The Kingston East Neighbourhood Centre has been a vital part of the community for 40 years.
The KENG team is now receiving recognition for their efforts in a state-wide competition that highlights community impact.
Centre manager of eight years, Kim Wright, said the secret to helping the community was listening.
“Hearing community and being the voice of community is really important,” Ms Wright said.
“We take a hand down, a hand up approach.
“Hearing their voice – it makes them feel validated and empowered.”
KENG runs a variety of programs and services targeting almost everything, from homelessness, domestic violence and disaster recovery to education, parenting and children.
Ms Wright describes it as all-encompassing and said KENG supported “anyone and everyone”.
“Our work here is working alongside our clients and connecting them to our services,” she said.
“Logan is very diverse, so we’re like a universal service.
“We’re not just a multicultural service or a domestic violence service – we do everything.”
For its hard work, KENG has been named one of five finalists at the 2024 Queensland Council of Social Service Community Impact Awards.
“We’re super excited about it,” Ms Wright said.
“KENG has been operating for the past 40 years in the Logan community, and we support across the lifespan.
“We feel so privileged that people want us to be part of their life journey.”
She said part of KENG’s specialty was bespoke support tailored to suit individuals’ needs, which can by multi-layered.
“What works for me might not work for you,” she said.
“For some people, they have never been asked what they would like to do or what they want for their family.”
Recently, fathers involved in the KENG playgroup noted that it was primarily female-dominated, with women running and facilitating the activities.
“They wanted a playgroup that was run by men, just for men,” Ms Wright said.
Now KENG runs a playgroup just for fathers on Saturdays.
The team’s biggest initiative is its annual back to school project.
“Children are at the heart what everything do,” Ms Wright said.
“We help around 1000 Logan children each year with back-to-school packs – so that’s stationary, hats, lunchboxes, water bottles.
“That’s our big thing, because as we know the value of children starting school with the essential items is paramount.”
KENG has two facilities – Meakin Park at Slacks Creek and Tudor Park at Loganholme – open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 4.30pm, and Friday from 9am to 2.30pm.
Learn more about KENG’s services by visiting keng.org.au.
Or contact the team at 07 3808 1684.
