BRIMBANK NORTH WEST
Home » News » Mel goes the extra mile

Mel goes the extra mile

Star Weekly has looked back at our editions and picked out a selection of our favourite stories from 2022, including…

Social worker Mel Walters loves making a

difference for clients every day.

Not only does the Ravenhall Bolton Clarke

employee help avert family crisis, but she also

helps people access secure housing, travels up

to 300 kilometres a day to make visits and helps

people navigate the aged care system.

Speaking ahead of Aged Care Employee Day

on August 7, Mel said the satisfaction of helping

people access services and get back on their feet

is all in a day’s work.

“I often liaise with clients who have no family

who can help them, so I assist them to gain the

additional supports they need,” she said.

“I’ve been a social worker for over 40 years

in a community setting and I love the variety,

the privilege of hearing peoples’ stories and

working with them to put in place preventative

methods based on their preferences.

“Social workers are there to work with people

– everyone is equal and entitled to respect and

care.”

Mel’s duties include helping people

make decisions about future care planning

so their wishes are understood if their

needs change.

“I also help make informed choices

about their accommodation, elder abuse,

family conflict, deal with risk management

surrounding the clients’ safety at home and

develop networks to find creative solutions to

peoples’ issues identified at the time,” she said.

To keep clients safe and connected, Mel

continued with phone consultations during

COVID-19 restrictions.

“I also linked people into projects in the west

like a telephone chat program,“ she said.

She said helping people with social issues,

like adequate housing, supports their overall

health and wellbeing.

“I had a gentleman who was living in a

community housing complex which had

security risks for him, and he had undergone

chemotherapy and treatment for cancer,” she

said.

“He was completely alone in the world and

we worked with him to relocate to a more

secure form of shared accommodation which

met his needs. Within three months he went

into remission and his wellbeing was greatly

improved.”

Mel has worked at Bolton Clarke for three

years, supporting clients in the west.

“What do I love about the westies? The

diversity,” she said.

“We have lots of cultural groups and

immigrants and mostly clients haven’t been

into contact with services before. You are really

making a difference.”

Digital Editions


  • From the archives

    From the archives

    Star Weekly looks back on the articles of our predecessors… 40 years ago 19 February, 1986 The head of the St Albans Health Centre last…

More News

  • Sod turned on new Deanside shopping centre

    Sod turned on new Deanside shopping centre

    Construction has officially commenced on the first major shopping centre to deliver convenience to the growing Deanside community. Delivered by National integrated property, construction and investment group Oreana, Deanside Central…

  • Jumpstarting young refugees driving journeys

    Jumpstarting young refugees driving journeys

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 228084 A new program will help young people from refugee backgrounds learn to drive. Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne announced the…

  • Call to rename drain

    Call to rename drain

    Friends of Organ Pipes National Park (FOOP) is calling for the waterway known as ‘Tame Street Drain’ to be officially renamed a creek. The small country waterway makes its way…

  • Brasher makes debut

    Brasher makes debut

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 452928 Taylors Lakes’ Dylan Brasher was almost the hero for Victoria in his Sheffield Shield debut last week After piling on the runs at…

  • Seasons heating up

    Seasons heating up

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 532917 With the summer sporting seasons coming up to the pointy end, there was lots of important action on Saturday. Star Weekly photographer Ljubica…

  • Sunshine library floor closure

    Sunshine library floor closure

    Brimbank Libraries has issued an announcement, saying level one of Sunshine library will be closed the evening on Monday 9 February due to minor flooding. According to Brimbank Libraries, there…

  • Getting ready for kindergarten

    Getting ready for kindergarten

    As part of ‘kindergarten readiness month’ next month, local sessional kindergarten providers will host a series of open days from 17-26 March, giving families the chance to explore local kindergartens.…

  • Braybrook ramps up for BMX fest

    Braybrook ramps up for BMX fest

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 532725 Melbourne’s inner-west will take centre stage this weekend at the Braybrook BMX Festival, a three-day celebration of action sports, youth culture and community,…

  • Brimbank writers and readers festival returns

    Brimbank writers and readers festival returns

    Lovers of literature rejoice! The Brimbank Writers and Readers Festival is returning next month for its biggest event to date. Thirty-four events will run over six days, from 12-17 March,…

  • Former Cash Converters operators penalised

    Former Cash Converters operators penalised

    The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has secured a total of $112,985 in penalties against the former operators of three Cash Converters stores in Melbourne’s north and west. The Federal Circuit…