PERTH, WA: January 11, 1990
Registered by Australia Post P ublication No. WAR 0202
Number 2670
POST ADDRESS: PO Box 50, Northbridge, 6000 W.A. LOCATION: 26 John St, Northbridge (east off Fitzgerald St).
TELEPHONE: (09) 328 1388
FAX (09) 328 7307
PRICE 600
Church cares for a
I I•
The archdiocese of Perth has shown that it cares not only for Catholics but the Perth community in general. It has spent a lot of and effort money this end, towards observed Tony Pietropicof director colo, Centrecare.
Centrecare was started by the archdiocese some 25 years ago. Among the services offered are welfare and accommodation, counselling for marriage and other difficulties and the unique Pregnancy Help service to women distressed by pregnancy.
"It is a useful service with modern facilities and we don't ask whether you are Catholic or not,- said Mr Pietropiccolo. Pregnancy Help dates from the pledge of Archbishop Goody in 1975 that the resources of the archdiocese would
Tony Pietropiccolo . . . the director of Centrecare. In the background is the new Centrecare building.
assist any woman in distress over pregnancy. has service The expanded to not only women counselling threatened by abortion but providing accommodation during her confinement. Two fulltime paid workers in the Preg-
nancy Help office are assisted by some 18 volunteers who provide a 24-hour instant response service to any caller on the Pregnancy Help Line.
35 years ago in the 77 St George's Terrace Catholic Centre premises and now part of Centrecare's wider family
today Centrecare embraces the orginal Catholic Marriage Guidance Council launched
In having these various departments Centrecare can offer an integrated service channellint a
problem discovered in one aspect of family life into further counselling or assistance from the other departments.
service.
In the provision of welfare and accommodation Centrecare is dealing with crisis situatio
On opening day in Centrecare's bright new place of the regular receptionist NoeIle reception area at 456 Hay Street, Fiona van Purvis who happened to be on leave for the der Kley was saying "hello" to the public in big changeover.
The dream 'home' Centrecare which in the last 25 years operated in two crowded houses in Victoria Square has now moved into a building in 456 Hay Street described by its director as "an incredible Catholic contribution to the well being of the community". Staff of Centrecare moved into the 40-room building at the beginning of this year. The big shift took place over the Christmas period and marked the "beginning and end of a dream". Tony Pietropiccolo who has been the director since April last year said the building was purchased in December 1988 and took nine months to refurbish. A special committee
designed the layout of the offices. Mr Pietropiccolo felt it would provide "good for a ccommodation counselling services". There are group moms (where counselling can be conducted with up to in people). staff offices. activity room (where people in Centrecare accommodation can be brought in and shown and housekeeping budgeting skills), observation moms from which trainee counsellors can be observed, a welfare section, accommodation department, a reflection mom (for prayers and meditation) and a suite of rooms for Pregnancy Help. There is also a board room-cum-library, public seating, reception
area, a private waiting cubicle and a room for children. There is also a staff room and a computer mom. The building, according to Mr Pietropiccolo will help provide a better service for people. In the past counsellors had to wait for moms to conduct their counselling. The waiting room was along a corridor and clients had to walk past the staff rooms to get counselling. It was quite stressful for counsellors and clients. "Here, in our new building it is more r elaxed. There is a possibility of doing much more work," he said.
He noted that there was now much more profes-
• Mork. 1,:turc and stone, an Pat.c 2
sionalism afforded to clients in this new setup.
Two clients had already remarked that the facilities and environment in the new building was much better, Mr Pietropiccolo confided. "The clients are perceiving and noticing the difference:* he said. A change in the premises have also brought about a change for staff communication. Living on top of each other in their former crowded surroundings the staff saw plenty of each other. Now says Mr Pietmpiccolo, in their three-storey scattered location, they will have to make greater effort to meet each other and work as a team.