Boost to Centrelink services in southern Fleurieu

Residents of the southern Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island will benefit from a boost to Centrelink services in the region from July 1.

As a result of continued population growth in the region, Centrelink will upgrade the Victor Harbor office to an independent Customer Service Centre [CSC]. At present, the office is a sub-branch of Noarlunga with Kangaroo Island serviced from Adelaide.

This will mean even better service for customers, with more staff based in Victor Harbor and increased availability of specialist services such as Social Workers.

Staff numbers at the Victor Harbor Customer Service Centre will increase from 13 to 17, including one of the new Personal Adviser positions that will start in September. The Personal Adviser will provide individualised assistance to customers who have social or economic barriers to finding work.

Parts of the southern Fleurieu are among the fastest growing areas in the State and this boost to services demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring equal access to services for all Australians.

Kangaroo Island residents will benefit from the change, with their Centrelink Community Agent dealing directly with Victor Harbor CSC, rather than Adelaide. This will help residents because staff at Victor Harbor have a much greater understanding of the local issues facing customers on the Island.

From July, Victor Harbor Centrelink will have a customer base of about 14,000 including families and aged pensioners who make up the majority of customers, as well as people looking for work, students and people with a disability.