It’s a place that offers free counselling and support services to individuals and families. ADRA works with people in poverty and distress to create positive changes by empowering partnerships and responsible action.
It was 1999 when a handful of Seventh Day Adventist Church volunteers started a humble soup kitchen in Cabramatta to serve the homeless community.
Very soon, they realised that the community there needed much more than warm meals – they needed someone to lend an empathetic ear to listen to their concerns, their stories of loss and pain.
And that is exactly when ADRA incorporated counselling services for the community members. The thought was simple – they wanted to provide struggling members with a supportive and safe space to work through their challenges and emotional battles.
They looked at empowering them by developing skills and equipping them with confidence to build brighter futures.
As Cabramatta started receiving more support from the government, ADRA assessed other areas in Greater Sydney where the community would benefit from such support.
So, it was in 2004, with the hope to support the Western Sydney struggling community members with its counselling services and food relief, that ADRA opened its doors in Blacktown.
From then on, the Blacktown centre has grown in strength and popularity, adding case management along the way to its services.
“Services here are free in order to support those most vulnerable in the community who often fall through the cracks of other support services due to lack of funds and resources,” says Grace Copoceanu, centre manager at ADRA Blacktown.
Hard to believe but the centre’s operations are run with just 2.5 paid staff. The biggest help comes from a group of 70 volunteers and students who help run the programs.
The counselling and case management services require professionally trained staff and when faced with a shortage of such volunteers, ADRA includes intern students who work under the supervision of trained staff. And then there are volunteers who work as food service staff, in administration and as delivery drivers etc.
Mental health support is most needed
At ADRA, they deal with a wide gamut of social issues, and mental health support is widely sought-after by the community.
There are people battling trauma, abuse, grief, mental illness, addictions and behaviour challenges. They are referred by health services, corrective services and other community and social services to seek help at ADRA.
“They are often community members who struggle with barriers such as poverty, language barriers, illiteracy, mental illness, physical and mental disabilities, addictions and lack of education and access to resources,” says Grace.
At ADRA, the food relief service provides food parcels to financially struggling community members, be it caused by homelessness, poverty, domestic violence or other emergency situations.
Growth at the Centre
Currently, ADRA Blacktown provides more than 1000 counselling sessions each year to around 250 individuals. It also provides around 1000 case management to 200 community members or families seeking the support.
Also, the centre provides 14,000 struggling visitors with food relief parcels annually. This food goes to feed over 40,000 adults and children every year. Significantly, this demand was much lower before the onset of COVID and rise in cost of living.
To keep up with demand for the food service, ADRA continues to recruit volunteers, hired a part time supervisor and connected with food rescue organisations such as Oz Harvest, Second Bite and Foodbank.
Between two and three tons of food each week is sourced while a dedicated team of 20 volunteers deliver, sort and serve the food parcels.
The counselling team has also grown to a 14 professional students and volunteers providing their service every week. The community’s high demand for food relief only means that ADRA Blacktown is now looking for a bigger physical space to effectively run its food service programs.
The biggest challenge
Individuals seeking help are often those out of work and struggling to make ends meet - seeking that extra parcel of food to help them get through the week. Then there are homeless individuals going hungry for days.
"Counsellors get cases of people struggling with mild levels of depression and anxiety as also individuals having experienced rape, family murders, loss of children or wars in their home countries – many burst into tears as they get a sense of safety at our centre,” said Grace.
While there are no geographical limitations, most of their clients come from Western Sydney – Blacktown LGA in particular. Blacktown was assessed as an area of need of service.
The need of the hour is more supporters and a steady flow of funds to keep the good work going at the Centre. Its operations are totally dependent on donations and while they aim to intervene meaningfully and provide relief to those in need, the need of the hour is funds.
“We invite anyone interested in supporting us with funds to reach out and help the most vulnerable in the community,” said Grace.
ADRA Blacktown is part of the broader ADRA Australia network of projects, working in Australia and internationally.
ADRA Blacktown is the official charity partner for the October 22 WEXPO event at Sydney Showground. Visit www.wexpo.com.au
For more information about ADRA Blacktown visit - https://adrablacktown.com.au/
