Why join the ‘Foundation’?
There are always rich, personal rewards when the people who
live in a community become involved in identifying and
addressing community issues and needs.
Communities in Cardinia have a strong rural cultural heritage, known traditionally for helping each other in times of need, this community spirit is in danger of fading away as the area gets integrated into metropolitan Melbourne.
Brian Paynter, Chairman of the Cardinia Foundation says we walk past people in need everyday. “Many people lead lives in quiet desperation,” he says. “They could be living in your street or be the families of the kids your children play with”
Cardinia Shire Council’s Youth Services Department agrees that there is a growing demand for emergency relief.
“Homelessness is on the increase but its takes the form of ‘couch surfing’- a couple of nights and there at different places. Because there are no housing services for youth here they don’t register on the system”
Figures gathered recently on Before and After School Hours Care use how a high percentage, up to forty-three percent in some areas, of families using the service have incomes less than $33,000 per annum and many of these families have more than one child.
