Council’s collaborative approach delivers major supports for community
Published on 23 July 2021
Frankston City Council continues to work collaboratively with all levels of government to deliver significant ongoing support to enable the community to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Kris Bolam said this, combined with Council’s advocacy to the Federal and State Governments, is achieving major benefits including employment, vital assistance for the disadvantaged such as emergency food and funding to promote the COVID-19 vaccine roll out.
“Council-led advocacy to State and Federal Governments, including collaboration with the Senator for Victoria David Van, the Federal Member for Dunkley, Peta Murphy, and the State Member for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke MP, is a vital tool for securing the critical funding necessary for essential community supports during this difficult time.
“This is complemented by Council’s 2021/22 Budget, which features a $3.86 million investment to fund major initiatives to help our community to recover from COVID-19 – taking Council’s total support in the Relief and Recovery Package to $9.128 million,” Mayor Bolam said.
The Mayor also noted that Council has proudly forged ahead and delivered a huge capital works program despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Council’s ongoing advocacy to and collaboration with the State and Federal Governments has achieved funding for:
Commonwealth Home Support Program – Emergency Support for COVID-19 ($239,996)
North East Ward Cr Suzette Tayler said Council received $239,996 funding from the Federal Government to provide vital assistance via the Commonwealth Home Support Program – Emergency Support for COVID-19 during the pandemic.
Cr Tayler said: “This provided critical support including meals to vulnerable residents during COVID lockdowns. Importantly, while the funding supported a significant increase in demand for the meals it also assisted with mental health support, advice and access to other services.”
Cr Tayler said feedback from clients has been heart-warming, adding: “Recipients tell our amazing Meals on Wheels team how much they appreciate the meals, community connections and importance of seeing a friendly face during the pandemic.
“Comments like ‘Having a very low immune system I was able to stay safe at home – not worrying about my main meals and away from the shops and people’ and ‘delivery during this time gave me regular with other people – thank you’ highlight how valuable the Meals on Wheels service is,” Cr Tayler said.
Senator for Victoria David Van said: “The Morrison Government is ensuring all Victorians, especially the most vulnerable, are looked after through this lockdown - $239,000 has been provided to Frankston City Council to deliver assistance through Meals on Wheels COVID Aged Care Emergency Food Service.
“This crucial funding has enabled the organisation to provide much-needed meals, as well as being able to cover the cost of purchasing personal protective equipment for staff during these times. It is always pleasing to see local and federal authorities working together to assist the most vulnerable in our community,” Senator Van said.
The Federal Member for Dunkley, Peta Murphy, said: “Thank you to the many dedicated Meals on Wheels volunteers. During the pandemic, you were on the front line helping some of the most vulnerable in our community.
“I’m proud to have lobbied the Federal Government to deliver more emergency food relief funding to support our community during the pandemic. I will continue to work with all levels of government to deliver more for our local community,” Ms Murphy said.
Jobs Victoria Advocates
Three new Jobs Victoria Advocates funded by the Victorian Government are offering face-to-face support to job seekers in community spaces in Frankston – in line with Covid safe practices and when restrictions permit.
The Jobs Victoria Advocates help connect the Frankston community with local employment opportunities and training, counselling or mentoring support services to help them get back to work, or on the appropriate training pathway.
Working from locations including Frankston Library and local community centres, the Jobs Victoria Advocates provide personalised support to ensure nobody is left behind in the recovery from COVID-19 and the economic downturn.
The Jobs Victoria Advocates initiative is helping people looking for work to access the information, advice and support they need to find the right job for them.
The Jobs Victoria Advocates will also work with the Frankston City Job Seeker Alliance, made up of a diverse range of key organisations, dedicated to achieving the best outcomes for jobseekers. The Alliance was formed in 2021 with $110,000 funding from Frankston City’s $9.128 million Relief and Recovery Package.
The State Member for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke MP, said: “I am proud of the partnership with Council through the Jobs Victoria Advocates program. Our Jobs Victoria Advocates can help our community with everything from updating a resume to connecting with local employers, training opportunities and apprenticeships.”
