MINISTER for Children Sherryl Garbutt delivered one of the first blows to St Anthony’s Family Centre in Footscray alongside Sister Anne Tuck from the Sisters of St Joseph, last Friday.
Ms Garbutt helped with part of the demolition of the centre, which is to undergo a $4.5 million upgrade this year.
She announced that the State Government would contribute $500,000 to the project, in addition to the $300,000 it provided last year.
The centre is part of the MacKillop Family Services in Commercial Rd.
It provides a number of programs to the community such as intensive long-term intervention for families in chronic and complex circumstances, parenting programs, support for families where there is substance abuse and provides resources for young people to access education.
About 1000 families in the West are assisted by the service, which operates from a number of locations.
The upgrade will result in a new double-storey building that will include four counselling rooms, a regional parenting library, an education centre, a multi-purpose room, kitchen and three courtyards.
The period facade of the present brick building and two cottages on the site will remain so as to ensure a “family friendly atmosphere”.
Graham McKern, marketing and fundraising director for MacKillop Family Services, said they still needed to fund raise $500,000 for the works.
“There are 36,500 charities in Australia asking for money, there is some tough competition,” he said.
But he said he was optimistic that the money would be raised and construction of the site would be completed by the middle of next year.
“I think the work here is absolutely amazing, the community in the City of Maribyrnong really does need something like this,” he said.
“It was built in the 1970s, there was a lack of space and disability access, this upgrade will make all the difference to what we can provide now.”
