By ANEEKA SIMONIS
ISSUES related to mental health, family violence, education, employment and population growth in Cardinia Shire are being carefully considered by leaders looking to create a better future for children and families in the area.
In recent weeks, notable community leaders gathered to discuss problems facing highly disadvantaged pockets of the shire including housing, cultural diversity, financial hardship, planning, family violence, food security, drug and alcohol abuse.
Forum organisers Anglicare Pakenham said local service providers were struggling to keep up with the issues faced by residents flocking into the shire at a rate of five families per day.
Instead, they suggested the community relieve some of the pressure and work toward improving key areas impacting local residents.
Seven community-led experiments are currently underway in the shire to improve local well-being.
Emerald Secondary College will be trialled under a program aimed at improving the mental health of students.
Teachers will be provided greater access to help resources for students as part of the project which may be duplicated across all other schools in the shire.
Housing affordability was also flagged as a major area of concern of single-parent families struggling with issues related to improper property sizes and reluctance from estate agents.
Program leaders have committed to developing relationships with housing developers and investment groups to promote potential investment benefits in taking on single parent families.
Strategies to help improve youth employment opportunities for recent-school leavers were also highlighted as a top priority.
The social projects will be reviewed early next year with plans for a follow up forum due to be held in April.
