Community support during COVID-19

To continue on from the success of the State Governments Community Activation and Social Isolation (CASI) program, which ended in June 2021, we are excited to launch the Mount Alexander Connectors network. The Mount Alexander Connectors agreed it was important to continue this network with the purpose of supporting our community, especially through the impacts of COVID-19.

Council is proud to be working with a passionate network of people who are helping to assess local needs, provide support and monitor what is happening in our community.

The Mount Alexander Connectors network is made up of representatives from council, local neighbourhood houses, health, aboriginal and library services, as well as advocacy, multicultural services, charity, church, education, community and volunteering groups.

As a result of the Connectors network coming together, a coordinated approach to the Be Connected Program has been developed between Council, Castlemaine Community House, Maldon Neighbourhood Centre and the Castlemaine Library. The Be Connected Program runs digital inclusion and mentoring activities to support the community throughout the year. To see the regular Be Connected sessions available in our shire download the Mount Alexander Be Connected flyer

Thank you to everyone involved.

For information on the Mount Alexander Connectors network please contact Melissa Fowler, Community Projects Officer at council on (03) 5471 1700 or email m.fowler@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.

Council and the Mount Alexander Connectors network have delivered a number of community projects to build social connections in our community. The projects offered a variety of cultural, artistic, social and wellbeing activities to address the impact of COVID-19 on the community.

The network is continuing to meet in order to support our community and will provide updates to projects as they come to life.

Community Connector "come and chat" sessions - 2022

if you are feeling lonely or isolated and would like to reconnect with your community, come along and chat to a friendly community connector who can link you in with local services, supports or activities.

Locations, dates and times

Tuesday 29 March, 12.30pm to 1.30pm - Castlemaine Community Lunch, Town Hall
(Launch event to celebrate Neighbour Day - bring along your neighour - 2 for 1 lunch deal)

Tuesday 24 May, 10am to 12pm, Castlemaine Library foyer

Thursday 21 July, 11am to 1pm, Maxi IGA, Castlemaine

Wednesday 21 September, 10am to 12pm, Newstead Friendly Grocer

Tuesday 22 November, 12.30pm to 1.30pm, Castlemaine Community Lunch, Town Hall

For more information or to speak to a connector please contact Melissa Fowler, Community Projects Officer at Council on (03) 5471 1700 or email m.fowler@mountalexander.vic.gov.au

Read the list of Community Activation and Social Isolation Projects 2020/2021.

Download the Community Activation and Social Isolation Projects 2020/2021 (54 kb, PDF).

Help is just a phone call away for people who are experiencing loneliness, or are socially disconnected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can still access local social, emotional or practical support via the Mount Alexander Connectors network.

If you would like to speak directly to someone here in the shire contact our COVID-19 support service :

• Call us on the toll free number 1800 512 446 between 9.00am and 5.00pm (Monday to Friday)
• Email us at covid19@mountalexander.vic.gov.au

Some examples of the help or support we can organise includes:

• Emotional support like a wellbeing check-in or a regular chat with a local over the phone.

• Practical help such as running an errand, helping you use technology to stay in touch with family and friends, making on online application or ordering shopping over the internet, or we can

• Link you to social and community activities such as online book clubs, fitness groups, craft groups, learning new skills or volunteering opportunities.

Support is available to community members that need support during the pandemic. This initiative is designed to support vulnerable members of the community.

This may include people who are: