IMPACT Community Services expands with two new local sites
IMPACT Community Services’ footprint in the Fraser Coast community
is growing in response to community need, with two new sites opening in a matter of weeks.
In Hervey Bay and beyond, IMPACT is working with CoAct Connect to deliver the Australian Government’s new specialist disability employment program, Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA).
Expansion is also taking shape for IMPACT’s health and support programs
on the Fraser Coast, with Intensive Family Support; Hope, Empower, Resilience and Enable (HERE); Family Mental Health Support Services; and Group Based Peer Recovery Support moving to a new premises recently.
Jenna Morrish, IMPACT’s General Manager of Disability, Employment and Training, said that the IEA program’s Fraser Coast launch on 1 November marked a crucial expansion milestone for IMPACT.
“We haven’t been in the Fraser Coast in this industry yet,” she said.
“It’s incredibly exciting for us because we can have a footprint in employment services with wraparound support for people living with disabilities.”
“It’s all about what we can do in community.”
“We’re there to uplift people with disabilities and support them to achieve their goals.”
Ms Morrish congratulated and thanked the Fraser Coast team for going above and beyond expectations in the early weeks of the program.
“Our team in Fraser have placed four people living with disability already after only two and half weeks, so that’s a fantastic achievement,” she said.
“They’re already doing, for example, payments for bikes to get them to employment.”
The IEA program operates out of The Signature Building, 21 Torquay Rd, Pialba.
The building also hosts WorkFit, which is IMPACT’s employability support program.
Meanwhile, IMPACT’s health and support programs are now housed at 3/381 Esplanade, Torquay.
Nancy Oosterhof, IMPACT’s General Manager of Health and Support, said establishing an accessible space that accommodates the team while serving community needs is essential.
“The move for us is really timely to be able to deliver supports and expand our service offering,” she said.
“We were unable to deliver some group programs on-site and we’ve had to forego some other opportunities because of limited infrastructure.
“With the new premises, it enables us to create workstations for staff, provide spaces for group programs, and accommodate even more programs in future.”
The team is now operational at the new site. The premises features child-safe infrastructure, free on-street and off-street parking, and neighbouring parkland, with amenities and transport only a stone’s throw away.
Ms Oosterhof expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre for housing IMPACT’s Live programs over the past three years.
“We really appreciate the Neighbourhood Centre for supporting us for this time.”
“It’s been fantastic being able to develop the programs alongside other community service offerings.”
For more information on these programs, visit our website: https://impact.org.au
