“I have noticed that people are no longer frightened to come out of their homes and meet others.”

“The most significant change I have witnessed is the support that families receive. The people at the Hub are there for local residents who need support and guidance with dealing with family related matters. I have also seen so many local children involved in the Hub’s programs, so they are not left to their own devices. Through the Hub’s programs, services and events, children, young people and the adults have been positively interacting with positive people at the Hub. In this environment, people are able to make themselves available to the plentiful opportunities to develop and strengthen their ability to improve their physical, mental and emotional health, so that they can have a better a future.

Before the change, it was pretty negative here. There was always a focus on crime rate, drugs, alcohol. Because we are an isolated community, it tends to build up and up in this suburb, and it impacts on people in a negative way. Now, after the Hub set up, there does not seem to be a dependency on drugs as much anymore. There is always alcohol, because it’s legal. The crime that comes with drugs was here for a very long time and very out there. Now, the presence of drugs and crime seems to have slowed down a bit.

The Hub has given people a different view in life; to make people aware of what they can achieve. When people come to the Hub they are able to experience positive emotions and thinking to help them resolve their issues. These positive feelings help people to not feel so burdened by their problems. It is an enlivening feeling to see people feel lighter because of the support they receive here. I walk away knowing that people know now they are able to receive the support they need to move forward.”

16 August 2021

Reflections of a local Willmot resident

The Hive
3 min read

“I moved into Willmot three and half years ago and life was tough with young children with special needs. Willmot used to a place where people did not talk to each other and were even rude to each other. Everyone felt isolated. I remember looking for support, but I just couldn’t find any that could help me. The service system was just too hard, and you went around in circles. I thought I would have to do it all by myself…. until the people at the Hub came along.”

“My children have become social butterflies”

“When Willmot residents, Jesuit Social Services, The Hive, BaptistCare HopeStreet and Willmot Public School started working together, the Hub went from being an empty building to a welcoming place that is not judgemental.

I don’t feel judged if I have a meltdown, because the people there understand my circumstances and they do not judge me. They all tried to put in place some programs and activities to connect people and if they didn’t work, they would learn from their mistakes and try to improve them. This collaboration is my saviour!

The biggest change I see is in my kids, thanks mainly to the brilliant caseworkers. [They were] able to link [my daughter] to the right service. [My daughter] really trusts [her caseworker]. My daughter suffers from Alopecia, which causes her hair to fall out when she’s stressed. Now that she has someone she trusts, who she can talk to, her hair doesn’t fall out as much, so this collaboration has even had positive physical impacts on my children’s well-being. My son’s outbursts have reduced, and he now wants to go outside more. He isn’t as sick as he used to be. All the activity at the Hub has actually calmed him down and he can now interact with the other kids. My entire family are now willing to admit we have problems and we can now seek out people who we trust and who can direct us to the right services.

Not long after meeting everyone who works from the Hub, I started to volunteer, to give back for everything the people at the Hub have done for me. Eventually a job came up and this local employment meant I could stay near my kids and still earn money. Whereas before nobody would talk to each other, now Willmot has become much more social. The seniors started talking to us and now all ages are combining, and perceptions are changing for the better. I can get my children out of the house now. They have learned to socialise.

Before, I couldn’t get them out of the house for over a year; now, there are no tensions on the way out and they have become little social butterflies. The kids are actually excited to go to the Hub to meet all the people there. My partner also gets out more. He plays basketball with the local kids. He seems a lot happier. We used to feel so isolated. Now we’re all about healthy mind and healthy body and doing our bit to help the community grow for the better.”