THE Inverell Rural Outreach & Support Service has received funding from the NSW Department of Family and Community Services to allow the new service to extend operations until June of 2017.
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The service was established by former Inverell Refuge manager Vicki Higgins and staff member Kerrianne Anderson when the refuge management tender was transferred to Armidale agency Pathfinders in 2014.
Rural Outreach received funding under the Going Home, Staying Home Service Support Fund as a service that complemented the tenders delivering the specialist homeless service models.
NSW Family and Community Services Minister Gabrielle Upton made the announcement last Friday.
Ms Upton said she felt it was critical those agencies and staff unsuccessful in the tender process received supported during the transitional period. She requested that FACS put the Support Service Fund in place to continue the necessary avenues for assistance in communities.
“The extension of funding for the Service Support Fund from February 1, 2016 until June 30, 2017 will allow homelessness service providers to continue their important work of delivering positive services to those who need it most,” she said.
The new, home-grown service offers workshops, services and support to Inverell, and towns around the region including Tenterfield, Glen Innes. Bingara is soon to be receiving dedicated programs, but the service is available to all women, men, youth and children in need in the regional catchment area. Workshops include understanding tenancy, anger management, relaxation, shopping and cooking on a budget and a new session called Keep Warm This Winter. Vicki said since their launch, the service has been flourishing.
“We’re expanding; we’re growing. We’re getting more and more clients, we’ve got an extra staff member, we’re doing more workshops,” she said.
Kerrianne said the feedback sheets after each workshop have been very positive and stating the service is fulfilling their needs.