Outlook looks out

By Melissa Meehan
ANYTHING is possible.
It’s the catchcry for Pakenham’s prime disability support organisation Outlook, and that’s just what they are hoping for – a positive outlook.
Outlook CEO Tony Fitzgerald says the tired facilities at the Toomuc Valley Road head office are in desperate need of an update, and wants $5 million of government funding to make it happen.
“What we really need is a new centre,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
“We already have the plans drawn up and we would need $5 million to make it happen.”
Mr Fitzgerald said the organisation provided many in the community with a facility like no other.
“Sixty to seventy per cent of our clients have an intellectual disability, we find them work and provide a service that allows them to take part in the local community,” he said.
“We are a community centre and a community house, we provide the local men’s shed and we want to provide more education for the people of Pakenham.”
Outlook’s plan is to knock down the current site and build a new community centre that would provide a range of activities.
Mr Fitzgerald, Outlook deputy CEO Anne McCormick and President Edwin Hume met with McMillan MP Russell Broadbent to discuss their plans last week.
Mr Broadbent was once on the board of Minibah Services Inc, Outlook’s former name.
He said the organisation provided an important service to the local community and took on board information given to him by Mr Fitzgerald. The next step, according to Mr Fitzgerald is to send a critical invitation to Bill Shorten, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, to visit the centre and see how important government funding would be.
“In an election year we want to make sure that everyone knows how imperative the new centre is to our service and survival,” Mr Fitzgerald said.