Report of Operations - South West Alliance of Rural Health

Community Services Report29lavers hill Neighbourhood HouseThe Lavers Hill SteeringCommittee has become aformidable partner in the successof the Lavers Hill NHH program.Together with Otway Health, twoCoordinators have been recruitedand there have been a number ofactivities started.There was a fabulous responsefrom the community to help kickstart the strategic planning forthe house and we now have adirection and focus.Achievements of the Lavers HillNHH:• Recruitment of a NHHCoordinator• Developing an annualstrategic plan• Developing a partnership withthe school for program andactivities in the future• Hosted the InternationalWomen’s Day attended byover 60 women from acrossthe region.• Ran the first computer courseprogram for the communityand helping it progress froma beginners course to aintermediate course• Partnership with the Laver’sHill K-12 College.A recent agreement has beenestablished between the Laver’sHill College and the Laver’s Hill &District Community House. Thisdocument outlines the schoolspace the LH&DCH can access forfuture programs. We hope to planprograms utilising the facilitiesat the school for the communityduring the day (subject to schooltimetable), evenings, weekendsand during school holidays. Theschool space offered for ourprograms: Home Economics,Main and Lower Gym, ComputerRoom, Heated Pool (membershiprequired), Art Room, WoodworkRoom, the oval and playground.The Laver’s Hill International Women’s Day event held at the Laver’s Hill Hall in March, 2011 was a hugesuccess thanks to members of the Community, the Co-ordinator (Tania Morse), the volunteers, theAdvisory Committee, local businesses, the Laver’s Hill K-12 College and Otway Health & CommunityServices. The event received $1000 funding from UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fundfor Women) to assist with the running of the event. The intention of the event was to recognise,acknowledge and pay tribute to the many women who have been vital to the community as volunteersover and above their daily roles and to pay tribute to the Pioneering women who have establishedstrength and endurance that has enabled following generations to benefit. This was a free eventproviding, supper, entertainment, shuttle buses from outlying areas plus a showcase of the works fromthe many talented local women. Ninety women between the ages of 12 to 85 attended this event. Fourschool bus drivers, plus the driver of the Otway Health Community Bus, donated their time and vehiclecollecting the women on route from Apollo Bay to Princetown and inland Beech Forest, Gellibrand andColac to the Laver’s Hill Hall with a return trip at the end of the evening. The Community feedbackafter the event was fantasticForrest Neighbourhood HouseThe Forrest & DistrictNeighbourhood House programcontinues to thrive with newactivities and events taking placeover the past year. The popularcommunity lunch caters for upto 20 people weekly and is awonderful example of volunteers,community and services comingtogether to share, enjoy andconnect. 2011 saw the completionof our Disability Action Planand an increase of people ofall abilities attending activitiesin a growing relationship withKaringal. The House continuesto work closely with othercommunity groups and theschool on joint projects. Thanksto community support specialevents throughout the year alsohelped raise funds for tsunamiand flood victims. It is a tributeto our volunteers, their hardwork and enthusiasm that theprogram continues to grow.