History of Camcare

Camcare began as an organisation in 1976 when a concerned group of citizens decided to improve service provision in the Camberwell area for people who were disadvantaged.

In particular, a local committee identified the need for accessible counselling services and financial assistance in a crisis. The emphasis was on local service provision, preventative and remedial counselling and an information service to provide people with knowledge about their rights and the services available in the community. Skilled volunteers were recruited, but from the outset there was also a decision to employ a professional social worker to deal with people presenting with complex personal problems and provide supervision and support to the volunteers.

Camcare’s roots are in community action by local residents recognising needs in the community and seeking to establish services to meet those needs, with vital support from the City of Boroondara. Both professional and volunteer staff were recruited and counselling services extended to members of the Camberwell community. Training was provided to the volunteers. In August 1977, Camcare’s services extended into Ashburton, supporting the Alamein community program which was responding to the needs of families living in the Alamein Housing Commission area who required support. This led to funding from the Victorian State Government for a family aide program and for Financial Counselling. Outreach work to local community houses occurred and initiatives, including establishing a local toy library and a food co-operative, were undertaken.

In 2002, Camcare merged with the Kew Hawthorn Citizen’s Advice Bureau and a third service site was born, staffed largely by volunteers working with an Administrative Officer. Some Camcare professional staff provided counselling services on an outreach basis from this site and other services were co-located in the building with administrative support provided by Camcare. These included Eastern Domestic Violence Outreach Service, the Inner East Rooming House Group and a social worker employed by the City of Boroondara. Camcare closed this office in 2009. Services continue to be provided to Kew residents from the Camberwell Office.

In 2016, recognition was made of Camcare’s contribution to the community for 40 years. Forty years of continuous service to Boroondara was celebrated with staff, volunteers, community partners, donors and Members.

Funded by three tiers of government, Camcare is now a vibrant community organisation with services provided in the municipalities of Boroondara, Whitehorse, Manningham and Monash. Through active partnership with other organisations we have expanded our services and embraced community engagement activities and strategies to meet the needs of diverse groups within the community.

In July 2018, Camcare merged with Access Health & Community. This move was carefully considered and planned for with the best interests of the Camcare community in mind. The merge gives Camcare a sustainable future, allowing them to continue to provide care to the Boroondara community (and their neighbouring suburbs).

It made sense for AccessHC and Camcare to join forces. The two organisations share the same goal of bettering their respective communities.

Whilst Camcare focus on providing support to families and communities, through counselling and support, AccessHC focus on looking after people’s health and wellbeing, by providing medical and health services.

Together, Access HC and Camcare are working to ensure that communities are thriving, because a healthy community is a happy community.