Pivot Support Service’s Great Southern Community Hub Secures Vital Funding.

The Great Southern Community Hub, an initiative of Pivot Support Services, has received a major boost with confirmation of new funding that will ensure the Hub’s continued operation and expansion over the next three years. Thanks to a generous contribution from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, the Hub will now be able to extend its critical services, which support vulnerable communities in the Great Southern region.

The Stan Perron Charitable Foundation recognised the profound impact that a community-driven approach to tackling disadvantage can have in regions like the Great Southern, stating that the Hub is "a great example of a locally built initiative that has demonstrated its effectiveness and impact to the community."

Marcelle Cannon, Chairperson of Pivot Support Services, expressed gratitude and pride in the community's efforts to secure the Hub's future: “This is a victory for our community. The outpouring of support when the Hub faced closure has been enormous. Our petitions gathered close to 2,000 signatures, social media was buzzing, and the topic became central to conversations in the media and throughout the region."

Ms. Cannon further highlighted the determination of the organisation to fight for the Hub: “As a Committee of Management, we were not going to let this service close without a fight. Over the last five years, we’ve developed a successful framework for addressing disadvantage that works. It’s become the heart of our operations, and we see its positive impact on people’s lives every day.”

The funding, which will support not only the Hub’s existing operations in Albany but also its expansion into Katanning, comes at a crucial time. With strong backing from the local community, service agencies, Albany Health Campus, the City of Albany, and various service groups, the Hub has grown into an indispensable resource for the region.

The Albany Community Foundation was one of many organisations to rally behind the campaign to save the Hub. Their support, along with similar pledges from like-minded organisations across the country, helped galvanize the community effort.

Ian Neil, CEO of Pivot Support Services, sees the new funding as a stepping stone: "This funding is just the start. The Stan Perron Charitable Foundation has enabled us to strengthen our resources in Albany and expand our reach to Katanning. Over the next three years, we’ll build a regional service that will positively impact the lives of over 5,000 people."

Mr. Neil also emphasised the potential for the Hub’s model to be replicated across Australia: "We’ve proven that a Hub like this can work in a regional context. The Stan Perron Charitable Foundation’s support will allow us to build something special here, which can be replicated in other parts of the country."