Hoppers Crossing resident and Werribee Support and Housing chief executive Carol Muir helps Wyndham locals whose needs arise daily.
What’s your connection to the local community?
I’m chief executive of Uniting Care’s Werribee Support and Housing and have been for 15 years. Our agency, with the help of 20 staff and 60 volunteers, focuses on homeless prevention. We run programs on housing support, foster care, emergency relief, parent and adolescent mediation, crisis and early intervention counselling to Wyndham residents, a young parents’ support group, and independent living skills. We use data to identify trends and develop new programs that answer people’s needs.
Having worked in the sector for 41 years, I’ve enjoyed many aspects. Having students on placement who contribute to the agency and community is great, as is working with volunteers, everyone collaborating together and helping vulnerable people by providing advocacy and empowerment – that’s rewarding. The daily challenges keep me going and I never know what each day will bring.
Wyndham is a community-focused area as shown by the support given through local service clubs, residents, the Geelong Cats, and Aldi supermarkets.
I’m also treasurer of the Hoppers Crossing Club darts club and have been involved in tennis and squash committees. I’ve lived in Hoppers Crossing since the late ’80s.
What do you like about your neighbourhood?
The accessibility we have to the city, while still being far enough away from the hustle and bustle. I like our community’s diversity. We have tremendous landscapes and nature and need to treasure these, including Campbells Cove, which is like being transported to a European fishing village with all the coloured beach shacks.
What would you like to change?
The growth has been phenomenal and I would like to see governments work together to plan for sustainable growth, such as access to public transport, preventing people becoming isolated. We need diverse planning, including mixed-density living and a stronger focus on design around community needs.
What’s your favourite place to get coffee?
Chatterbox makes great coffee.
Share a funny story of something that’s happened to you in Wyndham
While away on holidays, a friend was looking after my pet cockatoo.
I called him to see how my cockatoo was going.
He said it had escaped and he was currently following its flight path around Wyndham in his car to catch it.
