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COMMUNITY SERVICES INDUSTRY AWARDS 2005

Part Two Questions for Shortlisted Applicants Sept 05

Category One – Working creatively to make a difference (small group/organisation with a program or service budget of less that $50000).

Your Story;

1.         Explain how your program is innovative, creative or works in different ways to improve responses for individuals, families or communities.

Valuing People! How often do we hear that the rural decline is due to economic hardship, isolation and lack of services and facilities in rural towns?

Well, Hyden actually believes that more people leave rural communities where they feel uncared for, not welcomed and not valued. Certainly, small businesses have to be viable, farms have to have landcare and reasonable seasons, and schools and medical facilities are important, but the people care aspects of living in a community that are equally or more important.

• New people must feel welcomed and are acknowledged and encouraged.

• Local people should feel valued for whatever skills they may have and that they offer to contribute.

• The opinions and ideas of all people should be heard and responded to – not just the “leaders” or “organisers” .

• People with disabilities, difficult situations and special needs should be supported.

• Everyone needs opportunities for recognition and shared celebrations of things that they consider important – whether it be sport, art, heritage or other things.

In a small rural community standard medical, health and other services are not available to the same standard or level that they may be available in most metropolitan areas, but by being innovative and flexible in service delivery, the Hyden community has been able to acquire funds and provide services and initiatives that support people in a reasonable and sometimes extraordinary way so that they want to stay living and working in our district.

All other People Care initiatives listed in Part One also demonstrate ways that they have made a positive difference to people and encouraged our community’s spirit and vibrancy.

Our association “invented” the role “People Care Support Officer”, applied for and acquired three-year funding for what was a very valued service for the people of Hyden and surrounding districts. The PCSO title gave flexibility in what tasks could be undertaken, allowing for the needs of individuals and groups to be met, according to their requests. There were also proactive initiatives for young families, including Kids club, parenting sessions and more.

The PCSO was particularly supportive of local intellectually and physically disabled people, (ranging in age from 20 to 75), and their carers, soon recognising that these families were experiencing very strained situations with little opportunity for Respite Care. Whilst providing some respite during PCSO hours, the PCSO also pioneered provision of Respite Care for rural isolated communities by applying for and gaining 3 ½ year funding for the provision of such care within our community, using a local tourism facility’s disability unit for temporary overnight Respite Care. This commenced in 2005 and has seen Respite support in Hyden for eleven families from four neighbouring shires.

Since PCSO funds have ceased, Hyden Progress and Hyden Silver Chain Committee volunteers have set up the Hyden Community Respite Service Committee and manage this valuable service for whole of community benefit. All of this has been pioneering and innovative with no previous examples of such services in small rural towns to follow. This year also, the Hyden Fellowship Accommodation Centre Committee has been established, with the community raising $50 000 and now applying for grants to build a community facility that will include a Respite Care accommodation for the long term.