A NEW community hub planned for Belgrave will provide upgraded facilities with disability access to accommodate numerous community services under the one roof.
The Belgrave Community Hub will house services including the council’s maternal and child health, youth and aged and disability services.
It will also be home to community health service provider Inspiro and the Dandenong Ranges Emergency Relief service.
Yarra Ranges Mayor Maria McCarthy said the hub would provide services that complemented those offered by GPs.
“The Belgrave Community Hub is not about offering identical services to those provided by a GP,” Cr McCarthy said.
“While there is a good supply of GPs for residents in Belgrave and surrounding areas, the same can’t be said for a range of other allied health services.
“The community hub will help us respond to the high demand in the Belgrave area for allied health, family and children and dental services, as well as specialist services including social support for older people and people experiencing family violence.”
Cr McCarthy said the council and Inspiro were also keen to see mental health services, such as Headspace, provide outreach from the hub for young people experiencing mental health issues.
Visiting counselling services for victims of sexual assault or people experiencing financial hardship were also expected to operate from the hub.
“Currently, these types of services are not readily available in this area, and the public dental waiting list for people needing dentures is around three years.
“The new community hub will provide these important services and support networks to those who are most in need.”
Inspiro chief executive officer Karyn McPeake said the new health hub would also respond to the need for upgraded facilities to accommodate many community services that were operating out of unsuitable buildings.
“Many buildings currently used are difficult to access for elderly clients or people with disabilities, which can make it difficult to attract other community service providers to operate out of Belgrave,” Ms McPeake said.
“Everyone who visits us for services deserves to be treated in a comfortable and pleasant environment and the health hub is vital to improve and increase our services in the local area for a healthier community.”
Cr McCarthy said the Belgrave Community Hub had received tremendous support from people in the community.
“This is a very exciting project for our community which we believe will support the wonderful work GPs provide in this area,” Cr McCarthy said.
“We look forward to meeting with local GPs to discuss this project further and look at how this facility can support their practices through its range of complementary services.”
