Gatwick Hotel

Friday, June 19, 2009

Gatwick Hotel – improving life for residents

The St Kilda Social Inclusion Project in partnership with Good Shepherd, Community Connections from Inner South Community Health Service and St Kilda Police are working together to improve security at the historic Gatwick Hotel rooming house in Fitzroy Street.

Eight people including several managers and residents currently employed at the Gatwick have undergone concierge training run by the Brotherhood of St Laurence.

The training has equipped residents and staff with improved techniques for managing and communicating with people in a non confrontational way and will look at methods to improve security on site. The Brotherhood already provides training to security staff at public housing high rises around Melbourne.

“New security measures have already been implemented with great success by management of the Gatwick. These includes strict guidelines around visitors who must now sign in and can only have access to rooms if they are escorted by the person they have come to visit, and non-residents can no longer access the foyer or toilets,” said Mayor Frank O’Connor.

“This training program also has great benefits in providing skills and employment opportunities to five Gatwick residents who proved themselves to be very enthusiastic and committed trainees. More training opportunities are being explored and we are excited at the potential this model may have for rooming houses in St Kilda,” he said.

The training program has been funded by the St Kilda Social Inclusion Project. The project has been running since last October and is a partnership between the City of Port Phillip, Department of Human Services and the Department of Planning and Community Development.

The program focuses on developing ways for the city’s more marginalised residents to have increased opportunities for training, employment, advocacy and involvement in general community activities.

Enquiries: Anna McNaughton, Communication Officer, 03 9209 6581 or 0466 142 423
or Mayor Cr Frank O’Connor on 03 9209 6431 or 0432 289 012.