Inner West Council has offered a new home to Deadly Connections, an Aboriginal-led, not-for-profit that provides information, referral, advocacy and support to First Nations communities in the Inner West and inner city.
Until recently, Deadly Connections had an agreement with Marrickville Legal Centre which gave them office space within Council-owned premises in Dulwich Hill.
"However, Marrickville Legal Centre has since relocated, and as a result Deadly Connections required new accommodation," said Inner West Mayor Rochelle Porteous.
"So, it's great timing that the former Family Day Care Centre in Enmore Park has become available as a result of the harmonisation of our Family Day Care services.
"I'm very pleased that my fellow Councillors voted unanimously to offer Deadly Connections this new home.
"It's really important to me personally, and Council generally, that we support our community organisations in any way we can, especially in a time of pandemic and two extended lockdowns," Mayor Porteous said.
"This support and assistance makes real, direct and positive impacts in the community," she said.
Deadly Connections aims to positively disrupt cycles of violence, incarceration, substance misuse, trauma, and disadvantage.
Carly Stanley, CEO and co-founder of Deadly Connections said, "a new home for Deadly Connections would be transformative not only for our staff and volunteers, but more widely our clients and community members.
"In the right location, we would be able to reach the full potential of our organisation rather than be hindered by ongoing accommodation instability.
"In 2021 alone we have received over 160 referrals and deeply understand the need for culturally responsive support for First Nations people," Carly said.
She gave the example of Renae*, mother of four children (one of whom was undergoing chemotherapy – she is now in remission).
Renae was unable to visit the hospital to support her daughter due to her parole status and her post-release temporary accommodation was deeply unsuitable (without access to even a kitchen sink).
Deadly Connections supported Renae and her family to move into a furnished, five bedroom social housing home, resolved her existing legal cases and sourced birth certificates so that her children could return to school.
Deadly Connections also helped Renae reestablish a relationship with her mother, who now lives with the family and provides a stable support system.
"As you can see, this work is so important, and I'm very proud that Council is working closely with an organisation like Deadly Connection to achieve these kinds of outcomes," Mayor Porteous said.
"As well as providing this new home, in September we allocated a total of $250,000 to 10 local community organisations, including Deadly Connections.
"And I have formed the Council and Community Covid Crisis Intervention Taskforce to bring council and the not for profit sector together to deliver direct assistance to vulnerable people - emergency relief, food security, shelter and mental health support," Mayor Porteous said.
Inner West Council will install air conditioning and spend approximately $30,000 on the former Family Day Care office to bring it up to a suitable maintenance and safety standard for its new tenants.
*not her real name
