Aidan Curtis
A SERVICE hub in Mount Gambier’s east is bringing people and families together while providing support and safety for the community.
The Melaleuca Hub, located next to Melaleuca Park Primary School, has been providing a safe space for families in need since it opened in 2016.
It has been supported by a range of organisations, including the Department of Human Services (DHS) and Foodbank, to connect the community with the support they need.
Hub community coordinator Josh Lynagh said it all started as a space to bring services to the school community.
“It’s about making everything accessible to people and making it as easy as possible for people,” he said.
“Being on school grounds, it’s very easy to drop your kids off and pop in for a coffee or a chat, or use any of the services that are here.
“It’s definitely evolved in the last three years to truly become the hub that it was meant to be.”
Mr Lynagh said one of the main positives of the Hub is being able to build relationships with other people.
“I’m learning a lot about people, the situations they’re in, the struggles they face,” he said.
“It’s given me real insight into a lot of social issues.
“But it’s also incredibly rewarding being able to be in a space where you’re seeing growth.”
Hub representative Matilda Forster said she started going there for playgroup with her kids in 2017, but life circumstances saw her coming more frequently.
“I got further involved in this place because it was a safe place for me to come,” she said.
“I joined using it not just playgroup, but coffee and chat, coming in to talk to Josh, some of the DHS leaders for advice.”
Ms Forster said the Hub has become an extremely important part of her life, and he children’s lives too.
“It has something to offer for everybody, in every different situation,” she said.
“If I didn’t have this safe space, god knows what would have happened.”
Parent and Hub user Michelle Lavia said it was especially important during Covid, when access to a lot of food and supplies was restricted.
She also said it was just a great place to have a chat and bring your kids to play with others and learn vital social skills before starting school.
“It’s a place for all us mothers to get together and have a coffee and a chat, stay and play with the kids, sing songs and keep everyone involved,” Ms Lavia said.
“Come in, have a coffee with a friend, have a chat, the kids can relax and play with the toys.”
The Hub is open from 9am to 12pm weekdays.
