EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

                            Maitland Partnership Wins Anglicare SA Award

The Maitland based Emergency Relief Program has received an Award for Innovation during the annual Anglicare Quality Awards held recently.  The Emergency Relief Program operated in partnership with the Magdalene Centre, which is part of Anglicare.

The Magdalene Centre offers services to low income, homeless and marginalised people of inner and central Adelaide.  The Maitland Emergency Relief Program operates from the CHATT Centre, 3 Robert Street, Maitland and offers assistance to low income, homeless and marginalised people from across Central Yorke Peninsula.

Anglicare's Magdalene Centre Manager Jo Wickes presented the award in Maitland on 13th November 2007.  She said "The partnership between a diverse range of organisations was a great example of what can be achieved for disadvantaged and marginalised people when people work collaboratively and creatively.

"Recognising the importance of local knowledge and expertise has been the key to getting assistance to the people who need it most and in the most efficient way."

The Emergency Relief Program Coordinator Belinda Dutschke said "We're delighted to win the award.  Working with the Magdalene Centre had led us to extend our emergency aid to better meet the needs of the increasing number of people requesting assistance."

The Maitland Emergency Relief Program has also had another win recently, with the funding body FACSIA (Commonwealth Dept. for Families, Communities and Indigenous Affairs) increasing the funding to the program.

Ms Wickes said "We are actively seeking strategic partnerships to add value to the emergency relief program and are working with rural financial counsellors, the No Interest Loan Scheme and the drought assistance program to explore opportunities to better assist people who experience poverty, are marginalised and excluded in the Central Yorke Peninsula region."

The success is due to the collaboration between the CHATT Centre, Maitland & District Progress Association Inc., the Anglican parish, workers from the Maitland Hospital, workers form the Point Pearce Community Health Centre and the tireless work of the volunteers from the Maitland area who conduct interviews and gather resources each week.

For further information regarding volunteering in this program or to receive assistance please contact the CHATT Centre on (08) 8832 3174.

Contacts:

Anglicare's Magdalene Centre Manager Jo Wickes        (08) 8305 9381                  0411 723 674

Maitland Emergency Relief Program Coordinator Belinda Dutschke                          0418 859 827

Anglicare Minister Simon Waters                                                                     0403 971816