By CASEY NEILL
BRAND New Day is growing and so are the people visiting the care and empowerment service.
Manager Margo Hartley opened the converted home in Foster Street East, Dandenong, in November last year.
“Things are going very well here,” she said.
“We’ve got so many volunteers offering to do things. The garden looks beautiful.
“We’re running nearly three courses a day.
“It is the joy and the smiles on their faces – it warms your heart.”
Brand New Day is designed to help people in need to learn skills and make friends through classes in life skills, referral assistance, counseling and support.
The help she’s received has exceeded Mrs Hartley’s expectations – as has the demand. There are more than 140 people on the Brand New Day books.
“We are getting mainly refugees and migrants,” she said.
“The reason I started this place up was I knew there were a lot of Aussie battlers out there.”
She said many refugees were not permitted to work.
“We’re finding that a lot of those people are depressed, can’t get out of bed in the morning to get here to their courses,” she said.
“I would love to start a course on depression.”
Mrs Hartley recalled one man who came in for help writing a resume.
“He came in and said ’thank you for all your help, it’s just been great. I was going to commit suicide two weeks ago’,” she said.
“If that’s all you’ve done, it’s been worth it.”
Courses running include basic computers, English as a second language, handyman skills, parenting, health and nutrition, sewing, and cooking on a budget.
Dandenong Pavilion presents the cooking class and risotto, calamari and bruschetta are on the menu.
“When they arrive for the cooking class they’re full of life and they can’t wait,” Mrs Hartley said.
“It’s lovely to see so much joy.”
The National Australia Bank donated heaters for the winter and will run a budgeting course.
“We’re just about to start up a family violence with a professional facilitator,” Mrs Hartley said.
“We’re very lucky because we’re not under any umbrella.
“Funded places can only do a certain amount. If we notice a need, we can do something about it.”
Brand New Day has a counseling room, laundry facilities, a children’s room, a bungalow in the back garden and job seeker area with four computers.
“If required we even have a wardrobe of clothing they may choose from when attending interviews,” Mrs Hartley said.
Brand New Day is at 211 Foster Street East, Dandenong, and is open 9am to 5pm weekdays.
Call 8774 3130 for more information.
