Services Australia has reported that its three Mobile Service Centres — Blue Gum, Desert Rose and Golden Wattle — were on the road all throughout last year bringing services to Australians where they needed it.
Director of the Agency’s Face-to-Face Mobile Service Centre and Farm Support Team, Colin Hall said that in March 2021 Services Australia deployed all three trucks to flood-affected areas in New South Wales and Queensland.
“We were there for 32 days and helped out thousands of people in 42 affected communities,” Mr Hall said.
“You can imagine the logistical challenges the team encountered deploying a mobile service at that time,” he said.
Mr Hall said the trucks were held up at State borders and had to navigate around flooding, while personnel got on last-minute flights to stay ahead of lockdowns and had managers in quarantine.
“We even had the help of police on one occasion to hand over Desert Rose at a NSW border post to a Services Australia team in Queensland,” he said.
“Sometimes we see people who’ve lost everything — they don’t even have a wallet or a phone.
“So, an example of what we assisted with — we helped people access their vaccination certificates.”
Mr Hall said the work of the Mobile Service Centres spanned well beyond disasters.
“All through the year, the fleet is helping customers who don’t have easy access to a Service Centre, and people with complex needs,” he said.
“In many of the towns we visit, we’re finding people who haven’t connected to the services they need, or have no idea that they’re eligible.”
The Director said the teams were also helping people become more independent with digital self-service.
“We want to know that after we’ve gone, they’re set up and confident about where to go for help,” he said.
“Making sure our communities are fully connected is the way of the future for Government service,” Mr Hall said.
