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Geelong residents looking after each other
Friday, 23 July 2010
9:43 AM
Media Releases
Vulnerable people living in Geelong are set to receive even greater community support thanks to the opening of a new Community Register.
The new Geelong Community Register was officially opened this morning by Member for Geelong, Mr Ian Trezise, who said that the register had been created with the help of a $30,000 seed grant from the Victorian Government.
Minister for Senior Victorians, Lisa Neville, said the initiative would go a long way to assist isolated residents in the Geelong area.
“The Geelong Community Register is a local initiative run out of the Corio Police Station and is open to all residents of Geelong,” Ms Neville said.
Ms Neville said the funding was part of a $1 million Victorian Government initiative to develop 25 new community registers across Victoria and expand the scope of existing ones to include people with a disability.
Ms Neville said that registers provided important information about local conditions and safety issues through regular mail outs, newsletters or telephone calls to those who have registered.
“For example, during a heatwave volunteers may phone vulnerable people prone to heat stress to check on their welfare.”
City of Greater Geelong Mayor, John Mitchell, thanked the Government for funding the creation the new Geelong register and for an earlier grant of $10,000 to the Bellarine Community Register to help expand their operations.
“Community registers have proved a valuable and effective way of ensuring that some of more vulnerable people in our community who live alone do not become isolated”, Mr Mitchell said.
Cr Mitchell urged the Geelong community to get behind the new community register.
“If you’re an older person or a person with a disability and you’re living on your own I strongly encourage you to join the register” Cr Mitchell said.
“Not only it is a great way to get advice and information to help you stay safe and well – it can also give you and your family and friends some peace of mind knowing there is someone looking out for you.
“I’d also like to encourage Geelong residents to volunteer for this terrific community initiative because it’s important as a community that we look out for each other.
“In fact I hope that keeping an eye on our family, friends and neighbours and regularly checking on them is something we will all make the effort to do – particularly during times of extreme weather.”
For more information about where the closest community register is or how to join or volunteer please contact the Office for Senior Victorians on 9208 3874 or email enquiries@seniors.vic.gov.au.
Anyone concerned about their own welfare, or the welfare of a neighbour or friend should contact 000 in an emergency.
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