Help Us Keep Vital Services Accessible in Dungog

In our rural community, many people rely on face-to-face, trustworthy support to access essential services like MyGov, Medicare, and Centrelink. Digital systems can be confusing or inaccessible for those without devices, internet access, or digital literacy. That’s where we come in.

At Dungog Shire Community Centre, we’ve proudly hosted a face-to-face Agency for Services Australia for over twenty years — offering real human support, helping locals navigate government systems, complete paperwork, and feel safe doing so. This service has been a lifeline for people facing barriers due to age, disability, language, or trauma.

But here’s the challenge: the funding allocated to run this service doesn’t come close to covering the real costs involved. We’ve been doing everything we can to keep it going, even running it at a loss — because we know how vital it is to our community.

Now, we need your help.

We’re launching this fundraiser to bridge the gap and ensure this essential support doesn’t disappear. Every donation will directly contribute to covering the staffing, administration, and resources required to keep the service running in Dungog.

Your contribution helps us:

• Provide in-person support to access MyGov, Centrelink, Medicare, and other critical services

• Offer a trusted space for people fearful of online scams or unsure how to use digital systems

• Keep vulnerable community members connected to the services they need to survive and thrive

This isn’t about replacing government responsibility — it’s about standing together as a community to make sure no one is left behind.

We believe everyone deserves to feel seen, supported, and safe when navigating complex systems — and with your support, we can continue to make that possible.

Thank you for backing your community.

A bit of background about our service

Dungog Shire Community Centre is an independent, not-for-profit organisation committed to supporting the wellbeing of residents across the Dungog region. We offer vital community services and programs that reduce social isolation, respond to crisis, and foster connection in this rural area.

Key services include:

• A Services Australia Agency for Centrelink, Medicare, and Child Support assistance

• Emergency Relief for individuals and families facing financial hardship

• Programs for children (0–6), youth (8–18), and families

• Weekly free community events like Nourish, Bob’s Place, and Gather in the Garden

• A highly anticipated annual free Christmas Day lunch

We act as a hub for community connection and support, working closely with other services to ensure local needs are met with compassion, inclusivity, and dignity.

We provide these services through a combination of some government funding, donations and fundraising. As a small organisation we have been "punching well above our weight" since 1982 to support our community, but now we really need your help please.