Major blow to local community as Centrelink office set to close in October
- Replies 33
A media statement released in August announced that the South Melbourne Centrelink office would close in October due to unsuccessful efforts to find alternative locations.
Hank Jongen, the General Manager of Services Australia, explained that they had exhausted the available lease extensions in South Melbourne and had conducted extensive searches in the surrounding areas. However, these efforts had yielded no suitable options.
'Services Australia actively explored alternative property solutions on 17 occasions since 2020. We advertised these opportunities through an open tender and explored the possibility of co-locating with other government agencies. Unfortunately, no suitable sites were identified or available,' Mr Jongen stated.
He added that they even considered areas neighbouring South Melbourne. However, the properties there either failed to meet their requirements and standards—such as accessibility—or were not offered by landlords.
![Screenshot 2023-09-14 at 9.23.50 AM.png Screenshot 2023-09-14 at 9.23.50 AM.png](https://seniorsdiscountclub.com.au/data/attachments/29/29869-8a49f89228e1d424010f783161d8ad34.jpg)
Mr Jongen expressed regret over the closure of the service centre in South Melbourne. He emphasised that every possible effort had been made to retain the service centre, but no other suitable location could be found.
He further stated that although all avenues to identify a new site in and around South Melbourne had been exhausted for the time being, Services Australia is open to considering new opportunities that may arise in the future.
'Services Australia is committed to servicing the inner city Melbourne community and will continue to look at the mixture of services on offer and how the agency can improve connections with people in need.'
Senator Janet Rice described the impact this closure could have for constituents, saying: 'People on Centrelink payments are already doing it tough - and it's about to go from bad to worse.'
'Not only are income support payments far below the poverty line but now even accessing those inadequate payments is going to be that much tougher.'
'It places an unnecessary burden on people who are already facing financial hardship. We should be making it easier for them to access the support they need, not harder.'
Adding to these concerns is the fact that the affected area currently has nearly 10,000 people relying on Jobseeker payments. This situation has raised significant alarm within the South Melbourne community, especially in Macnamara, where the closure is taking place.
Kerrie, a local resident and a retired community worker, is one of many who will be affected by the Centrelink closure.
She pointed out that beyond herself, the closure will also massively impact the most marginalised and vulnerable members of their community, including homeless individuals, disabled people, some older residents, and others who either lack access to digital devices or find them challenging to use.
'People flock to the inner city due to the abundance of services,' she observed.
'When you're living in precarious circumstances but still have to report your earnings every fortnight to Centrelink, it can be a lot easier to just present at the local office than to find a working phone line or public computer.'
'Some people just can't afford to keep their phone or laptop in credit for the whole fortnight. Reporting in person is cheaper than buying a phone recharge voucher,' she explained.
According to Mr Jongen, Services Australia's specialist staff will continue supporting vulnerable community members in the inner city, operating at over 14 locations.
'Community Engagement Officers and Multicultural Service Officers will continue to visit 10 locations, including the Sacred Heart Mission, St Kilda Crisis Contact Centre, Melbourne City Mission and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre regularly,' he said.
He also pointed out that a Community Partnership Specialist Officer is stationed at the Salvation Army Project 614 daily, ensuring that the most vulnerable individuals can access Centrelink services at a place they already rely on for support.
The South Melbourne Service Centre will cease operations on Friday, 27 October 2023. According to Services Australia, there will be no job losses, as all staff will be relocated to nearby service centres.
What are your thoughts on this story, members? Have any Centrelink branches in your vicinity also closed down? If they have, how has it impacted your community and those who depend on its services? Were you personally affected by these closures?
Feel free to share your experiences with us in the comments below! We're eager to read your thoughts.
Hank Jongen, the General Manager of Services Australia, explained that they had exhausted the available lease extensions in South Melbourne and had conducted extensive searches in the surrounding areas. However, these efforts had yielded no suitable options.