For more information, please email job.advocates@frankston.vic.gov.au, phone 9768 1387 or visit
https://www.frankston.vic.gov.au/Our_Community/Community_Development/Job_Advocates_Frankston
The Working for Victoria initiative
Cr Tayler said Council has employed 40 staff through the State Government’s Working for Victoria Program in a diverse range of positions including Arts and Culture Support, Arts Therapy, Community Support, Communications, Community Care Support, Business Support, Economic Policy and Planning, Website and Digital Content, Cleaning Supervisor, Maternal and Child Health and Immunisation Business Support, Payroll, People and Culture, Project Coordinator and Parks and Vegetation Maintenance.
Cr Tayler added: “Council hired 10 cleaners who performed vital roles sanitising the surfaces across the Frankston Multiplicity which helped keep the community COVID safe. Council also hired nine Parks and Maintenance Workers who contributed to maintaining our much loved parks and reserves.”
Mr Edbrooke said: “I know there are many families who have been hit hard by the pandemic and I’m pleased to be able to help bring our community financial support and employment opportunities in partnership with Frankston Council and the Working for Victoria Program.”
COVID-19 Grant: To encourage priority groups to get vaccinated ($20,000)
Mayor Bolam said this State Government grant supports the vaccination program roll out by building vaccine confidence, acceptance and uptake in the community.
“Council has engaged with the community through a variety of channels including social media, community networks, newsletters and radio to support the vaccination message. We are focused on enhancing trust and confidence in the vaccine program by providing credible resources and information to our community.
“Additionally, this funding is helping us to provide vaccination information and services to priority groups, for example Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, culturally and linguistically diverse members of the Frankston City community, and those with a disability or identified as being in high risk categories,” the Mayor said.
Mr Edbrooke added: “It is vital that our community have confidence in the vaccination program as it is our pathway back to a life without lockdowns. Supporting council to educate our community with factual information regarding the vaccine rollout is an important way to counter the misinformation being circulated, particularly on social media.”
Community Activation and Social Isolation ($65,000)
Mayor Bolam said funding from the State Government for the Community Activation and Social Isolation program enabled the COVID-19 State Hotline to refer to Council’s Community Recovery Call Centre to enable critical supports for residents during the pandemic, adding: “We created one central point for referral for the community experiencing stress and isolation with many residents requesting assistance for the first time in their lives.
“We engaged when necessary with service providers on behalf of residents by linking support, case management, wellbeing calls and advocacy. Feedback from the community was positive with residents frequently stating they appreciated knowing someone local is interested in their welfare,” the Mayor said.
Community Recovery Call Centre ($75,000)
Cr Tayler said this grant from the State Government for the Home and Community Care Program for Younger People enables support for a resilient community, adding: “The funding delivers the continuation of the Community Recovery Call Centre for six months for vulnerable and/or socially isolated individuals aged under 65 years.”
Cr Tayler said since being launched in April 2021, Council’s Community Recovery Call Centre has provided extensive assistance to impacted residents to assist them navigate and connect with the services and resources they need to recover from COVID-19.
“Council staff are here to help, referring residents and businesses to support services suited to their current needs,” Cr Tayler said.
If you need help finding the right support, phone 9768 1387 for the Community Recovery Call Centre. The centre is open Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5pm.
Mr Edbrooke said: “Frankston Council’s Community Recovery Call Centre has been a vital link between our community and government assistance during COVID-19. This $75,000 will extend that call centre so it can continue to provide support for residents during lockdown, with a further $65,000 funding to extend the Community Activation and Social Isolation project, which is also worth its weight in gold.”
Mayor Bolam added: “Lockdowns are incredibly challenging, however be assured that Council is here for our residents. We have a proud history of walking side by side with our community during difficult times and now is no different.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant difficulties for residents, businesses, sporting and community groups and Council is united in its determination to support the community as it recovers from the challenges of COVID-19,” the Mayor said.