Putting hoarding training into practice at Merri-bek City Council
We spoke with Meg Thompson, Unit Manager – Ageing Well at Merri-bek City Council, about how the Understanding Hoarding and Environmental Neglect training and resources have helped her team strengthen their approach to supporting people with hoarding disorder.
What did your team get out of the training?
We found the training and accompanying resources exceptionally valuable. They helped us better understand hoarding disorder and directly informed the development of our own Council model for supporting people with hoarding disorder.
The resources were comprehensive, practical and easy to apply. The checklists and templates gave us a strong base to build our own processes and resources. The flow charts were particularly useful for mapping pathways and developing a more coordinated approach.
What stood out for you about the training itself?
Aliki's depth of knowledge and extensive experience in supporting people with hoarding challenges really came through in the way she presented the training.
She generously shared her insights and brought an authentic, compassionate approach to the topic. That gave the training a lot of credibility and made it highly relevant to the work we do.
"The training gave us a strong base to build our own processes and resources."
— