Roxburgh Park Expands Community Services in Latest Local Government Update

Thousands of Roxburgh Park residents will soon see expanded access to family, senior and youth support after the council unveiled its latest update to community services policy on Monday. The package, formally adopted at last night's monthly council session, includes additional social workers, a new youth drop-in centre by August and an upgrade to aged care home visits. These changes directly impact eligible residents using local public services, particularly in the Broadmeadows and Merri Park precincts.

Increasing Pressure on Support Services

The council’s move comes amid rising demand on local community services, with Roxburgh Park's population reaching just over 25,000 this year, according to the most recent municipal census figures. Reports from the Community Impact Review Board last month highlighted a 14% increase in calls to the council’s social assistance helpline since January. Policy analysts say current cost-of-living pressures and an uptick in new residents settling in the area are driving more individuals to seek help with housing, food security and youth services.

Under the update, the council will add two new caseworkers to the existing community engagement unit, along with dedicated mental health outreach specialists stationed at the Roxburgh Hub on Ravenhill Street. For families, the changes include expansion of the after-school care voucher pilot-last year limited to 100 students-to now cover up to 300 children in the next school term. The new youth drop-in centre, set for the former Fletcher Library building, is scheduled to open in mid-August, offering education support, recreational activities and mental health workshops. Access will be free for all Roxburgh Park residents aged 12 to 18.

Budget Commitment and Rollout

Funding for the expanded services comes from the 2026-27 council budget, released in May, which allocated £2.1 million for community support programs-an increase of £430,000 over the previous year. According to the budget paper, just over 60% of these funds are earmarked for frontline personnel and new facilities in the coming financial year. The local authority says spending will focus on areas where demand has been most acute, including the northern corridor near Islington Road, where social service referrals have doubled since last winter. The Community Outcomes Statement projects the policy changes will enable an additional 2,000 client contacts in the first 12 months of operation.

The council has confirmed that upgrades to aged care visiting services will begin in late July, with expanded hours and more frequent home visits for registered seniors. Alongside, the new support worker roles are expected to be filled by early August following an open recruitment round. Local advocates note that these changes will help close gaps for vulnerable groups-especially newly arrived migrants and low-income families-although the government says some measures, such as expanded family day care, remain in pilot phase.

Looking ahead, the council will commission an independent progress review in March next year to evaluate the effectiveness of the improved services. Results from this review, as required under the Community Services Act, will determine future funding allocations and any additional program expansions. For Roxburgh Park residents, the current changes mean expanded entry points for support and more staff on the ground, with tangible effects visible as early as this coming school semester.