Some 8,500 Clarence Valley residents are aged over 65 years and approximately 25 per cent of these people require some form of assistance. At the time of amalgamation, Clarence Valley Council established a Community and Cultural Services Department, with a specific section focused on Community Support Services.
The Community Support Services team, headed by Glennis O’Connell, delivers services from three offices in Maclean, Grafton and Ballina. Programs delivered by the Team are funded by Commonwealth and State agencies, with both a local and regional emphasis. Council’s community services programs can be broadly grouped into aged care, disability support, respite and children’s services.
Community Development Worker for Aged and Disability, Susan Howland, said Community Support services and programs in the Clarence Valley are vital to support senior citizens with complex needs.
“Through assistance services such as meals on wheels, housekeeping, personal care, respite care and simply socialising with other residents, we are enabling individuals to live a lifestyle of their choice,” she said.
In 1991, Federal funding became available for Community Options projects under the auspice of Local Government. The Clarence Valley has been exceptionally proactive in this area. Access to these services is particularly important in a regional area, such as the Clarence, where geographic distance is a barrier.
Community Support Services Team Leader, Sonia Lee, said the Department is growing all the time in response to increasing needs across the region.
“Council has established a unique infrastructure that provides flexible and innovative services to the client base as well as support and development for its staff,” she said. “We have been able to establish stronger links with health and other service providers, not just within our Council area, but across the region. We have also created opportunities for sharing of skills and expertise.
“We are excited about the future of our Team and are encouraged by community feedback and the level of support offered by Council and other agencies. We have great pride in providing a client focused service to meet individual needs.
“Our coordinators and support staff are an amazing group who invest a lot of energy and enthusiasm into the services, and our program would not be as effective without this commitment. If you are getting a sense that we have worked hard to develop a program that is comprehensive, responsive and with significant flexibility, you would be correct.”
The program continues to evolve, offering challenges and opportunities for further growth in this sector.
