Mental Health:
Headspace: Christina Molina (Clinical Lead) and the Headspace team have been extremely busy since the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic. Below is Christina’s report:
Headspace continues to offer phone and video counselling, as well as limited face to face appointments which are offered to young people who are struggling with the extended lockdown.
We are seeing a large number of young people who are struggling with remote learning (losing motivation), increased social isolation, year 11 and 12 stress and what the future will look like (education/employment access), and unfortunately, family violence.
We continue to host a range of services online including Social Groups for young people. Options for Young People to speak to a peer worker to create a social connection. Our Peer worker Maria is also providing online forums and groups via Facebook for parents to connect into.
Our GP clinics continue to be busy with young people concerned about their health due to the pandemic – this has allowed us to provide greater health literacy to young people.
Our wait times to provide service to young people is between 1 – 2 weeks.
Our Rotary Mental Health Virtual Forum has been put on hold until things begin to settle and at which time further contact will be made with Greg de Moore.
LIFT THE LID on Mental Health: Tuesday 13th October - a flyer will be emailed to all members as soon as we have set plans for the event.
We have fortunately been able to provide aid to the disadvantaged community in Greater Dandenong during the lockdown. Details below.
SPRINGVALE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY:
Joe Rechichi has reported that he is extremely relieved that SBS are doing very well, rather than being confronted by a disastrous situation which he was expecting.
He reported that they currently have around 60 families on their books and are working on delivering food packages to families on a 3-week roster i.e. 20 families per week.
Joe is very diligent and cautious with the screening of new clients to ensure the help required is genuine.
He is very pleased that many of the families are registered with Centrelink and therefore have been receiving financial support. This enables him to focus on those who are most desperate and with no income.
Joe was offered financial support from our club, however he said that they are currently coping but his biggest worry is Christmas. He has been assured that our Club will provide support at Christmas, just as we did last year.
Springvale Benevolent Society Charity details:
Contact: Joe Rechichi (President)
Address: 1 Lightwood Rd Springvale VIC 3171
Charity Size:
Small
Who the charity helps:
Families
Financially disadvantaged people
Migrants, refugees or asylum seekers
People at risk of homelessness/ people experiencing homelessness
People with chronic illness (including terminal illness)
People with disabilities
Pre/post release offenders and/or their families
Unemployed persons
Victims of crime (including family violence)
Date established:
1961
Summary of activities:
They provide emergency relief in the Greater Dandenong Area in the form of provision of emergency relief services including but not limited to food vouchers, food items, clothes, blankets and other household items (e.g. kitchen utensils) as they become available to SBS.
They are one of, if not, the only charity in the area that conducts house visits which allow them to help clients who are unable to access transport.
Referring of clients to other non-profit or government services which may be of assistance to them (e.g. financial planning services, translators to assist with paperwork or forms, free meal providers)
CORNERSTONE:
As most of you will be aware, Cornerstone have put their meal service on hold and are providing food packages to those in need. Over the past month they distributed 760 food packages to families in Greater Dandenong on Tuesdays & Fridays.
Using some of the funds donated by our members, we were able to do an online shop with Coles Endeavour Hills last week, this provided many items that Cornerstone were in short supply of.
The order was collected from Coles by Naomi on Friday morning. Member donations of 4 bags of groceries were delivered to Naomi last week also.
St. James Anglican Church - Dandenong.
The Monday lunch 'take-away' meal service is going extremely well with between 70 & 90 meals provided each week.
Colin & Leanne have been able to assist Graeme Peters and his amazing group of volunteers with this service.
SWAGS: Four swags have been donated to St.James to be given to anyone sleeping rough. One of the swags had been provided to a person in need just a few days after they arrived. Thanks to Phillip Thurgood for organising the order and delivery.
EMERALD BAKERY FUNDRAISING Pie/Cake Drive:
Order forms will be emailed to members at the end of next week. We encourage all members to ask friends and family to support this fundraiser which will assist with funds for the ‘Meals for the Disadvantaged’ Project.
Leanne will follow up with Emerald Bakery regarding a delivery date, prior to sending out the order forms.