By Jenna Hutton Murdoch
Avocare Community Connect is empowering people and providing support to Greater Dandenong.
Its Dandenong South warehouse hosted Federal Bruce MP Julian Hill and Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus on Wednesday 12 April.
Avocare invited the MPs to visit to illustrate its impact on the community through emergency food relief, essential material aid and programs for Work for the Dole participants referred from local Job Active Providers.
Mr Hill and Mr Dreyfus were shown on a map the 100-plus charities that accessed Avocare assistance and were surprised by the scope of vital relief disseminated in the South East.
Keith Vethaat works for one of the charities, Transit Soup Kitchen.
“Without Avocare, Transit alone could not provide food relief to our 900 families – 2000 individuals – on a weekly basis,” he said.
Avocare’s workforce includes Work for the Dole participants who learn employability and industry-based skills while supporting the community.
Managing director Trish Keilty told the visitors that Avocare often employed former Work for the Dole participants as supervisors.
“Avocare supports sustainable employment and encourages commitment to the community,” she said.
