Community Connections Project Worker at the Bendigo Library
Bendigo Community Health Services has a Community Connections Project Worker based at the Bendigo Library, with the dual purpose of assisting staff and patrons.
The role of the project worker is to help people who are experiencing disadvantage to connect to support services.
We recognise that libraries are one of the few places where all people feel they belong. With rising costs of living, homelessness and mental health challenges, it’s more and more common for people who are vulnerable to seek out the comforts and services of libraries, such as free Wi-Fi and computer time.
The project worker meets people where they are at and supports them to link with mental health services, dental services, other health services, food relief, obtaining identification documents and more.
The worker also mentors library staff in the work they already do to serve their patrons.
“I believe the best way to support someone is to build a human connection first, and to value and hear someone as a person. Treating people with the knowledge of who that person can be allows them to potentially start to see themselves that way, and to treat themselves that way.” – Community Connections Project Worker Karl Quast.
“Karl makes me feel confident in myself to help people I otherwise wouldn’t be able to help.” - Bendigo Library staff member.
The Community Connections project is a collaboration between Bendigo Community Health Services, the City of Greater Bendigo and Goldfields Library Corporation, with funding from the Department of Justice and Community.
