The community garden partnership between the Loddon Mallee Region (LMR) Community Work team and the Salvation Army in Bendigo (Bendigo Salvos) has resumed after a hiatus during the pandemic. The Bendigo Salvos established the garden, known as Gravel Hill, to provide fresh produce for their food pantry and the Bendigo Community Services community meals program.
After being put on hold, the partnership has returned with new developments and initiatives aimed at expanding the program. Gravel Hill supplies food to local families through the food pantry, and also provides space for community members to rent garden beds and grow their own produce.
Previously, gardening and groundskeeping duties at the community garden were handled by Bendigo Salvos staff. LMR Community Work participants now undertake groundskeeping tasks including general gardening, nursery work, maintenance, and compost making, to support the community initiative.
There are plans to extend the partnership. Select community work participants will help prepare meals for people attending the Bendigo Community Services community meals program and will distribute meals to community members experiencing food insecurity.
The LMR Community Work team has also secured garden space at Gravel Hill to plant and grow their own produce to use in community work programs. This food will be used for local initiatives supporting vulnerable members of the community.
The partnership is on track to increase the number of community work placements each week. These efforts aim to achieve positive outcomes for community work participants, the partner organisations, and the local community.
Most offenders are required to undertake unpaid community work as a condition of their order. Community work provides an opportunity to pay back the community for offending behaviour and assists offenders in their rehabilitation by developing their skills and giving them purpose.
The community work teams within Community Correctional Services (CCS) support offenders to complete their community work requirements through a wide range of programs and initiatives. CCS partners with a range of organisations to develop and manage these programs.
More information about community work programs and partnerships