Best Professional Service – Community | Murray Business Network

Best Professional Service – Community

Open to any not-for-profit organisation that provides a service to the community. These businesses may trade in surplus as long as no person or organisation is paid a dividend.

Murray Business Network is proud to sponsor the Best Professional Services – Community award, as it highlights the invaluable contribution, of the nominated organisations within community.

FINALISTS

Community Living & Respite Services

Community Living & Respite Services (CLRS) is a community organisation founded in 1979 to provide disability support services in the Echuca region. In 2017–18, CLRS supported over 600 people in a range of disability and aged care services with the help of their 216 staff. It aims to provide supported independent living, respite, community access, in home support, supported volunteering and programs for children. CLRS has developed expertise in providing housing for people with disability and built its first home in 1992, and has since purchased two other properties. In 2011, CLRS developed the Opening Doors Project model and completed the Minor Street house and units in 2014, with the Eyre Street Project house and units being finished in 2017. A third Opening Doors Project is under construction and will be completed in late 2019. These three projects will provide homes for 16 people with disability, which has a significant impact on independence and inclusion and provides certainty and peace of mind for families. Over the past two years CLRS has successfully transitioned to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which has resulted in additional support for people with disability and significant organisational growth.

Echuca Regional Health Dental Clinic

The ERH Dental Clinic sits within the Community Services Division of Echuca Regional Health which brings together client services independent of the hospital or Aged Care facilities. The dental team is made up of dentists, dental therapists, oral health therapists, dental assistants, dental clinic co-ordinator and currently 4th year dental students from Melbourne University. Currently up to 40 patients may be seen on a daily basis by senior dentists, graduate dentists, senior dental therapists or the oral health therapists who work on alternate days each week. The ERH Dental Clinic focuses on the most vulnerable groups within the community, from patients with disability, the aged, those with mental health concerns and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. ERH has been extensively involved in the Strengthening Hospitals Responses to Family Violence (SHRFV) initiative, which identifies vulnerable children and are also treated as high priority. The dental team works in conjunction with the ERH Enhanced Maternity Care Program and Social Services team, who both have connections with further groups of vulnerable people within our community. Through these connections, at risk clients are identified and referred to the clinic as required.

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Lockington District Business Centre

The Lockington District Business Centre commenced in 2002 through a group of community members who wanted to see the only petrol outlet in the town remain open. It formed a committee to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the business and later took on the Neighbourhood House program. This expanded services and encouraged locals to participate in training, creating programs and activities and assisting with social isolation and encouraging social inclusion. The centre researches the needs of the community on a continuing basis and with strategic planning seeks resources to provide safe and inclusive services including: providing accommodation, the community bank, library, laundromat, car wash and retaining the only fuel outlet in town. The Neighbourhood House provides a workshop area in the form of a Men’s Shed, engages youth through a Youth Action Group, manages a community garden to provide gardening skills, social interaction and food for the community. The centre operates five and a half days per week (Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings) and is predominantly operated by volunteers. The Lockington District Business Centre is a multi-faceted community that adapts and changes with the needs of the community with a strong volunteer base of 39 people.

Rochester Business Network

The Rochester Business Network is a driving force behind the progress, sustainability and tourism of Rochester with an aim of keeping the community together in these tough economic times. The group is made up of approximately 55 members that attend planning and administrative functions as well as provide support, education and training for its members. It utilises the expertise of its members to assist with marketing, planning, organisation and delivery of activities. The RBN has become the contact point for state, federal and local government as well as the media on most matters concerning the community of Rochester. It has formed close alliances with its members including Rochester Community House, REDHS (Hospital), Lions Club, Bendigo Community Bank, Campaspe News and work closely with the Shire of Campaspe. It addresses the grass roots and real needs of Rochester.

Warramunda

Warramunda is a community-owned, not-for-profit aged care facility that employs 158 staff, making it one of Kyabram’s largest employers. Its services include; a 61 bed residential aged care facility (high needs aged care), 46 independent living units (retirees), 14 residential apartments/bedsits (for low socioeconomic seniors) and community based home care & NDIS (presently 114 clients). Warramunda is now embarking on a major capital works program in its residential care facility to increase its capacity to 83 beds and refurbish and modernise other residential, common and admin areas. In 2018 it further expanded its services to include support for persons with disability under the NDIS scheme. Its clients can now look forward to local faces and continuity of care as a local provider. The Home Care and NDIS business is relatively new (Home Care 2016 & NDIS 2018) with growth exceeding expectation.