Thumbs-up for Innaloo Centrelink's Community Corner:

Western Australia Media Release
Wednesday, 24 November 2004

Local customers and community organisations have praised Innaloo Centrelink's Community Corner initiative, saying the facility gives customers easy access to local services.

The Community Corner allows customers to get more support under one roof by being able to access community services while visiting Innaloo Centrelink.

When Innaloo's Community Corner was launched in May, it was the first of its kind in Western Australia. Now other Centrelink offices are following Innaloo's lead, with Community Corners recently being opened in Warwick and Midlands.

Local organisations, such as local Job Network members, City of Stirling Volunteer Services, Australian Medical Association, Centrecare and the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service, use Community Corner to provide regular services to Centrelink customers.

Lorraine Gillett, Volunteer Services Coordinator for the City of Stirling, said her organisation enjoys using Innaloo Centrelink's Community Corner.

"We attend the Community Corner each Tuesday morning and are able to advise people about becoming volunteers within the community," said Lorraine.

"We have been particularly successful with single parents whose children are all now school age and those people who are over 50 years of age and have been out of the workforce for some time.

"I will be training some of our volunteers to help maintain our presence at the Community Corner and recruit other volunteers."

Innaloo Centrelink's Susan Thornton said Centrelink customers are the real winners from the Community Corner initiative.

"It is fantastic when we can get different organisations together to find the best solutions for our customers, " said Susan.

"We have a timetable located in our waiting area so customers can plan to come to Centrelink and complete all their business in one visit."

For more information, telephone the relevant Centrelink Media Contact.