A helping hand for Tiaro residents
Queensland media release
Monday, 15 February 2010
A special information day will be held in Tiaro later this month to let residents know about the Government and community support services available in their local area.
Centrelink Rural Services Officer, Allison Shoesmith, organised the community day after discovering people were missing out on accessing vital services relevant to their needs.
"In my work as Rural Services Officer, it became obvious that residents weren’t aware of the wide range of services available to them," Allison said.
"I made contact with the local community centre and they put me in touch with many organisations in town who agreed to take part in the day. In fact, the response was overwhelming.
"For example, there's no public transport in Tiaro so residents find it hard to access Government services, such as Centrelink or Jobs Services Australia."
More than 10 organisations have agreed to attend the event, including Yoorana Domestic Violence House, Steps Disability Employment, Council on the Ageing (COTA) Seniors Advice, The Cottage Multicultural Services, Commonwealth Carelink Carebus, Public Trustees Office and Centrelink.
With more than 5,000 people living in Tiaro, Allison said the event will be a first for the region.
"There hasn't been anything like this in this area and I'm really keen to link the community with services that could benefit their lifestyle," Allison said.
"Morning tea will be provided and I’m sure local residents will enjoy the day and take away a variety of information."
The Information Day will be held on Friday, 26 February at the Tiaro Community Centre, Forgan Terrace, Tiaro, from 9 am to 12 pm.
For more information, telephone the relevant Centrelink Media Contact.