A DIVERSE human services centre established in Millicent two decades ago when a need was identified for local support for vulnerable people continues to serve the community.
Twenty years of service delivery at the ac.care Millicent Community Centre was recently celebrated with clients invited to express what the centre meant to them, prompting praise for the support they received in the “welcoming” and “safe zone” from “kind staff”, some of whom have been employed at the site since it was established.
Continuously adjusting to match community needs, the centre has grown to offer diverse services, from emergency relief to family support, supervised child contact, personal and financial counselling, as well as serving as a Service SA and Services Australia agency and base for outreach by other organisations, including employment and housing providers.
“It’s great to be able to provide services in Millicent so people can just pop up the street, instead of having to go to Mount Gambier, especially when transport is an issue,” said centre manager Evonne Lambert, who notched up 20 years of service at the celebration after being part of the centre since its foundation.
“We do have a lot of housing issues in the Millicent area and people can visit the centre to access services and payments or even just obtain some emergency food supplies – it’s great that ac.care has been able to continue the service in the town for 20 years.”
Mrs Lambert said the centre was extensively supported with diverse donations, including food from Millicent supermarkets and restaurants, together with contributions from service clubs, Wattle Range Council and the broader community, to increase its impact for vulnerable people.
She said the longevity of staff service demonstrated their commitment as they embraced ac.care’s mission of providing support for country people to have safe homes, enough money to live on and strong, positive relationships.
ac.care chief executive officer Shane Maddocks said local people providing local services was vital to identify and deliver community needs.
“ac.care is incredibly proud of the service that has been provided to the Millicent community over the last 20 years,” he said.
“Our dedicated staff team with over 80 years of experience serving this community continues to provide a range of services, often saving people a 100km round trip to Mount Gambier – it is important people can access local services close to home, particularly when we know there are limited transport options.”
Wattle Range Council member John Drew said the work of organisations like ac.care supporting the community was vital.
“You just have to look around the centre and you can see what they provide to help people who are battling and those who just don't have access to a bank or need help with paperwork and government forms - the range of services is just amazing,” he said, thanking staff, volunteers and ac.care on behalf of the council for supporting the community.
Retiree Lynn Fisher was involved in establishment of the community centre and managing the service for the first five years.
“Staff, including some still here today, along with volunteers, spent weekends painting the interior of the building once the rooms had been constructed and we had a lot of fun,” she said.
“It's a wonderful community and I think still being here 20 years later speaks for itself ... the staff are friendly and happy and it's just a wonderful service for the local community of Millicent and surrounds.”
Find out more by calling 1300 ACCARE (1300 222 273).
FINANCIAL SUPPORT: ac.care financial counsellor Melissa Snook meets with people at the Millicent Community Centre in financial hardship or struggling to balance their personal or family budget. “They might have had a change in life circumstances and if they come along to financial counseling, we can sit down together and go through what funds are coming in, what their expenses are and how we can provide support and help them manage their finances better,” she said.
Client comments about the Millicent Community Centre
This place is a safe zone. Friendly and very helpful to people like me.
A vital service for communicating with Centrelink and other services for older residents unsure of using electronic communications.
We would be lost without it. There is enough struggle without extra, meaning don’t shut down. Staff are great, very friendly and helpful. Really good.
ac.care has offered an amazing service to the community. So valuable and important to our little town. We feel that we are included. Thank you to all the fabulous staff.
Caring, helpful, kind. A place which can help when anyone needs.
Very understanding and helpful. Awesome friendly ladies. Always there for me. Thank you ac.care.
Very understanding and helpful. Awesome friendly ladies. Always there for me. Thank you ac.care.
Being in the situation that we are in, the helpful staff from the Millicent Community Centre have been so great in helping out with paperwork and advice in other decisions we make.
Valuable, supportive, loving caring staff. Proud to have such a wonderful centre in Millicent.
It’s very good to have locally and to have the right people to be able to assist, help when needed. Happy anniversary to all the staff ?
They always help and support me with patience and a smile. Awesome ?
They do a great job for Millicent. I would support them as much as possible.
The Millicent Community Centre has meant a lot to me personally, with financial help and groceries that I need. The MCC is sort of like a drop-in centre for the community where problems can be discussed.
20 years of helping people and making people’s lives better. Thank you for everything you do for our community ?
Makes life easy and the girls are great and friendly. Love their smiles.
Your kind in the way you support the community, I can’t speak highly enough of the staff.
To have a Centrelink building in Millicent is a benefit to my family. The staff are amazing and are always helpful.
I have found every time there is a lovely face to greet me and feel welcomed.
Essential service especially for those without internet access.
This facility saves us a 100km round trip to the next nearest facility in Mount Gambier. (carbon credits)
All of you guys should have wings. Sincerely thank you.