SYDNEY COMMUNITY SERVICES
Serving the most vulnerable through COVID-19 As a community organisation, Sydney Community Services is, by design, efficient and effective. But even the most adept not-for-profits were challenged by COVID-19. This is the story of how SCS successfully pivoted and swiftly modified its capabilities to meet the demands of the crisis.
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ydney Community Services (SCS) hit its stride in New standards 2019; a local powerhouse providing more than 15 Vital from the outset was establishing an internal COVID-19 valuable services to thousands of residents across response task team and safety plan that allowed SCS to the Northern Sydney Area. continue to function as unhindered as possible. The arrival of COVID-19 in late February/ Several measures were immediately put in early March threatened to slow the place: consumer needs were mapped to organisation, but quick decisions, practical identify those most vulnerable in the A combined, modifications, and swift adaptation to the community; essential services were energised team rapidly changing needs of the community prepared for changing advice; meals and kept it thundering along. effort allowed personal protective equipment pipelines SCS CEO Gill Batt recounts those were secured to meet increased demand; us to adapt early days: “As an organisation built a working group was established to meet really quickly on efficiencies, we were already in a with government and social housing strong position to move decisively, but a representatives, and remote working was combined, energised team effort allowed us established with additional tools purchased to adapt really quickly. Guidelines changed at where required. such a rapid speed; we were certainly kept on our toes. With staff, volunteers, venues, and vehicles ready, SCS Ultimately however, we are pleased at how we have been set to work on modifying each of its services, all the while able to respond to the community’s needs.” responding to unexpected day-to-day events. 38 TVO
