AT the heart of the community at Guyra is The Hub, and this year the team has expanded its services.
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Centre coordinator Chris Hietbrink said there are a lot more organisations that now use their facilities to conduct work with clients.
“These organisations that work out of here are compelled to outreach to Guyra, some try to get around it by saying that people can go to Armidale but we really fight that because there is a transport issue,” Mrs Hietbrink said.
The facility is used by Pathfinders, Guyra Family Support, job providers, massage and holistic services and much more.
Mrs Hietbrink said that no matter what the problem, the staff at The Hub at Guyra will be able to help or find someone who can.
“Our facility is a great hub for all of these providers to come and meet with their clients,” she said.
“A lot of places need somewhere for an hour and this is the place they can do that in a neutral space.
“We are the catalyst for these services to be able to operate in the community.”
The Hub at Guyra provides a referral service to many people that are challenged with mental health issues, domestic violence or physical disabilities.
“Our job is to make sure you walk out of here with the information you need to be able to get where you need to go,” Mrs Hietbrink said.
“We’re really here for whatever anyone needs in the community, we’ve never turned anyone away.
“It’s very important that people feel welcome, safe and that they feel they’ll have a solution or a pathway to a solution.”
There are many people in the community that struggle to come forward and ask for help.
“It takes a long time to make people in the community feel comfortable going to ask for help, it is the most difficult thing in the world,” Mrs Hietbrink said.
“It is exceptionally difficult if there is a problem associated such as domestic violence, financial loss, family breakup or mental health – that makes it tremendously difficult to walk through that door as say, ‘Can you help me?’”