Services

AlintaCARE

The AlintaCARE scheme is designed to assist clients in financial hardship who are unable to currently pay a gas bill.

Prevention of disconnection is a first priority; however, recognition is given to the need for preventative action where there is a large debt, but no immediate threat of disconnection.

Agencies can send through 3 applications on the nominated days for up to $100 on behalf of a client. The scheme runs 12 times per financial year, once per month, but client’s can only access this once a financial year.

Clients should be encouraged to utilise Centrepay, Bill Smoothing, or direct debit to assist them to continue payments and maintain their accounts so that they are not in continuous financial difficulty.

Guidelines, Bill Smoothing flier and Application form can be downloaded from the Documents page.

Telstra Vouchers

We are now a sub agency through Anglicare for Telstra vouchers and this assists a client in financial difficulty to keep their phone on by vouchers to help pay the bill.

Strong Families

We received funding for one year to work intensively with a family under a case study plan that has been linked to the Strong Families meetings. This has included numerous hours assisting to obtain housing and maintain housing. Family support, medical, school support, working with the Department of Justice & supervised bail, attending court and a wide range of other support and activities. We are also the lead agency for other Government and Non government agencies to link into with regards to this family.

Bread and Morning Tea

Held once a week on Tuesday's , bread is collected and distributed to as part of social get together for clients. Many thanks extend to Diane Kow, who collected bread over the years, and due to medical issues, has passed the position onto Kevin Schurmann.

WA NILS

In Janurary 2000 WA NILS was started and we became one of the first members.

This has become extremely popular within the community for people who have no other way of procuring finance to replace or obtain items such as fridges and washing machines. The program allows individuals on low incomes and Centrelink payments to apply for an interest free loan to purchase an item up to the value of $1000. Clients have the option of repaying this loan over a 12-18 month period through Centre Pay or direct debit.

The Jacaranda Community Centre has become a leader in providing support for Aboriginal members of the community to apply for these loans as well as other community members and many hours per week are taken up with the loan applications.

OTHER CORE SERVICES

• Open environment for community members to meet three days a week to share experiences over a coffee
• Casework, information and options in housing, appeals, court work, submissions, restraining orders and all issues involving domestic violence
• Casework, information, options and negotiation on consumer credit issues
• Assistance to obtain State, private and community housing and assistance to obtain goods to start off a home
• Family support services and counselling
• Indigenous family support under the Metropolitan Model of Aboriginal Family Support
• Voluntary bill paying
• Government and non-government service negotiations and support
• Debt negotiation with Synergy, Alinta, Water Corp and Telstra, commercial debt collectors, banks, financial institutions, pawnbrokers and other creditors
• Budgeting and financial counselling
• Emergency relief to assist in a crisis in conjunction with a case plan
• Bankruptcy information and assistance if no other option
• Assisting with homelessness
• Home visits and support under a family case management approach
• Centrelink issues such as assistance to fill in forms, dealing with overpayments, loans, claims rejected or cancelled, financial hardship (emergency payments), Centrepay, income statements, child support information and applications for assistance, Centrelink reviews
• Some child support and tax support letters
• Assistance and referrals for drug and alchohol issues
• Family mediation and mediation between families and government departments
• Income Management