Parra News June 8 2021

Decades of
service rewarded
NICOLA BARTON
Local community worker Shyama
Perera is being recognised for 20
dedicated years of service to the
Hills Community Aid in Baulkham Hills.
Recently, Baulkham Hills MP David
Elliot, The Hills Shire Council Mayor
Michelle Byrne, and City of Parramatta
Councillor Bill Tyrrell attended the
organisation to present Ms Perea with a
Community Service Award.
Hills Community Aid has been an integral
grassroots organisation servicing The
Hills, Parramatta and broader western
Sydney for over 50 years.
The community organisation was established
in 1969 by social worker Mary Lane,
who identified a lack of services in the area
for mothers needing support.
Since then, Hills Community Aid has
continued to grow its grassroots connection
by providing front-line services to
people who are vulnerable and experiencing
disadvantage.
With the vision of creating safe, healthy,
connected and inclusive communities,
the organisation now delivers over 21
sustainable social, financial, health/
LOCAL NEWS
City of Parramatta Councillor Bill Tyrrell, community worker Shyama Perera and
Baulkham Hills MP David Elliot.
well-being and educational programs,
and services to strengthen and connect
communities and reduce social isolation.
Hills Community Aid Executive Officer,
Mici Beer, said none of this would be
possible without people like Ms Perera.
“None of this would be possible without
the hard work and dedication of our small
team of staff and an army of volunteers,”
she said.
Ms Perera is the longest-serving
employee at the organisation.
First joining the team back in 2001 as a
volunteer, she was quick to become an
integral permanent member of staff with
her deep knowledge and expertise now at
the core of Hills Community Aid’s Financial
Inclusion program.
She conducts close to 200 client visits
each year and dedicates endless additional
hours to deliver a first-class service
to some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged
in the community.
Ms Perera has been instrumental in
establishing the No Interest Loan Scheme
(NILS) and the Energy Accounts Payment
Assistance (EAPA) Scheme.
She has also developed an outreach
service to deliver no interest loans (NILS)
and Emergency Relief funding in numerous
locations to ensure those in need can
access assistance.
“The work I do I really enjoy, I like helping
people and it really doesn’t feel like a
job to me,” Ms Perera said.
“These people are very resilient and I
am grateful they put their trust in us to
provide them with assistance.
“I was speechless and shocked to receive
this award, I had no idea it was happening
and my family was here for it, so it was
really special.”
Has someone you know been recognised?
We might like to do a story on
them. Get in touch with us by emailing
Nicola.Barton@ParraNews.com.au.
parra news » Tuesday, June 8, 2021
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