Southlake Neighbourhood Centre is fast becoming the community hub of the south Lake Macquarie area
Neighbourhood Centre Project provides a valuable and diverse range of services including:
* Information & Referral for individuals and groups with a wide knowledge, understanding and contact details for a diversity of local & regional services, groups and organisations covering government, welfare, business, sport, recreation, medical, social etc.
* Low cost office services to the community such as photocopying, faxing, laminating & computer and internet use.
* Support and advice for local community projects / events / groups
* Community activities, programs & groups
* Vocational and skill building courses and programs
* Advocacy to can assist people having difficultly with institutions and organisations
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Contact Information
C/- Morisset Multi Purpose Centre
143 Dora Street
MORISSET NSW 2264
Phone: 4973 7001
Fax: 4970 5388
Email: nhc@morissetmpc.org
Southlake Neighbourhood Centre
Services and Activities
Staff: Fulltime Coordinator and community volunteers
a) Reception for Centre:
Front desk, reception, sign-in and offices
Telephones
Mail In and Out
Administration duties
b) Community Enquiries:
Diversity of enquiries from legal, social, political, economic, environmental ….
Referral – refer enquiry to appropriate authority
Advocacy – act on clients behalf
Huge referral and contact list
Business and Community Directory – complied and maintained
Community Newsletter (quarterly)
Mobile Blood Bank – host
Bereavement or Life Transition Support (BOLTS)
Free Financial Counselling
Examples: Pensioners, superannuation, community groups, schools, churches, welfare services, homelessness, domestic violence, mental illness, employment, government, business, social community. (Enquiries 1200 – 1400 per year)
c) Office Services
Free computer and internet access
Photocopying / Laminating / Faxing
Phone calls
Resume writing
Justice of the Peace Services
d) Convene and Assist Community Groups
Coffee, Craft and Chat
Southlake Old Boys
Alcoholic Anonymous
Vision Impaired group
Westlakes Photographic Club
Community Playgroups
Laughter Group
Cancer Support Group
Hunter Tenant Association
Shine
Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Group
Community/Social Walking Group
e) Programs and Courses
NHC organises low cost (or free) programs and courses useful to our community:
Computer Courses: – beginners, seniors, intermediate, advance, internet, email, Word, Publisher, Movie Making …..
Senior First Aid course
Mental Health First Aid
Suicide Awareness and Prevention
Parenting Courses
Living with Teens
Food Handling Courses
Life Experience Counts (LEC)
Resume Writing and Interview Skills
Craft Courses
Creative Writing Courses
Bookkeeping
Financial Literacy and Counselling
Women’s Empowerment
Anger Management
Happy Hippo Toy Library
Tax Help – trained people available to assist community members with tax forms and lodging
f) Promote Community Networking
It is important that we know what is happening in the community so we attend and/or convene a number of networking groups: -
Southlake Interagency Meeting – schools, RSLs, Legacy, Child Services, LMCC, Library, Chamber of Commerce, community groups, service providers
Hunter Region Neighbourhood Centre Forum
Lake Macquarie Interagency Meeting
Southlake Business Chamber and Community Alliance
Local Community Services Association – NHC NSW peak body
Eraring Community Forum
ACOSS and NCOSS
g) Community Development
Hunter Community Disaster Recovery Fund
Community Bush Tucker Garden
Morisset Festival
Adult Learners Week – nutrition, financial literacy
Seniors Week – Old Time Tea Dance
Community Christmas
Community Picnic, Information and Expos
“Beat the Blues” (Dance for people with disabilities)
h) Volunteers
We have an amazing range of volunteers who help us provide our services and keep the centre operating. Organising these volunteers takes a significant amount of effort and we have recently employed a volunteer coordinator. These include:
Community Volunteers
Work for the Dole Schemes
Community Service Orders
People with a Centre Link commitment
Hunter Volunteers
Central Coast Volunteers
Student Placements and Projects – TAFE and University
Salvation Army Restorative Centre
j) Crisis and Emergency Care and Referral
Homelessness
Domestic Violence
Mental Health
General Health
Financial stress
Transport problems
Addiction issues
Vocational and employment assistance
Free Financial Counselling