Welcome to the neighbourhood: Puckapunyal and District Neighbourhood Centre is one of 48 community-based organisations around Australia to share $2 million in grants under the Family Support Funding Program.
Families in the Seymour-Puckapunyal area will benefit from a grant under the Family Support Funding Program, which is designed to help build links between the families of defence personnel and local communities.
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Federal Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh announced the grant to the Puckapunyal and District Neighbourhood Centre as part of a $2 million announcement to 48 community-based organisations that provide support to Australian Defence Force personnel and their families Australia-wide.
The funding provided to the Puckapunyal and District Neighbourhood Centre will help pay for its program co-ordinator, who is Alanah Purtell.
Mrs Purtell said the centre’s work was vital for helping families arriving in the area feel connected to the community.
“That’s really a core piece of what we’re there for is crossing that barrier from feeling you’re just part of the military and people feeling there are borders you can’t cross,” she said.
“It’s about building a family for yourself when you’ve been put somewhere where you don’t necessarily have that support.”
Linking up: Puckapunyal and District Neighbourhood Centre is a place where defence families can meet other families outside the forces.
Mrs Purtell said she and her own family only arrived at Puckapunyal at the start of the year and getting involved with the neighbourhood centre had really helped them settle into the district.
“A lot of people will tell you that Pucka is one of your favourite postings because it is very family focused,” she said.
“Coming across the neighbourhood centre and being able to feel that sense of belonging is really important.”
The neighbourhood centre provides a range of services for both defence and non-defence families, including children and adults, in the region around Seymour and as far away as Broadford.
Those services and programs include youth clubs, cooking classes, a model railway, an op shop and a community shed.
“We look for gaps for what’s available for our community,” Mrs Purtell said.
“We look for ways to help families that are struggling and look to support them in those areas.
“The majority of our work would definitely be for defence families. For a lot of them it’s a real lifeline. A lot have come from somewhere else and they don’t know anyone.”
One for the kids: The Puckapunyal and District Neighbourhood Centre provides a wide range of services, including plenty for children.
Mr Keogh said it was important the funding was provided at a community level.
“Partnering with community-based organisations is important in supporting defence families,” Mr Keogh said.
“For many, defence is a way of life which involves the whole family. When people put their hands up to protect our nation, we must ensure their family is looked after and these programs will go a long way towards supporting defence children.
“These grants are an important funding resource to support defence families and communities.”
