Council scores Social Strategy goals

Council has delivered a raft of key actions from the Social Strategy since adopting it in 2015.

Expansion of the Social Services Hub, a fortnightly drop-in centre that helps Noosa’s most vulnerable residents, is among the success stories.

The Social Services Hub offers residents who are facing hardship easy access to doctors, as well as not-for-profit organisations and government services. The Hub can also help them find accommodation and employment.

“The service is always well utilised and we’ve had overwhelming support to deliver it - so much so that we’ve been able to expand the range of services it offers,” Council’s Community Development Manager, Alison Hamblin said.

“We can now put people in touch with Department of Housing and Public Works, Department of Human Services (CENTRELINK), Sunny Street Medical and Nursing Health, as well as St Vincent De Paul and United Synergies who offer specialist services for the homeless.

“But that’s not all. We can also connect people with Money Matters, NDIS Carers Queensland, Homelessness Outreach Team, Lives Lived Well, Orange Sky Laundry and Salvation Army’s Supported Accommodation Service, all in the one place.”

Other recent Social Plan successes include development of the region-wide Difficult to Locate Sports Facilities Plan, created with neighbouring councils to help accommodate sports with special requirements.

“Encouraging our younger residents to step away from screens and get active is also part of the Strategy’s aims. Our come-and-try sports days have given more than 500 youngsters a taste of the wide range of sporting opportunities on offer locally,” Ms Hamblin said.

“In the past 12 months we’ve also distributed almost $900,000 in grants across a wide range of categories and helped community groups access more than $1.5M in external grant funding.”

Libraries & Galleries Manager, Tracey King, said the recently completed refurbishment of the Noosaville Library is another key action of the plan.

“With its new meeting areas, dedicated heritage room and equipped maker space, the revamped library continues to keep pace with modern community needs,” she said.

The Social Strategy sets out a raft of priorities for Council to deliver in order to support community resilience, as well as improve health and wellbeing.

This year’s focus includes master-planning for the Noosa District and Cooroy Sports Complexes, initiatives to support local artists and enhanced volunteering opportunities to support local community groups.

25 September 2019