Community outreach

• EAPA reminder The EAPA (Energy Accounts Payment Assistance) scheme provides emergency assistance to energy customers in NSW. How many vouchers can be issued? Each customer’s needs should be assessed individually. Customers can receive vouchers from more than one organisation. Excess vouchers? Return them immediately so they can be redistributed. Vouchers are only valid for the financial year they are issued. Run out? Contact the EAPA Coordinator on (02) 8281 7712. Interested in distributing EAPA? Contact the EAPA Coordinator to apply.

  Community development
• EAPA reminder
• Affordability and sustainability forums

Community development

By Antony Nicholas, Community Development Officer, EWON

I was appointed Community Development Officer in October 2006. Prior to joining the Community and Service Development team, I worked as an EWON Investigations Officer for two years. Before EWON I worked as a manager and educator in the community sector for a NSW-based service for HIV positive people.

My first six months in the job have been very busy and very rewarding. As well as hosting forums and attending community events, I have undertaken a range of outreach activities across NSW including:

• presentations to members of the Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Association in Sydney city, outer metro and Shoalhaven
• discussions with tenancy services in the Hunter and Central Coast about their clients’ issues
• presentations to seniors (via interpreters) at Greek Welfare Centres
• visits to Migrant Resource Centres in Hornsby and Campbelltown
• visits to community agencies and Indigenous agencies in Central West NSW

Along with investigations staff I have attended pre-release expos in several prisons. We have found there is an ongoing need for information about managing debt and negotiating realistic payment plans. We will continue to focus on these two issues with inmates.

Affordability and sustainability forums

We have continued to host affordability and sustainability forums for community organisations. Our most recent forum was held in conjunction with Macarthur Diversity Services Inc (MDSI) at their office in Campbelltown. EWON is keen to promote awareness of customer assistance programs and we welcome invitations to visit communities.