The Greek Welfare Center (GWC), with the blessing and encouragement of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, has been at the forefront of trying to meet the needs created by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
The effort includes a series of services and programs that meet the new challenges facing the Greek community and the wider Australian society.
Bi-lingual National Counselling and Support Line:
The hotline was established in recent months because the pandemic has brought upheaval in the daily lives of all. In particular, people in Melbourne have had their usual social support networks, such as family, friends and the church, interrupted due to the current lockdown.
Anyone experiencing emotional or psychological distress is encouraged to contact the hotline, where they will be provided with support, advice, information and the possibility of referral to competent services.
Those who want to make an appointment to speak with a special counselor can call 1800 77 66 42 from Monday to Friday, 8 am until 6 pm.
The Service is free and governed by confidentiality.
It is also worth mentioning that the GWC has created a series of informative videos, which are related to the topics of stress, depression and feelings of loss and sadness. These videos are available on the centre’s Facebook page.
Acts of Love:
The ‘Acts of Love’ program has been set up by the GWC to offer free meals to individuals and families facing financial difficulties.
The meals are freshly cooked with a variety of flavours and nutritious ingredients, and they are then delivered to the homes of those interested every Tuesday and Thursday.
For more information, those interested can call the offices of the GWC on 9516 2188 from Monday to Friday, from 8.30 am until 5 pm.