OSHC service on the way for Mossman following Uniting Church support

Uniting Church pastor Nadia Abraham is the surprising lynchpin which has allowed for the much needed provision of after school care in the Queensland town of Mossman. 

 

Pastor Abraham is only new to the community of Mossman, having come to the region last year, however she has “hit the ground running,” pushing hard for projects that develop the provision of services for children and young people in the area. 

 

The church has secured a Federal Government grant of  $748,000 to operate outside school hours care (OSHC) services, and plans are also underway to replace the current community hall on the block with a new one, which will potentially lessen the youth crime in the long term by giving children and young people in the community more things to do.

 

“It just made perfect sense to us to provide this service as people need to work and earn a living or study, but it’s very difficult for parents to find care for their children after school hours,” Pastor Abraham told local news source Newsport.

 

“I truly believe this will change the trajectory of the future for the young people here, the children at our centre will have that structured safe care here after school and they won’t be running around on the street aimlessly and doing the wrong thing,” she said.

 

Mossman’s Primary School is located next door to the church, which will make it easy for the children to transition. 

 

Sustainability is also a focus for the church, which is offering the existing community hall, which has served the community for decades, to anyone who would like to relocate it to their own property. 

 

“I’m sad it has to be demolished but we can’t keep it so if anybody is interested in taking it and putting it on their land, get in touch with me and it’s yours for free,” Pastor Abraham said.

 

To read the original coverage of this story please see here.