When Cheryl* moved to Hervey Bay in late 2024 for cancer treatment, she found herself isolated and struggling to navigate local services.

Recently hospitalised and without connections in the area, Cheryl faced challenges including applying for the age pension, accessing My Aged Care supports, and managing daily tasks like cooking and transportation.

Her laptop, the main way to communicate with family, was also not working.

Through Community Navigators, Cheryl received personalised support to access multiple services.

She was assisted with IT support, TransComCare community transport, My Aged Care referral, superannuation documentation, tax forms, and official records from births, deaths, and marriages.

She also received guidance with scheduling GP appointments, arranging home services, and discovering community activities.

As a result of this support, Cheryl now has a steady income, a new GP, a My Aged Care package, a functioning laptop, a birth certificate, and organised transport and meal services.

She shared that the process had felt impossible before receiving assistance and that without the support of Community Navigators, she would have likely remained isolated at home.

The Community Navigators program, coordinated by the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre, assists older residents and those experiencing health or life challenges to connect with essential services, build community connections, and regain independence, HBNC’s Client Support Manager, Narelle Duroux said.

“Cheryl’s story shows the critical role of navigation support in helping people access services and stay connected,” Narelle said.

“With the right guidance, even the most complex challenges can be managed successfully.”

*Name changed for privacy.

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