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New providers announced The appointment of two new service providers has been announced for Moorabool. As part of its transition out of direct service delivery roles in aged and disability services, Moorabool Shire Council has been informed of the appointment of two new providers to service delivery in the Moorabool community. Silver Chain Victoria has been appointed by the Commonwealth Government to provide aged care services to residents over 65 years of age and Mecwacare has been appointed by the State Government to provide care for Council’s clients aged under 65 living with a disability. Silver Chain will take on approximately 700 clients, while Mecwacare will transition approximately 40 clients. Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan said although local government will no longer be delivering these services, their priority is making sure those in our community who accessed these services continue to receive a very high standard of care. “We obviously also had Council staff affected by this decision, and we’re pleased to know both these providers have expressed an interest in potential recruitment of Moorabool staff, which is a great outcome for both staff and clients,” he said. The appointment of new service providers to Moorabool has occurred as a result of Council’s confirmed decision to cease delivering aged and disability services to Moorabool residents from 1 July this year. “Council has worked very closely with clients and staff throughout this whole process – they have been the priority – and we will continue to ensure open and transparent communication and a smooth transition for clients and staff,” Cr Sullivan said. “Once service delivery ceases, Council will continue to have dedicated resources within the organisation, to provide support and information to the local community to ensure service referrals and links to relevant services occur and to help the community navigate the aged care and disability systems.” Council is now in the process of working closely with Silver Chain and Mecwacare to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for all clients. Letters have been posted to all clients to introduce the new service providers and to further explain the transition. A change in Federal Government policy arising from the Royal Commission into Aged Care, made it clear that local government does not have a meaningful role to play in the future delivery of aged care services. “This is demonstrated in other Council’s throughout Victoria also making the same decisions,” Cr Sullivan said.
News
The Moorabool News – 31 May, 2022 Page 5
Declutter and detox safely
It’s a free service and soon you can safely dispose of any unwanted toxic household chemicals lying around your property or in the shed or garage. Detox your Home is run by Sustainability Victoria in partnership with Moorabool Shire Council and is coming to Ballan. Toxic household chemicals, such as cleaning products, pool chemicals and pesticides can be safely disposed of on Saturday 18 June, from 12 noon through until 3pm. The service is for household chemicals only. Collected items are then recovered for reuse or safely disposed of. With community safety in mind, Detox Your Home events are now drive-through (no walk-ins) and contactless, supported by a COVIDSafe plan. For the latest advice and COVIDSafe Settings please visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au Detox Your Home only accept: • Acids and alkalis Aerosol cans (empty cans with household recycling)
• Anti-freeze, brake fluid, car body filler, car wax cleaners – ammonia based • Cooking oil • Coolant • Detergents, disinfectants and drain cleaners • Fertiliser • Fire extinguishers • Floor-care products and waxes • Fuels – petrol, diesel, kerosene, other • Glues – water-based and solvents • Herbicides and weed killers • Insect spray and pesticides • Nail polish and remover • Cosmetics • Oven cleaner • Thinners, turps and paint stripper • Pool chemicals • Rat poison • Solvents • Transmission fluid • Wood preservatives and finishes (oils and varnish) **Paint, fluorescent lights and batteries won’t be accepted.
Detox your Home will be held at the Ballan Transfer Station, 118 Monteville Lane Ballan on Saturday 18 June, 12pm to 3pm. Register your interest at eventbrite.com.au/e/detox-your-home-ballan-registration
Can you spare a coat? As the chilly winter months approach, thousands of disadvantaged and vulnerable children across Australia will be left shivering – but your preloved coat can keep them warm. A collaboration between notfor-profits Big Group Hug and Off Your Back, the ‘Coats4Kids Campaign’ began on 16 May, and will run until 31 July, with the goal of collecting 5,000 donated coats. Adult coats will be passed on to Off Your Back, while coats for children aged 2 – 16 years will be distributed via Big Group Hug to Victorian children in need. Big Group Hug CEO, Bernadene Voss, said the statistics around kids in poverty are horrific, but helping disadvantaged kids is something anyone can do. “It is critical that families Big Group Hug is a not-for-profit supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable children across Victoria facing hardship have warm biggrouphug.org In coats to give their children. We partnership with know that more than one in six Australian children are living in poverty, and over and above this statistic, there are many children without appropriate clothes for the Melbourne winter. We are very happy to be collaborating with Off Your Back, who have been collecting adult coats for many years and expanding this to include children,” Ms Voss said. Off Your Back founder Toni Joel said she was pleased to work with Big Group Hug to help more vulnerable children. “Over the past 20 years, Off Your Back has managed to collect and distribute over 150,000 coats to those in need without spending one cent! We are thrilled to partner with Big Group Hug so we can keep more children warm this winter,” she said. Big Group Hug is based in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, and the nearest collection point for coats is in Airport West – however, Coats4Kids is eager to accept more volunteers to host collection points across the state.
coatS 4 KIDS
Act NOW to keep a child warm this winter. Donate your pre-loved coat today.
Small acts make a big impact. Not all cardboard can be recycled. Putting coated cardboard like ice cream cartons and takeaway drink cups in general rubbish means they don’t mess up the recycling process. Find your small act today at sustainability.vic.gov.au/small-acts-big-impact
Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.