Those unsure of what health and support services are available to them will soon benefit from a one-stop-shop for many organisations in the region.
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Gunnedah Shire Council and Hunter New England Health (HNEH) have joined forces to hold a Community Information Day this month to link the community to services that are available.
The free event will be held at the Gunnedah Town Hall on Saturday, August 22 from 9am-2pm.
Gunnedah mayor Jamie Chaffey said when things happened in people's lives and they were faced with a stressful situation that caused a need for help, it could be challenging to know where to turn.
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"Our community has been dealing with a lot in the last four years, with the extended period of drought, the onset and effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and, during 2020, many other tragic events that have touched the lives of many in our community," Cr Chaffey said.
"We understand it can be very confusing trying to understand where to find help and which service providers offer the type of assistance you need.
"We have a strong network of support services in Gunnedah shire, but people need to be aware of what they are, what they provide, where they are and whether they are suitable for their needs."
Cr Chaffey said that the council and HNEH agreed that it would be beneficial to hold a community event to "provide the opportunity for [locals] to engage with representatives from the many providers of health and support services in our region".
"These will include mental health services, counselling services and support services to help with day-to-day challenges including finances and charity assistance. The information day will be for people of all ages and all walks of life," he said.
This day offers a free and friendly opportunity to speak to representatives from participating organisations.
- Mayor Jamie Chaffey
A HNEH spokesperson said the organisation was still determining which particular services it would provide due to the "current COVID situation".
"We will be providing mental health clinicians to provide information, and we're working with council and other not-for-profit support services in the community to ensure we have the appropriate representation there," they said.
The event will include a COVID-19 management plan, with social distancing, sanitiser and electronic check-in at the door, along with COVID-19 marshalls.
"This day offers a free and friendly opportunity to speak to representatives from participating organisations," Cr Chaffey said.
Other services on-hand include financial counsellors, youth services, family services, charities, job agencies and community health services.