A NEW Department of Human Services one-stop-shop, officially opened in Wollongong today.

Senator Kim Carr said Wollongong residents now had the benefits of Medicare and Centrelink under the same roof.

“Wollongong residents now have access to a wider range of services at the one location, which features updated facilities and easy access for people with disability,” Senator Kim Carr said.

Federal MP for Cunningham Sharon Bird said the new one-stop-shop is one of the biggest service centres in southern NSW, with staff playing a big role in supporting the local community.

“This centre serves 800 people a day. It offers specialist staff including social workers and a financial services officer. An indigenous service officer and multicultural service officer also visit the service centre to provide additional support to those who need it,” Ms Bird said.

Federal MP for Throsby Stephen Jones said local job seekers were well supported through the centre.

“Staff from the Wollongong service centre recently ran their first Job Seeker Workshop, helping work-ready job seekers find employment,” he said.

“The aim was to share practical tips with job seekers in their first 13 weeks of unemployment before they become long-term unemployed, and outcomes so far have been promising.”

The Wollongong Service Centre is located at 43 Burelli Street and is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, with Medicare services available on Saturdays from 9am –12.30pm.