On 20 May, CORE Community Services hosted the first Roundtable discussion with Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda, bringing together key community organisations to address the urgent needs of Miller, one of Australia’s most socio-economically disadvantaged areas.
Addressing Critical Needs in Miller
The roundtable provided an important platform for organisations to highlight the significant socio-economic challenges facing Miller residents, intensified by rising cost-of-living pressures. While past initiatives aimed to improve the community’s wellbeing, many were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.
Participating Organisations
Representatives from several agencies attended the roundtable, including:
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CORE Community Services
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Southwestern Sydney Local Health District
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Liverpool City Council
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NSW Police Force
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Uniting
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St George Community Housing (SGCH)
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Crimson Community Care
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Homes NSW
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St Marks Sadleir
Key Issues Raised
Stakeholders identified a number of interconnected challenges facing Miller residents, including:
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Limited police presence and community safety concerns
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Fear of street gangs
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Food insecurity
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Drug use and related harm
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Lack of youth activities
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Domestic and family violence
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Decline in mental health and overall wellbeing
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Insufficient infrastructure and community investment
Potential Solutions and Collaboration
Participants discussed several opportunities for collaboration to help improve safety and community wellbeing. Some of the proposed actions included:
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Joint work between Homes NSW and NSW Police to install security cameras and improve street lighting
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Collaboration between CORE Community Services, NSW Police, and Liverpool Council on the Miller Social Infrastructure Masterplan
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Increased partnership between government, service providers, and community organisations to coordinate services in areas such as mental health, disability support, aged care, and drug and alcohol support
Next Steps
The 2168 Roundtable will continue for 12 months, with stakeholders meeting every two months. During this period, organisations will work collaboratively and independently to address community priorities and enhance the quality of life for Miller residents.