'Services Australia actively explored alternative property solutions on 17 occasions since 2020. We advertised these opportunities through an open tender and explored the possibility of co-locating with other government agencies. Unfortunately, no suitable sites were identified or available,' Mr Jongen stated.
He added that they even considered areas neighbouring South Melbourne. However, the properties there either failed to meet their requirements and standards—such as accessibility—or were not offered by landlords.
![Screenshot 2023-09-14 at 9.23.50 AM.png Screenshot 2023-09-14 at 9.23.50 AM.png](https://seniorsdiscountclub.com.au/data/attachments/29/29869-8a49f89228e1d424010f783161d8ad34.jpg)
The South Melbourne Centrelink office would close in October due to unsuccessful efforts to find alternative locations. Credit: Shutterstock.
Mr Jongen expressed regret over the closure of the service centre in South Melbourne. He emphasised that every possible effort had been made to retain the service centre, but no other suitable location could be found.
He further stated that although all avenues to identify a new site in and around South Melbourne had been exhausted for the time being, Services Australia is open to considering new opportunities that may arise in the future.
'Services Australia is committed to servicing the inner city Melbourne community and will continue to look at the mixture of services on offer and how the agency can improve connections with people in need.'
Senator Janet Rice described the impact this closure could have for constituents, saying: 'People on Centrelink payments are already doing it tough - and it's about to go from bad to worse.'
'Not only are income support payments far below the poverty line but now even accessing those inadequate payments is going to be that much tougher.'
'It places an unnecessary burden on people who are already facing financial hardship. We should be making it easier for them to access the support they need, not harder.'
Adding to these concerns is the fact that the affected area currently has nearly 10,000 people relying on Jobseeker payments. This situation has raised significant alarm within the South Melbourne community, especially in Macnamara, where the closure is taking place.
Kerrie, a local resident and a retired community worker, is one of many who will be affected by the Centrelink closure.
She pointed out that beyond herself, the closure will also massively impact the most marginalised and vulnerable members of their community, including homeless individuals, disabled people, some older residents, and others who either lack access to digital devices or find them challenging to use.
'People flock to the inner city due to the abundance of services,' she observed.
'When you're living in precarious circumstances but still have to report your earnings every fortnight to Centrelink, it can be a lot easier to just present at the local office than to find a working phone line or public computer.'
'Some people just can't afford to keep their phone or laptop in credit for the whole fortnight. Reporting in person is cheaper than buying a phone recharge voucher,' she explained.
According to Mr Jongen, Services Australia's specialist staff will continue supporting vulnerable community members in the inner city, operating at over 14 locations.
'Community Engagement Officers and Multicultural Service Officers will continue to visit 10 locations, including the Sacred Heart Mission, St Kilda Crisis Contact Centre, Melbourne City Mission and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre regularly,' he said.
He also pointed out that a Community Partnership Specialist Officer is stationed at the Salvation Army Project 614 daily, ensuring that the most vulnerable individuals can access Centrelink services at a place they already rely on for support.
The South Melbourne Service Centre will cease operations on Friday, 27 October 2023. According to Services Australia, there will be no job losses, as all staff will be relocated to nearby service centres.
Key Takeaways
- The South Melbourne Centrelink office will close in October due to unsuccessful efforts to find alternative locations.
- The closure will heavily impact residents in the area, nearly 10,000 of whom are on Jobseeker payments.
- The closure will also impact the most vulnerable and marginalised members of their community, including homeless individuals, disabled people, some older residents, and others who either lack access to digital devices or find them challenging to use.
- Despite the closure, Services Australia says it will continue supporting the inner-city Melbourne community through various means, including Community Engagement Officers and Multicultural Service Officers.
What are your thoughts on this story, members? Have any Centrelink branches in your vicinity also closed down? If they have, how has it impacted your community and those who depend on its services? Were you personally affected by these closures?
Feel free to share your experiences with us in the comments below! We're eager to read your thoughts.