Focusing on community engagement in Morwell
After two years of COVID disruptions, the Our Place Morwell team are focusing on re-engaging with the community.
Due to COVID restrictions over the past few years, families have not been able to participate in on site activities. Keeping this in mind and knowing how important it is for parents and carers to feel a sense of connection with the site, as COVID restrictions have eased, the Our Place Morwell team are focusing on the re-introduction of on site activities, supports and programs for the community.
Parent information session
With the support of Goodstart Early Learning and Morwell4Kids, a Berry Street initiative, an information session was held for parents and carers of babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers. This information session aimed to support parents and carers explore ways to help ensure their children become and remain confident learners. Tips around simple activities that could be done at home to help children learn and thrive were discussed, and each participant was able to take home a free ‘busy bag’ that included a range of learning resources and activities.
The Our Place approach recognises that children are ready to learn from birth. We also know that positive, stimulating learning environments from birth – including their home environment – provide a solid foundation for development. Initiatives such as this information session can assist families to feel empowered and supported in developing positive home learning environments and engaging in their children’s educational journeys.
Increasing awareness of adult education opportunities
Increasing the communities awareness of locally available adult education and employment supports has been another focus. Previous community consultations undertaken by Our Place demonstrated that the community are seeking more knowledge about adult education, employment support and want to engage in formal and informal adult learning opportunities. In response to these needs and in collaboration with TAFE Gippsland and Gippsland Employment Skills Training, a free community BBQ was held on site. This event allowed the community to meet with these services, ask questions and explore available opportunities and supports.
Hosting informal events such as the community BBQ supports warm referrals, which are integral to the Our Place approach. They also provide the community with opportunities to informally meet with service providers, which helps foster relationships, and familiarity with services can begin to develop. These interactions also help community members identify support services that meet their needs and help build confidence in connecting with services.
Craft Central, a weekly free art and craft class for adults has also commenced along with a monthly General Practioner service. The fortnightly Maternal Child Health service is also still available, and the Morwell Women’s Group and Playgroup have also resumed on site.
For more information about the Our Place Approach, including the five key elements that guide our work click HERE