Abstract
METRO Care is a Toowoomba-based not-for-profit organisation and is the community care expression of METRO Church Toowoomba which is in south-west Queensland in Australia. METRO Care partners with the local community offering innovative and targeted outreach programme that complement existing services. This chapter presents a discussion on the METRO Care partnership model highlighting the innovative projects METRO Care has initiated in the community. The METRO Care Street Crews program, a harm minimisation, peer-support street outreach program, operating every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night in the Toowoomba central business district is showcased in this chapter. These programme aim to (a) provide an on-the-ground support network helping young people find effective solutions and support in accessing vital services and (b) reduce alcohol-related behaviours and maintain a safer night precinct. This chapter presents a discussion held by the authors on the focus and work of METRO Care in developing innovative sustainable partnerships in the Toowoomba community and suggests that their programme offer a model for stewarding change in the non-government organisation sector.
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Notes
- 1.
For more population details, refer to: Toowoomba Regional Council Community profile: http://profile.id.com.au/toowoomba (Date accessed 6/6/17).
- 2.
For information on METRO care, refer to: https://METRO.org.au/toowoomba/ (Date accessed 4/6/17).
- 3.
For information on METRO care, refer to: https://METRO.org.au/toowoomba/ (Date accessed 4/6/17).
- 4.
Refer to: METRO Care: Street Crews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt_0D8-G8Ys (Date accessed 4/6/17).
- 5.
Safe night precincts (SNPs) exist in key entertainment areas across Queensland. SNPs are managed by local boards operating as incorporated associations. These boards manage and plan for the precinct to address a range of community safety issues.
- 6.
METRO Care: https://METROcare.org.au/.
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Gregg, M., Ní Shé, É., Burton, L.J. (2018). Stewarding Change? A Discussion About the METRO Care Model in Regional Australia. In: Ní Shé, É., Burton, L., Danaher, P. (eds) Social Capital and Enterprise in the Modern State. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68115-3_4
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