ONE year since Laverton Community Centre started feeding low-income earners nutritious three-course meals, the State Government has awarded it for its spin-off benefit to corrections staff.
“You set up a program for one purpose but find it addresses other problems,” said Michael Perner, Laverton Community Centre’s manager.
The centre, in partnership with Werribee/Newport Community Correctional Services, scored two awards at Corrections Victoria’s annual Community Work Partnership Awards.
It won Best Educational Project Partnership, and also received the Commissioner’s Community Work Partnership Award.
Laverton Community Centre’s Crown St Cafe dishes out three-course home-cooked meals for $3 to anyone with a health care, concession or pension card.
It has grown from operating twice a week initially, to three days – Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays from 11.30am to 1.30pm, and bookings are essential.
Corrections Minister Tim Holding commended the lunchtime operation that started running out of the Laverton Community Cafe in October 2005.
Mr Perner said the program provided corrections offenders with an opportunity to assist in preparing the meals in the kitchen. That taught them new skills as well as the importance of nutrition.
He said the myriad of volunteers, work for the dole people and corrections’ offenders consulted with a dietitian from ISIS Primary Care in organising meals.
It also was an opportunity for them to mix with a wide range of people, get to know customers and learn essential work skills.
And for those disadvantaged members of the community who participated in the program, it had provided a means for unexpected social networking.
“We just finished the school holidays and it was great to see so many of the grandparents bring in their grandchildren to show off to one another,” Mr Perner said.
“The cafe’s a vehicle heading in many directions.”
The program was started in the first place because of the large number of local residents asking for food vouchers, Mr Perner said, and he also wanted to better utilise the centre’s industrial kitchen.
The winning partnership was among more than 65 entries in 10 categories from around the state.
Mr Holding said the program not only made the offenders more employable but reduced the risk of re-offending.
Non-profit organisations interested in a partnership program can contact Corrections Victoria on 8684 6600.
