Celebrating 40 years of Service
Western Port Community Support was born out of the efforts of a group of local residents in August 1978.
It began with a Public Meeting and from this action the Hastings Social Welfare and Advisory Committee was formed. The sole purpose was to establish aCitizens AdviceBureau (CAB), a place where people could go to get information and support on a wide range of issues.
The CAB opened its doors to the community on April 1st 1979 at the Hastings Infant WelfareCentre with a total of 12 volunteers. It wasn’t long before Hastings Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) moved to a larger premises in KingStreet, Hastings, attracting partnerships with workers from the Family Planning Clinic, WelfareAgency, Home Help and Meals on Wheels.
This practice of co-locating several services under the one roof is very much a part of our role as a leading service provider and still continues today.In 1986 Hastings CAB, along with a Council Youth Worker, moved to a house at 15 Marine Parade but on October 4th the building burned down losing everything in the fire. Consequently, on January 13th 1987, the CAB moved back to the King St premises and co-located with the C.E.S., Department of Social Security, Mornington Peninsula CommunityHealth Services and the Family Planning Clinic.
By 1994 the agency was experiencing an enormous increase in people requesting emergency relief so the Committee approached Council for funding to employ a part time Co-ordinator. At this time the CAB took over the role of distributing Emergency Relief which had previously been handled by the Council. The CAB immediately witnessed an increase in the number of people presenting to the Centre for assistance.
In 1996 the agency decided to change its name from the Hastings Citizen’s Advice Bureau to the Hastings Community Information and Support Centre to better reflect the work of the agency. In September 2009 the agency moved from its long standing home in King Street to its presentlocation at 185 High Street changing our name to Western Port Community Support.
Today we have approximately 40 volunteers and still remain the first point of contact for people requiring information and support in the Western Port area.
