There to help ‘Rain, hail or COVID’

CLAIRE Faulmann started her new role as CEO of OneCare Geelong on March 10, 2020, just two days before the global pandemic announcement, and she certainly understands the term “pivot”.

“We have a community meal on Thursdays, so I attended my first on March 12th and that was the last sit-down meal we had until November,” Claire said, explaining the unexpected challenges of her first week.

However, she was quick to implement all the changes and new initiatives necessary to continue delivering OneCare’s important community services including feeding, counselling and mentoring those in need throughout the pandemic.

Claire’s efforts, going well above and beyond her role, have earned her the recognition as one of six deserving finalists in this year’s Westfield Local Heroes Program, and with enough votes she could win $10,000 for OneCare.

OneCare Geelong aims to reduce entrenched disadvantage in the Geelong area through programs and services that create social connections, restore hope and empower lives.

With those goals, Claire knew the necessity of still meeting those needs despite lockdowns and restrictions which essentially ended their traditional social and support activities.

Claire said introducing immediate changes was essential and they remained focused on “meeting the needs of the community as best we could”.

“Counselling went online, our sit-down meals went to a pick-up service and our food bank started, which didn’t exist prior to COVID and is now a permanent service,” she said.

“We support immediate needs and while our focus is supporting those who are socially isolated, to need to have access to food became particularly high and we decided to pivot into that space.

“The organisation has been able to achieve amazing things but we literally wouldn’t have been able to do it without our volunteers.

“In the past we had not a lot of volunteers, about 12 people, and then we pivoted into COVID and it was 60; they came from everywhere.

“It was an absolute blessing really; the volunteers are one of the great things about OneCare.

“We now have a regular group who own it and they love it; they make up recipes according to what food they have, they are there every week.

“We have a saying now ‘rain hail or COVID’.

Claire also praised the trained volunteers involved in the coach mentoring program, who were “walking through COVIDE with their mentees”.

“We have 25 relationships now; it’s a remarkable program and all our volunteers are amazing and so invested,” she said.

Claire said winning $10,000 through the Local Hero program would enable OneCare Geelong, which relies on donations and community grants, to “keep doing what we’re doing, continue our programs”.

Community members can play their part in helping OneCare and other local charities receive $10,000 by voting for Claire and other Westfield Local Heroes finalists Andy Brittain, Barb Speldewinde, Bronwyn Haskell, Anthony Woodbury and Jennifer Chiu.

Cast your vote for their 2021 Westfield Local Heroes via Westfield’s website and learn more about OneCare and its programs on the OneCare website.