationship breakdown, some ill health or changed circumstances can lead to people who never thought that they would ever need assistance coming into the UnitingCare West centres. UnitingCare West aims to make this process as smooth as possible and assist with the maze of services.” said Mr Hall
UnitingCare West not only provides emergency relief but financial counselling, budgeting, and support to those most in need in our community.
“Our role is to not just give ‘hand outs’ but to educate low income earners to live within their means and to become financially stable. We do this by short term crisis management and long term prevention strategies” said Mr Hall.
The cheque presentation was made at UnitingCare West’s new Inner City Centre which was officially opened by the Premier of Western Australia last week.
Emergency relief and financial counselling are delivered from this centre as well as a centre in Merriwa which is where these funds are destined.
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Premier Opens First Integrated Service to Help Homeless
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WA Premier the Hon Colin Barnett MLA officially opened UnitingCare West's new multi-million dollar centre in
During the visit, the Premier was shown around the new facilities by Chris Hall, CEO of UnitingCare West, and Wendie Wilkie, chair of the UnitingCare West Board.
The Premier took time to learn more about the services which would be offered at the centre, which is now WA’s first integrated service response centre for homelessness.
He commended the work of UnitingCare West and said his government was looking for more opportunities to partner with community services.
The
For the first time, it will bring together a host of specialist services and programs to provide a ‘one stop’ location from which individuals and families can access a range of support services.
During his address to guests, Mr Hall said UnitingCare West was seeing more and more people who were struggling to make ends meet, and with the rise in the cost of living and in food and essential services such as electricity, he said demand for the organisation’s services would continue to increase.
“This centre is essentially a one stop shop and will provide people with a range of support services at one location so they don’t have to navigate a maze of services in different locations,” Mr Hall said.
“People may visit the centre when they need help with a short term crisis, but our aim is to work with clients using an integrated holistic approach. We are providing ongoing guidance with a focus on longer-term strategies and solutions.”
UnitingCare West was also privileged to have students from the Wesley College Moorditj Mob Program dance at the opening ceremony.
The building in which the centre is housed was purchased by UnitingCare West, the
The new service has also received additional government funding and corporate support this year, in addition to a grant from Lotterywest, which also contributed around $2 million to refurbish the building.
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Annual Public Meeting attracts large crowd of supporters
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UnitingCare West was delighted that over 100 supporters attended its third Annual Public Meeting on Tuesday 10 November.
Held at the Uniting Church in the city, the organisation was also extremely honoured to welcome the President of the National Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia, Reverend Alistair Macrae, who was our guest speaker.
During the afternoon event, CEO Chris Hall and Chair of the Board, Wendie Wilkie, welcomed guests and there was an opening reflection provided by UnitingCare West’s Mission Development Leader Robert Watson.
During the meeting, Mr Hall outlined how UnitingCare West had helped to make a very real difference to the quality of the lives of around 30,000 West Australians during 2009.
“We currently provide over 30 community services and programs at 27 locations throughout the Perth metropolitan area, with some outreach into the south west region of the state,” Mr Hall said.
“Our services are crucial, they help people who are homeless, who are battling mental health issues or substance abuse, or who are in need of crisis assistance.”
During his speech, Mr Hall also acknowledged the commitment and passion shown by UnitingCare West’s staff members and volunteers throughout the year.
“I acknowledge with great pride the dedication and hard work of all our staff and volunteers at UnitingCare West,” he added
“As an organisation, we reflect on the last twelve months with much appreciation and we look to the next twelve months with a great deal of excitement.”
UnitingCare Australia
Please click here for UnitingCare Australia www.unitingcare.org.au