The Welcome Mat Network seeks to provide emergency accommodation for loved ones of patients who have come to Ballarat for healthcare unexpectedly.

Imagine it is 5:30pm on a Friday afternoon.
A person close to you needs to get to hospital in Ballarat quickly.  Without a thought, you gather up a few items for your loved one and you ride in the ambulance with them down the Western Hwy to hospital in Ballarat. You arrive and your loved one is seen to and stabilised for now.
Now you have a moment to catch your breath, you realise you don't have anywhere to stay tonight.
The Pastoral Worker, Chaplain or Social Worker you have been talking with tells you about the Welcome Mat Network.  Local Uniting Church members have made a room available for someone in your situation to stay a night or 2 while you get things sorted out.
A warm comfy bed, a shower and a cup of tea and you are ready to get back to the hospital to support your loved one.


How Does It Work?:

• Members of local UCA congregations go onto a list of people ('Hosts') who have agreed to provide accommodation for patient's loved ones ('Guests') should the need arise. 
• Hosts are willing to provide accommodation if called upon for 1-2 nights.
• When a need for accommodation is ascertained, the Welcome Mat Coordinator contacts Hosts on the list to match a Guest and a Host
• A Host is completely free to accept or decline a request for accommodation.

I Want To Find Out More.  What Can I Do?
Fill out the Expression of Interest Form below and a member of the Chaplaincy team will be in touch to talk further about how you can help.
Thanks!

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