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The Collingwood Community Information Centre is an invaluable part of the Collingwood Estate community. The Centre’s staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to assist the thousands of residents with diverse information needs using the service since 2002. Affectionately known as the ‘centre’, the CCIC provides more than just information. It’s become a popular meeting place, community hub and listening post. We hear from Nick Arnott, Chair of the Collingwood Neighbourhood Advisory Team (NAT), who was involved with the Centre from the very beginning and from other resident volunteers.
According to Nick Arnott, community development workers at the Estate identified a “big need for Estate residents to get information that wasn’t really available.” Many residents on the estate – including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Indigenous communities, and those on low incomes – had specific information needs that were not being met. After conducting a needs assessment, Jesuit Social Services, looked at different models and decided on the information centre. The centre was auspiced and twenty residents trained as community advocates through the Community Empowerment Program (CEP). The centre opened it’s doors in November 2002. The Centre provides a range of core services that Nick Arnott says are “primarily aimed at people on a low income and people living within high rise estates”. It’s a referral service linking residents with community and Government service providers in matters of health, immigration, finances, the law and many more. Centrelink staff regularly visit the centre, tax advisors help residents with tax returns and Homeground Services offer support with housing issues. The centre also runs information sessions. The “Money Talks” lecture series gives practical financial advice such as how to get the best from electricity bills. A regular Collingwood Lecture Series also takes place at the Centre with topics ranging from Community safety to Community Justice. Visitors to the Hub can also use computers with internet access and use telephone services.
A key part of the centre’s success has been its ability to attract residents by creating a welcoming space. Nick he says people “see that the space is pretty much resident driven.” Residents sit on the steering committee for the information centre. New residents receive a welcome kit prepared by the centre and an invitation to a welcome lunch held once a month. Nick stated, “it’s a good chance for them to become engaged with the community…We find they keep coming back for all sorts of reasons.” Dropping in to the centre is often followed by residents signing up as volunteers. Nick said there is a “hell of a lot of meetings happening on or around the estate” for Committees, Working Groups and other activities and newcomers often come into close proximity to these. Nick Arnott stated that the centre opened its doors at the same time Neighbourhood Renewal came onto the housing estate. Neighbourhood Renewal has been enhanced by the presence of the information centre promoting community participation. Although initially the CCIC was not officially part of Neighbourhood Renewal, the two became closely entwined. “Over the three years the info centre’s been running,” he says, “it’s been a central hub, a central information hub for those of us residents involved with the Neighbourhood Renewal process.” It also functions as a way for residents to get in touch with advocates on the Neighbourhood advisory team.
At the CCIC’s third birthday celebration in late 2005 several residents gave personal testimonies on the centre. George Dahuod stated that being involved in the centre has “given me opportunities I basically never thought I could have. It’s given me a lot of incentive in life and .. a community I can be part of. I’m very grateful for that.” Resident Kim Lin Chau, who also trained as a community advocate, echoed her gratitude saying “without the information centre I wouldn’t be standing here.” Kim was recently awarded the state-wide Francis Pennington Award for her community participation. Shafiqa Naime offered a “million thanks” to the CCIC staff for “helping and guiding us”. Residents reflections implied the centre was equally important as a drop-in centre as an information service. Leon Vissentin reflected that the “CCIC means a great deal to me, due to the fact that I am a mental illness sufferer. I find great comfort in being able to drop in and have a chat and a great cup of coffee. I feel by CCIC being available to my self esteem and confidence. I also find great pleasure in seeing the disadvantaged in the community receive help and support in a professional, relaxed manner.” Nick indicated that combined the CCIC and Neighbourhood Renewal have generated a lot of community ownership through volunteer participation in committees, events and working groups. He says, “it’s a chance for people to feel that they actually own their community again.” CCIC Opening Hours: 1.00PM - 4PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday LINKS: Visit the Collingwood Grassroots website for news about community projects at Collingwood Estate
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