A community enterprise program at Holy Family Parish in Mount Druitt has
become a model for how assistance for the poor can go hand in hand with
economic growth.
The parish has been home to a food shop for a number of years, providing
cheap groceries to local families. However, over the last 18 months a
partnership between the parish and Jesuit Social Services has seen the program
undergo a transformation with the aim of become a self-sustaining enterprise.
Over the last 12 months, the project has been receiving support from the
School for Social Entrepreneurs. In February, the NGO awarded Holy Family with
its Project Achievement Award for 2010.
Jesuit Social Services Program Manager Michael Maxwell says the recognition was a great validation of Jesuit Social
Services' efforts to establish sustainable social enterprises. The organisation
also runs Abbotsford Biscuits in Melbourne, providing opportunities for people
who have been excluded from mainstream training and employment. He says with
more competition for fewer government funds, innovative programs like these
will be the future in outreach to the poor.
‘The recognition we received on Monday night is an indication that we're
on the right path in setting up self-sustaining programs.'
The project received a big boost last year through million-dollar-plus funding
from the Federal Government Jobs Fund. The money will be used to help the site
grow even further, providing employment and training opportunities for 71
people over the next 18 months. The existing clothing and food shops will be
expanded, the number of stalls increased to include community-produced items,
and local residents trained on-site by TAFE in barista and retail courses.
For more on Jesuit Social Services, go to www.jss.org.au.
By Michael
McVeigh