EastEnders hosts first-of-a-kind community health consultation

In August, EastEnders held a community information session to help connect residents with local health and social support services.

The event was the first of its kind, allowing residents to speak directly with representatives from Cohealth and The Salvation Army about the services they offer.

“EastEnders has now participated in three events to enable these opportunities for discussion with interested citizens – something that neither the City of Melbourne nor the state government has been prepared to do,” EastEnders president Stan Capp said.

The session focused on The Salvation Army’s new central city health clinic at 69 Bourke St, which offers wraparound care to Melbourne’s most vulnerable.

However, some residents raised concerns about the clinic’s impact on city safety.

“There was some community concern expressed about the challenges in Bourke St and Westwood Place, where attendees of the Salvos occasionally congregate,” Dr Capp said, but added that he believed that, overall, the clinic had been met with support and appreciation.

“EastEnders has provided advice on how these challenges can be addressed through a memorandum of understanding developed by key stakeholders,” he said. “We call on the council and the state government to work with local citizens, to join us, show leadership, and find a sensible solution.”

At the meeting, the head of the council’s city safety portfolio, Cr Rafael Camillo, attended and questioned the effectiveness of Cohealth’s and The Salvo’s services.

Cr Camillo, who declared he wasn’t appearing at the session in his role as a councillor, but rather his ongoing position as president of the Residents 3000 residents’ group, expressed concern over staffing levels at the health services and the effect they may have on city safety.

This comes after Cohealth’s FY25 Impact Report revealed that their team had delivered 526,500 service occasions to clients over the past 12 months.

Despite the criticism from Cr Camillo and several residents, Dr Stan Capp said that healthy debate was essential.

“The aggressive and negative statements made by some participants – directed at our friends at Cohealth and The Salvation Army – did nothing to resolve the issue, but they do highlight the need for more interaction and information sharing,” he said. •