Mobile Office to visit outback Queensland
Queensland media release
Friday, 12 March 2010
The Australian Government Mobile Office will be offering easy access to a wide range of Government payments and services when it begins a 6-week 14,000 kilometre tour through Central and North West Queensland later this month.
The Mobile Office is designed to improve access to Government services for people living in remote and rural communities by bringing together many services and payments offered through Centrelink and Medicare Australia.
"These mobile offices travel to small communities across Australia, particularly those that don’t have easy access to a Centrelink or Medicare office,” said Mobile Office Team Leader, Kathryn Sock.
"The friendly and experience staff on board the Mobile Office live and work in rural communities and can provide information, assistance and support to seniors, students, families, farmers, graziers and small businesses."
The Centrelink Rural Services Officers, Rural Social Workers and Psychologists, and Medicare Australia staff on board can assist with:
- new claims for a wide range of Centrelink payments
- drought assistance claims for farmers and small businesses that depend on agriculture for their livelihood
- updating Centrelink and Medicare Australia customer information
- confirming customer documents and supporting information
- information on how financial matters may impact on Centrelink payments
- payment and service options to suit individual circumstances
- non-cash Medicare Australia transactions such as arranging cheque or EFTPOS claim payments
- Medicare Australia enrolments
- social work support and referrals.
Kathryn said the Mobile Office is an extension of the successful Drought Bus program, which provided information and support to drought-affected farmers.
"We are still here for farmers and graziers, but the new Mobile Office has been custom-built to provide more flexibility and space to assist a broader range of customers at different stages of their lives,” she said.
"The vehicle has a small waiting area, 2 separate interview rooms, 3 service desks, wireless technology that allows the laptops on board to access the Centrelink customer mainframe, and self-service facilities.
"All communities all have different needs, and the Mobile Office initiative recognises that a style of service delivery that works well in one area may not necessarily work well in another.
"I’d encourage people to come down and visit us when we are in outback Queensland take a look inside the Mobile Office. We’re in your community and here to help."
Itineraries for the Mobile Office are available on the Mobile Office pages under ‘M’ in the A to Z index, or by calling 13 2316.
For more information, telephone the relevant Centrelink media contact.