A Half-Century of Heart

BCA’s 50 Years Supporting the Burdekin Community

When the Burdekin Community Association was founded five decades ago, it wasn’t born from a grand plan. It stemmed from concern—concern from everyday people who saw a gap in care for those leaving the hospital with nowhere to turn and the need for a community information centre.

Following a year of community consultation, Father John Payne and a committee of local citizens, with the support of the Ayr Shire Chairman and Shire Clerk, laid the foundations for BCA in 1975, setting out to respond to the Burdekin’s unmet needs and support those experiencing poverty, sickness, suffering, distress, misfortune, disability or helplessness.

“At the start, it was all volunteers,” says CEO Debra Cochran. “We began with opening a Community Information Centre so people could find out what help was available. In 1978, we started the Home Help Service and helped people with cleaning, shopping and mowing lawns.

For the first seven years, BCA operated without formal funding. It wasn’t until the federal government provided Home and Community Care funding —and the association later became incorporated in 1984—that the organisation began to grow in scale and reach. The rest is history.

From a handful of volunteers, BCA now has 52 staff, 13 subcontractors and 61 volunteers, offering 36 distinct programs. Yet, despite this growth, the purpose remains to provide direct services to people experiencing hardship and distress, from children to seniors.

The organisation has experienced exponential growth over its five decades of servicing the community. Securing Home Care funding proved BCA could deliver government-supported services effectively. Later came the Burdekin Centre for Rural Health and the Burdekin Community Rehabilitation Centre, providing specialist care to those who need it most. Over the past 15 years, BCA has expanded further, offering specialist domestic and family violence and homelessness services, psychological therapies, suicide prevention and exercise physiology - all staffed by qualified professionals along with home care packages, national disability insurance scheme, Qld Community Support Service, Transport Service, Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme, and Older People’s Action Program to name a few.

“We help people with whatever they’re facing,” says Cochran. “Sometimes it’s just providing information, sometimes it’s connecting them with a financial counsellor, a mental health clinician, or emergency relief. We work holistically, one small thing often leads to another.”

That human connection is at the heart of BCA, and it's having local people helping locals that makes the difference, Cochran says. “It’s community members helping each other. Our staff live here. They know the people, the issues. It’s about being part of the solution together.”

Due to increasing local demand, BCA is now exploring ways to expand domestic and family violence and homelessness services and increase aged care support. “The demand is rising, and it’s a challenge—but we’re also making progress,” she says.

As it celebrates 50 years of keeping the Burdekin ticking, the BCA remains committed to standing alongside every member of the community, offering care, comfort, and hope when it’s needed most. “Even the smallest conversation can make a huge difference,” says Cochran. “We can help in small ways, or big ways, people don’t have to face challenges alone.”

Fifty years on, BCA remains a pillar of the Burdekin, not because of buildings or funding, but because of people helping people, day in, day out.

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