Bellarine Wellbeing Connect (BWC) will be able to continue its work to support the health and wellbeing needs of communities on the Bellarine.
Community Bank Bellarine provided a $5000 grant to assist the group establish itself on a community referral tool known as ‘Ask Izzy’.
Ask Izzy is a free digital platform that can be accessed anonymously to connect users to essential support services such as housing, meals, support and counselling, health services and legal support.
BWC chair and Bellarine Community Health chief executive Kathy Russell said the platform is an important tool which each member of Bellarine Wellbeing Connect can utilise to share valuable information about themselves. “It’s a directory service that people can access at any time, you can search your specific location by postcode all from your phone or other device and find out exactly what supports and services are available in your area,” she said.
“The funding will support group members to establish themselves on the platform and training to ensure accurate information is maintained on the site. BWC will then promote the Ask Izzy platform as a reference point for service support on the Bellarine.”
“We’re thrilled to support this kind of initiative,” Community Bank Bellarine’s Chris Niven said.
“This type of collaboration is perfect for creating greater community awareness to bridge the gap between individuals and the help they need. The more local Bellarine services that are on this platform, the wider the community benefit.”
The membership of the BWC network continues to grow with partnerships and networking bringing about meaningful connections to help communities navigate the sometimes-complex pathways to services.