Bell hopes petition will lead to action

Local MP congratulates community on epic effort

Country agency ac.care will host a Limestone Coast Showcase on May 16 to highlight the social issues affecting the region, what services are available and how the community can support people in need.

Key staff working in family services, emergency relief and homelessness support, foster care and community partnerships will give insight into the current situation within the Limestone Coast and how ac.care is working to achieve positive outcomes.

Held at Mount Gambier City Hall from 5.30pm, the two-hour presentation will also include guest speaker Glyn Scott, a domestic violence survivor who now uses her experience to support other victims.

ac.care chief executive officer Shane Maddocks said the free, public event would provide insight into the issues affecting country South Australians and help educate residents on what support services are available in their area.

“ac.care is focused on early intervention and prevention services to support our mission for all country people to have a safe home, enough money to live on and strong, positive relationships,”

Mr Maddocks said.

“We hope that by showcasing our agency’s Limestone Coast services, we can help educate our community, learn from members of the public and build on new and existing relationships we have in the region to increase our impact and break cycles of disadvantage.”

Mr Maddocks encouraged civic leaders, professionals and interested community members to attend the showcase and meet with staff of the organisation, which formed in 1986 due to a lack of teenage foster care services in Mount Gambier.

“ac.care is currently embarking on engaging our communities around a long-term vision and strategy focused on providing earlier support together to break cycles of disadvantage for vulnerable people,” Mr Maddocks said.

“Public forums such as this are a great place to learn more from our communities about the issues residents face and how we can all play a part in empowering and supporting country people.

“We know ac.care can’t make this change alone and that is why we invite all members of the public to attend this showcase event so they can learn from us and we can listen to them.”

Tickets for the ac.care Limestone Coast Showcase are available at www.bit.ly/accareshowcase

Attendees are warned the presentation will feature strong themes, including family and sexual violence.

The event qualifies as a Continual Professional Development activity.

WALKING TOGETHER: ac.care marketing and communications manager Jason Wallace, Family Services project manager Kaitlin Creek and Limestone Coast foster care service manager Sherri Winter encourage residents to attend the Limestone Coast ac.care Showcase event on May 16.

Member for Mount Gambier

Troy Bell has congratulated the Radiation Treatment Working Party and wider community on the impressive number of signatures garnered in the fight for expanded cancer treatment services in the region.

“It is an amazing effort by our community and the wider community,” Mr Bell said. “I am looking forward to it being tabled.”

The Member for Mount Gambier also had some good news surrounding the cost for the feasibility study.

“On a positive note, I’ve been in discussions with the Health Minister and the $80,000 for the study will be picked up by the State Government and not come out of the Limestone Coast Local Health Network.”

Mr Bell welcomed the chance for the radiation treatment services case to be investigated in the halls of power and hoped it would lead to a positive outcome.

“There are still questions around radiation therapy in Mount Gambier and I am really hopeful this legislative review as well as the business case feasibility study will put them to rest and we can proceed with a united front to seek funding from the State Government.”

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