Support for vulnerable community members

The City's dedicated support hotline is now live on 1800 729 655.

The risk of serious illness from Coronavirus (COVID-19) increases with age and the preventative measure of social distancing is likely to lead to social isolation and loneliness amongst the most vulnerable members of the community.

The City of Stirling has provided invaluable services for older people, people with disability and their carers for more than 30 years, and our Community Care Services remain operational with increased hygiene and infection control measures in place. 

These services include: 

• Domestic assistance
• Social support
• Accompanied and unaccompanied shopping
• Meal preparation
• Medication prompts
• Personal care
• Transport for medical appointments.

Effective immediately, the City has opted to remove client fees for these services and reduce meal fees for all Home and Community Care (HACC) and Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) recipients over the next two months. 

The Stirling Women’s Centre which provides crisis accommodation and support services for women and children who have experienced family and domestic violence also remains operational with increased hygiene and infection control measures in place.

“Now more than ever we need to look after our community,” Mayor Irwin said. “The City of Stirling has the experience and capability to quickly respond to emerging needs due to the spread of COVID-19, and support for the most vulnerable people in the community is now one of our highest priorities.”

A number of new services are being implemented to further support our community, including:

• A dedicated support hotline 1800 729 655 for seniors and people with a disability, multicultural and Aboriginal communities, families and young people available
• Welfare checks for Stirling Community Care clients, Stirling Men’s Shed members, and Senior Citizen Club members who can longer attend social support groups
• Increased meals on wheels production from 500 to 1,000 meals per day in anticipation of increased community demand
• Distribution of emergency packs containing toiletry and sanitary items to identified vulnerable individuals and families.

With all community buildings now closed based on Government advice, the City is making some of them available to community service organisations with arrangements currently being finalised to enable a community centre kitchen to be used for the preparation of meals for the homeless.

“In this time of need, we are willing to make our community buildings available to the State Government or community service organisations so they can temporarily deliver services for at risk people in the community, including those experiencing homelessness” Mayor Irwin said.