Wagga Wagga City Council is launching the refreshed Can We Help? Wagga Wagga campaign, a community awareness initiative, with the sponsorship of $50,000 and support from the Wagga Wagga Medicare Mental Health Centre.
The Can We Help? campaign aims to connect vulnerable people in our community and their support networks with key information on the services available from local agencies such as youth-specific crisis accommodation, homelessness, housing, domestic and family violence, food security, gambling and financial counselling, mental health and wellbeing support services.
Council’s Community Development Coordinator Alex Osgood said that encouraging positive help-seeking behaviours and connecting people with help is a priority for the campaign.
“Everyone in our community deserves to be safe and supported. But we often hear that looking for assistance can be initially quite overwhelming and difficult to differentiate,” Ms Osgood said.
“Working with Grand Pacific Health and the Wagga Medicare Mental Health Centre, this new iteration of the Can We Help? campaign has allowed us to create three distinct resources for children and youth, adults and older adults.
“Can We Help? connects people with key services and supports to get started, it is not an exhaustive listing, and we recognise that many other valuable services are available beyond those listed in the resources.”
Can We Help? Wagga Wagga is possible with the sponsorship and support from the Wagga Wagga Medicare Mental Health Centre.
Grand Pacific Health – Manager Murrumbidgee Innes Clarke said that this project is an important piece of primary prevention work for our city.
“The Can We Help? campaign is a valuable opportunity to strengthen community wellbeing through early intervention and prevention,” Mr Clarke said.
“At Grand Pacific Health, we see the importance of helping people access the right support at the right time. By making information about local services more visible and accessible, this initiative empowers individuals, families and support networks to recognise when help may be needed and take that important first step.
“Grand Pacific Health is proud to support this initiative and contribute to a more connected, informed and supportive community. Through our Wagga Wagga Medicare Mental Health Centre, we know that reaching out for support can feel overwhelming, particularly when people are unsure where to turn.
“The Can We Help? campaign helps bridge that gap by connecting people with practical information and local services, including mental health support, before challenges escalate. Working together with Council and our community partners, we can make it easier for people to find help, feel supported and know they are not alone.”
The resources were redeveloped based on consultation with people of all ages and abilities, and local service providers, identifying what information people may need and want at key points in their life.
The Can We Help? campaign includes a broad range of resources such as posters, flyers and flip cards, food relief schedules and translated materials which will be available at local high schools, community centres and social services locations.
Information is also available on Council’s website, and on bus stops across the city, maximising the promotion of this vital information to the community.
