By DANIELLE GALVIN
A NEW welfare service provider has started up in Pakenham to deal with the needs of the growing population.
CatholicCare Gippsland held the official launch of their new office in Rogers Street on Wednesday afternoon.
It was officially opened by Archbishop-Elect Canberra-Goulburn, Christopher Prowse as well as Cardinia Shire councillors, CatholicCare CEO Fr Joe Caddy and McMillan MP Russell Broadbent.
Family Relationship Programs Manager Anthea Dacy said the former 1970s house would be the new home of the organisation in Pakenham.
“A parishioner, who prefers to remain nameless, committed the use of the building indefinitely for this purpose,” she said.
Ms Dacy said the facility would service people in Pakenham as well as the wider Cardinia, Casey and Gippsland communities.
“It could be counselling, community development, or we could be working in the post-separation space, so when families have broken up,” she said.
“We also focus on refugees and new settlers, as a substantial part of the new population in Pakenham is made up of refugees and new settlers.”
The office will be open to vulnerable people in the community and the organisation believes the need has become more apparent in Pakenham.
“The decision was made about 12 months ago when the building was purchased so it has taken a little while,” she said.
“CatholicCare is part of the diocese of Sale, which runs from Hallam Road to Mallacoota, up to the mountains taking in Omeo.
“Most of the population of the diocese lives on the Melbourne side of Pakenham.
“The area of the greatest need is Pakenham and up that way.”
Ms Dacy said they would expect to service people in Berwick, Cranborne, Narre Warren and Officer.
“Narre Warren has the fifth largest Roman Catholic parish in Australia,” she said.
“This is an interesting area for us – it’s not the old traditional Catholic base, there are some relatively new arrivals who bring their own version of Catholicism and cultural backgrounds.”
Ms Dacy said they were thrilled with the new office, although the kitchen needed an upgrade. she said there would be counselling rooms and it was a great space.
“We are hoping to run cooking classes in the new year with members of the African community,” she said.
“We expect to draw people from Longwarry right to Hallam.”
