When I moved back to town, 10 years ago now, and first started work at the Community Centre (DINS), a number of people who had known me for many years asked "Why would you work there? What will you do? It's just Centerlink and where the dole bludgers go."
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I was initially really shocked at this response because I had worked with many neighbourhood and community centres across NSW for the previous 15 years and knew the vital role they play in positive community function and activity. So I was feeling really proud to be taking up a role in such an integral part of support and care in the community in which I was now living and raising my family in.
However, over my time at the community centre this negative interpretation of the role and work the centre does has remained to some extent. I'm not sure why this is so.
I guess it is difficult to describe what the centre does easily when it does so many and varied programs, and also in a way I guess it can be hard to change people's pre-conceived beliefs.
Sometimes this angers and saddens me, sometimes I'm nonchalant about it and other times it motivates me.
I see every day the caring, supportive, dynamic work that is done by the staff and volunteers to help people in our community.
Sometimes it's to simply help a person lodge a form for their cares allowance, or to help make sense of the confusion that can come when applying for the aged pension.
Other times it is helping a young person navigate their path through depression, helping them feel secure, loved and worthy.
Or it might be supporting a first time mum connect to her community and be aware of supports and services available to her.
All of these acts of care and support may seem small and are for the most part not noticed within the wider community, but for each of the individuals who receive this support it is important and often life changing.
None of the support and help I have just describe is about giving money to a 'dole bludger' - and that is because the majority of the work that the centre does is with everyday Dungogians, people like you.
It is also because the much-loved stereotype of a 'dole bludger' is simply, for the most part, not true.
So before you make an assumption about the community centre, I invite you to drop by and get involved through volunteering and see the extraordinary work done there.
