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A short company history
In October 1970 Gosford City Community & Information Service had its inaugural meeting and a Management Committee was formed. In February 1971, a training course was held for our first volunteers and an office was opened in Mann Street Gosford, opening Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10am and 4pm. Gosford Council provided the premises, the telephone and $200 per annum. The organisation was dependent on donations from the community to operate and develop its services.
Originally we were known as Gosford Shire Community Service, and we were the first non-Government Community organisation on the Central Coast; the fifth in New South Wales.
By 1976 the organisation through its volunteers provided general home help, child minding, gardening, minor home maintenance, shopping, accommodation, transport, visiting services, phone reassurance, information services, referral, emergency relief, a service to migrants and an after-hours referral service.
Our organisation pioneered training courses for volunteers, including counselling services, practical help for unmarried mothers and services for the frail aged and disabled. We also supported the establishment of other services such as Gosford Geriatric Day Centre and working with committees in Wyong, Cessnock and Singleton in the establishment of their Community Centres.
In 1977 we established a short-term emergency accommodation service in March and later that year Terrigal Day Care was commenced. In 1978 funding for a Centre Coordinator was provided by Youth and Community Services (now DoCS), and Gosford Council.
In 1980 the organisation moved to new premises in Henry Wheeler Place and the new long/occasional care Centre for Children was established. In September of that year we took over the management of Kibble Park Rest Centre and Tea Rooms. Assistance was also given to the foundation committee of Lifeline and they operated from the Centre.
In 1981 Emergency Accommodation moved to a large house which accommodated 20 clients. From this beginning a new organisation, now known as Coast Shelter, was born. A part-time Information Officer was employed and an “Information” van was purchased and fitted out.
In 1983 the organisation became a Company and changed its name to Gosford City Community & Information Service Limited. A Family Day Care scheme was funded for Gosford during this year and in November a Financial Counsellor was employed.
1984 saw the construction of the organisation's Youth Hostel, known as “Rumbalara” and in 1985 we received funding for Palliative Day Care and a Dementia Day Care Centre.
By 1994 we were providing services such as Family Day Care, Long Day Child Care, Confused Elderly Programme, In-home Respite Care, Community Visitors Scheme, Community Counselling Programme, Financial Counselling, Tax Help and Emergency Relief. Of these programmes, many were reauspiced, transferred to Area Health Services or became stand-alone services.
In 1998 we undertook a review and restructure which was completed in June 2000, and which led to our move to Narara Community Centre and the separation of Community Care Services and Family Day Care on 1 st July 2001. Our service to the community continues in Narara, particularly targetting the disadvantaged, but aiming to engage all sectors in involvement with their local community.