Harris Centre gives community a say in its future

The Harris Community Centre, in Ultimo, has responded to concerns about its future services by promising to install a community advisory committee.
Representatives of the community have spoken out against the advisory committee and recent changes to staff, saying last week’s meeting is another sign the Uniting Care community centre is pushing its own agenda.
Yimmy Seifert, chair of Ultimo Village Voice (UVV), said although the announcement is a step in the right direction, she is worried the committee will just act as a rubber stamp for Uniting Care’s agenda.
“They’ve got their own agenda and they are sticking to it.”
Ms Seifert said she was baffled by the decision to employ a new part-time staff member at the centre after two staff entrenchments earlier this month.
“We do not go into details about individual staffing matters. We are committed to providing appropriate numbers of trained and qualified staff for the ongoing operation of the Harris Community Centre,” said a statement from Uniting Care.
John Brooks, Convenor of the Black-Wattle Cove Coalition, attended the community consultation last Wednesday and said many members of the community were shocked by the recent staff entrenchments and reductions in services.
“It’s had a negative reaction from the people who have been going there for services for years and know the people personally,” he said.
“It appears to be larger organisation taking a more corporate approach, which is a more impersonal one . . . The way I understand it is the way in which the services are dealt are likely to be different”
Uniting Care has promised the services that the Harris Centre provides will not be diminished.
“There was some discussion and debate in between members of the community about some thoughts on the service but we believe this demonstrates their passion for the community.”
Ms Seifert said the meeting was a sign Uniting Care are continuing to block their ears to community feedback.
Uniting Care put on a slide-show of the recent community feedback they had received, which was notably missing the extensive feedback submitted by members of UVV.
“Some of the important areas for improvement identified by the community did not make it to the list in the presentation in the last meeting, e.g. rebuilding trust with the community, the need for a full time co-ordinator who can work with the community at the grass roots level,” Ms Seifert said.
Elizabeth Elenius, Convenor of Pyrmont Action, said Uniting Care’s decision to install a community advisory committee was an inefficient use of time.
“There are 200 different groups meeting in the Pyrmont area at the moment, we are meetinged out,” she said.
“They should engage with community groups already existing to provide the kind of services they need.”
Uniting Care said the advisory committee will meet quarterly and they are currently taking nominations for positions on the board.
They refused to comment on their selection criteria.