Hall of help to offer relief

THE region’s myriad support services will be brought under one roof at an event next week.

On Thursday 17 October, 42 supportive agencies and organisations are to be represented with an information stall at St Patrick’s Hall as part of the free Hall Full of Help initiative.

The event was spearheaded by St Vincent de Paul Society’s Alan West, who said it’s about providing a one-stop opportunity to see what assistance is available locally.

“The public can come in, look around, and have a talk to all the exhibitors,” he said.

“There’s so many organisations to reel off. We want to appeal to someone who might have a child or grandparent they recognise could do with some help, as well as the homeless and people battling rental assistance.

“There’s a definite need to showcase what’s in the way of assistance because not everyone knows what’s out there.”

As well as Vinnie’s Ballarat, other featured organisations will include Anglicare Victoria, The Salvation Army, Uniting, Central Highlands Water, and Cafs.

The event will present a broad range of support services centred around areas like homelessness, the NDIS, legal support, food, mental health, utilities, financial, and others.

Mr West envisioned the idea as an extension of his Pocket Full of Help initiative, an online directory listing contacts for different support services and assisting organisations.

“It’s meant to be a little book that goes in your pocket that has all the assistance that’s available in Ballarat, things like food assistance or myki top-ups, mental health organisations, all that stuff,” he said.

“We were going to have the original Hall Full of Help shortly thereafter, but we had to cancel it two weeks out once COVID kicked in.

“We decided earlier this year to resurrect this and we’ve just done a reprint of Pocket Full of Help. Pretty much everyone in the guide will be coming along.”

Brochures will be available from organisations unable to be present on the day while a sausage sizzle and coffee van will also feature.

The event will run from 10am to 2.30pm. A shuttle bus will be on hand to transport attendees to and from the venue, stopping off between Ballarat Central Woolworths, and Central Square throughout most of the event’s duration.