A strong sense of community can make all the difference to the wellbeing of people in regional areas. In the country town of Boonah, residents find connection at the Carinity Fassifern Community Centre, a social hub that recently celebrated 40 years of serving the local community.
Community Development Coordinator, Samantha Caves, estimates the centre has cooked over 50,000 sausages over the years at its popular Friday barbeques, but the impact of a simple snag on bread goes far beyond feeding people.
"For residents who are new to the district, or perhaps feeling isolated or going through a hard time, we're here to offer a listening ear, link to local services and provide social opportunities," Samantha said.
"We have over one thousand people walking through the doors every month to seek support and attend activities, which include low-cost fitness and wellness classes, a carers support group, music sing-along, social bingo, bible study, and community café.
"In addition to our regular timetable, we host a range of public awareness and social events throughout the year, including the annual Health & Wellness Expo.
"This free expo brings the community together each October during Queensland Mental Health Week to learn from allied health services and focus on self-care."
With social inclusion at the heart of Carinity Fassifern Community Centre, the service has responded to a local need by establishing employment pathways that connect residents to long-term sustainable careers.
Samantha said that funding from the State Government's Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative had enabled the centre to offer Certificate III in Individual Support qualifications.
"Boonah has higher than average levels of socio-economic disadvantage in terms of employment, income levels and education," she said.
"Our program addresses this disadvantage by offering fee-free training in aged care and disability support, which are among the most in-demand industries for jobs in Australia.
"In recognition of its successful work skills program, the centre recently received the Community Training Initiative of the Year award for the south-east Queensland region. Samantha said she was thrilled to receive the prestigious award on behalf of Carinity.
"We have been running the work skills program since 2018 and have helped almost 200 people in this time, with over 90% of graduates achieving employment within their chosen field," Samantha said.
"Participants include people from diverse cultures, women re-entering the workforce, people with disability, Indigenous Australians, and job seekers who are young, mature aged or disadvantaged.
"It's wonderful to have received formal accolades for our achievements, but what's most important is knowing that we're making a real difference to people in our community.
"Our success as a community centre is based on providing practical support that responds to local needs, such as assistance with the No Interest Loans Scheme, acting as an agent for Services Australia and facilitating the Carinity Connections program, which offers free yard maintenance for the elderly and vulnerable.
"Many of our events and activities are undertaken in partnership with local community groups and supported by a team of staff and volunteers absolutely dedicated to building an inclusive and connected community now and into the future."
The Fassifern Community Centre was born from the efforts of various local churches who rallied for support services in the area. Four decades later, the centre has firmly cemented its reputation for assisting people from all walks of life to actively participate and contribute to an equitable and resilient region.
