Busselton’s only community centre The People Place has been given another lifeline with funding extended until June 2020 after the WA Government declined its eligibility for the Empowering Communities Program.
The extension has provided some relief to the centre after The People Place faced an uncertain future throughout the last six months.
Earlier this year, the Department of Communities informed neighbourhood family centres across WA they had five weeks to apply for the new Empowering Communities Program.
The People Place was previously funded by the Community and Neighbourhood Development Services program.
More than 3000 people use services at the centre through a number of different community groups, which offer support to some of the most isolated members of the community.
Department of Communities acting assistant director general Brad Jolly said the new program aimed to empower communities to be connected and inclusive places where people felt they belonged, were valued and could contribute.
Mr Jolly said there were a large volume of offers received by the department and while he could not advise what criteria the People Place did not meet because of confidentiality, he did confirm they were not recommended.
”The WA Government recognises the services The People Place provide to the community and will continue funding to June 30, 2020,” he said.
“The department will work with them to enhance their service model in line with the CNDS program to ensure they provide the best service to children, families and communities in the Busselton area.”
The People Place chairman Tony Robinson said the 18 month extension was a positive outcome because the situation of leaving Busselton without a community centre at this moment in time seemed ridiculous.
Mr Robinson said the state government have agreed to work with the centre and other stakeholders to get to a point where both the government and People Place’s strategies could be harmonic.
He said the reasons given for the tender being denied were small issues and he was hopeful the government would continue looking at Busselton.
“In their response, they acknowledged there was a gap and that acknowledgement gave us a better opportunity to sit down and sort the problem out,” he said.
“I am involved and want to work with them, the reasons were very minimal it will be very easy for us to correct those and bring us in line with their strategy.”
Mr Robinson said during the next 18 months they needed to work to make sure Busselton had a community centre which could be supported by government.
“We believe it is, and if the government wants us to make some changes we can, as those changes are all positive,” he said.
Vasse MLA Libby Mettam said it was of some relief the organisation were assured funding up until 2020, given they were the only support service of its kind in the region.
Ms Mettam said to be told they were unsuccessful in the morning and then to be provided advice their contract would be extended for 18 months hours later was disconcerting.
“It is essential that strong locally supported community centres are supported without any further uncertainty going forward,” she said.
“The People Place currently support more than 3000 people and this will continue to grow in conjunction with community growth and demand.
“I will be advocating strongly for the staff at The People Place and for the community to ensure the funding is assured and delivered beyond 2020.”
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