What is the service?
The Community Support Service supports Indigenous community members and their families by providing links and referrals to a range of mainstream and Indigenous services which may include welfare and social support, family violence, child care, legal, housing and health (including drug and alcohol services), housing, child care and legal. The role will also entail the development and fostering of relationships with other service providers through promoting access and pathways to their services.
The Community Support Service provides funding to 87 priority locations/clusters (representing 140 communities). These were identified, primarily on the basis of communities with significant Indigenous populations, including locations that had been part of the CDEP reforms. The providers are situated in selected urban and regional locations, including capital cities, major regional centres and some smaller regional communities.
Why is this service being provided?
The Community Support Service aims to build on successful elements of the former CDEP program, by linking Indigenous people and their families to other services and support in their region.
By better linking Indigenous people to community services, the Community Support Service will support social inclusion and community cohesion. The Service will also assist in closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in accessing services and information.
What can you expect from your service provider?
The Community Support Service will have a welcoming place where Indigenous people and their families can go for help to find a service to meet their personal needs and to access the internet.
Community Support Service staff will have a good knowledge of the range of Indigenous and mainstream services available to help local Indigenous community members. They will have developed relationships with these services so that they are able to refer individuals.
Selected applicants
On 1 July 2009 the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, announced the successful organisations selected to deliver the Community Support Service. A further four locations, required a second selection process, and were announced on 22 October 2009.
Organisations received around $150,000 per year, for three years for each location and were operational from July 2009. The final four locations were operational from November 2009.
The Application Guidelines for the Community Support Service selection process can be obtained at Community Support Service Round 2 Application Guidelines.
Who is delivering the service and where?
63 organisations are being funded to deliver the Community Support Service across the 87 locations/clusters.
The contact details for the 87 Community Support Service locations/ clusters.
Contact Information
Further information about the Community Support Service is available by emailing:
communitysupport@fahcsia.gov.au
A TTY service for people who have a hearing or speech impediment is available via 1800 260 402.
A TTY phone is required for this service.