Grant helps centre stay flexible to changes

Nambour Community Centre has received $161,000 to extend initiatives and ensure continuity of a raft of services.

Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien said the Centre’s Thriving Families and Family Support initiatives were vital for the families they supported.

“The way staff have adapted their programs to ensure families stay connected and supported while people are social distancing and staying at home is great, and it really shows how valuable these services are,” Mr O’Brien said. 

Mr O’Brien participated in one of the online classes the Centre had embraced to keep services running. 

“Doing a little bit of yoga with mums and bubs this morning was a humbling activity for someone who doesn’t usually do yoga,” he said. “But to see all these mums with these beautiful children hanging out and exercising together was a wonderful thing. 

“It’s amazing how it reminds us that no matter how hard the times might be, and these are difficult times, we all still want to be together. That’s who we are as human beings. There’s a role for the tax payer in this to make sure that organisations like the Nambour Community Centre can continue to do the wonderful work that they do.”

Thriving Families Coordinator Angela Rondo said the centre recognised the importance of remaining adaptable in changing times.

“We can engage with up to 300 people per week though our various programs,” she said. 

“Now we’ve been able to translate our programs into the online and social realms to provide support to people in the local area who are experiencing all sorts of difficulties and challenges around parenting, finances, accommodation health, mental health, and families who just want to connect and be a part of a thriving community.” 

More than $7 million in funding support was extended to eight organisations providing family services on the Coast, including the Community Centre. 

Ted O’Brien joined Yoga instructor Breena Furbell in leading a Yoga class with online participants.

Thriving Families Coordinator Angela Rondo said the centre needed to remain adaptable in changing times.