As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to affect regular life, Impact Bundaberg is urging locals to reach out for support if they are struggling.
Impact Community Services has put together a specialist support team that can help people facing a broad range of problems.
Impact specialises in supporting people through everyday life challenges, helping them to live, grow and prosper.
Now it has adapted quickly to the changing needs of community members experiencing challenges they’ve never faced before.
Sandra Higgins is leading the team, which includes specialists in:
- Your mental wellbeing;
- Domestic violence support;
- Child protection concerns,
- Support for the elderly,
- Assisting families in need;
- Understanding community notices effecting your personal circumstance; and
- Conversation and connection.
Ms Higgins said there were many ways IMPACT could help those in despair so they didn’t have to struggle alone.
“Many people don’t have the support network others enjoy,” Ms Higgins said.
“We can help in so many ways. It may be someone feeling anxious and needing another person to talk things through with; it may be someone needing some food or medication dropped to them if they are self-isolating or someone experiencing domestic violence.
“We want them to know we are here and we have people who can provide the support they need at this crucial time.
“There are many problems people will encounter and we’re in a unique position of being able to help and that’s what we will do.
“If we can’t solve a problem we will work with the person to connect them with the people that can.”
Ms Higgins said the decision to set up the team came after a couple from an outlying town in the wider Bundaberg region found themselves in isolation having returned to Australia and not having enough medical or food supplies in their home.
She said the couple reached out to IMPACT and a staff member was quickly assigned to organise the supplies and make the hour-long trip to deliver it to their door.
“They were in tears and so grateful for the assistance,” Ms Higgins said.
If you need support call IMPACT on 4153 4233 or freecall 1800 179 233 between 8am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday and you will be quickly talking to someone who can help in your time of need.
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