2002

12th June 2002
A Boost to Maitland's Welfare Services
All media are warmly welcome to attend the opening of Centacare Newcastle's Maitland premises this Friday June 14.

Centacare is the official welfare arm of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle and currently offers services in Newcastle, Muswellbrook, Singleton and Taree.

According to Centacare's Director, Mr Bryan Dunn, "we're very pleased to consolidate our services with an office in Maitland. We have been concerned for some time about our lack of presence in the lower Hunter area, and are glad to be now able to offer a more conveniently located service to the people of the Lower Hunter, Maitland and Coalfields areas. We look forward to having a base in Maitland which will allow us to work more closely with the local community to identify the specific needs of the area and to determine how we can best meet those needs".

Centacare strives to be a centre of excellence for family and community support services in the Hunter Region and beyond. The agency provides support to children in out of home care and their families, accommodation for homeless youth, job placement and training for disadvantaged young people, disability support and counselling for individuals, couples and families.

"We believe our services are a vital part of the Church's efforts to stand with and assist people who are in need or marginalised in our community" Mr Dunn said. "Initially, we will offer branches of our Children's Services programs and Counselling and Therapy services from the Maitland office".

Children's Services is Centacare's largest program. It will offer support from the Maitland office to children and families involved in long term foster care, and people seeking information and assistance regarding adoption. It will also operate a Supervised Access Program, providing supervised contact between children in out of home care and their birth families.

Centacare Counselling and Therapy Services will offer counselling for individuals, couples and families in Maitland and the Lower Hunter area. While counselling is offered on a fee for service basis, the financial circumstances of each client are taken into account.

Mr John Price, State Member for Maitland, will officially open the office. Mr Joel Fitzgibbon, Federal Member for Hunter and Shadow Minister for Resources, will also be in attendance.

OPENING DETAILS
When: Friday June 14 2002, 11.00 am
Where: 302-304 High Street, Maitland

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