Neighbourhood Centre Week 2023 a chance to reconnect with your Community Centre

The Yeppoon Community Centre has long been known for its welcoming atmosphere, friendly team and wide variety of important services, and next week you’re invited to help celebrate the key role it plays in Livingstone.

Neighbourhood Centre Week, happening across Australia from 8 to 14 May 2023, is a nationwide initiative to celebrate the role of over 1,000 Neighbourhood and Community Houses and Centres.

This year's theme is 'Locals connecting Locals', aiming to raise awareness around the importance of human connection.

As part of the nationwide initiative to celebrate the role of community, neighbourhood, resource and learning centres, free cupcakes will be handed out at Yeppoon’s Bay Plaza on Wednesday and Friday, with residents encouraged to share these sweet treats and a conversation with their neighbours.

To help foster connection and tackle loneliness experienced by some residents, the Community Centre is also hosting a Garden Gathering at 11am Tuesday 9 May, and will continue each Tuesday for the month of May, with soup provided by Lure Living.

Portfolio holder of Healthy and Inclusive Community, Councillor Pat Eastwood, said one in six people is currently living with depression, anxiety, depression, or both.

“Recent studies have shown that loneliness and feelings of disconnection are increasingly prevalent in society and contribute to a myriad of related problems. These can range from general physical and emotional ill-health, to depression, substance abuse, domestic violence, crime and even suicide,” Cr Eastwood said.

“That’s why the Yeppoon Community Centre is such a vital service to residents in need of guidance and support, especially during the challenging times many of the Shire’s residents are currently facing, following the impacts of Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis.

“The centre and its team do fantastic work year-round, and Neighbourhood Centre Week (NCW) provides a real opportunity to celebrate this and extend its reach out to those in the community who may not yet be aware what their local centre has to offer.

“It offers a broad range of services to those in need including general information and referral assistance, outreach services, networking and social events, participation in programmes and activities which build skills, affordable meeting spaces for local community groups, and life-long learning opportunities.

“Not to mention the list of workshops, discussions, displays and social events in areas such as arts and crafts, health and fitness, computing and IT, and personal development which are also held frequently at the centre.

“Council is extremely proud to be able to provide these important services, which are partly funded through the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, to the local community.”

For more information about the Community Centre, please visit https://www.livingstone.qld.gov.au/communitycentre or phone 07 4913 3840.

You can drop in anytime between the hours of 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, at 80 John Street, Yeppoon.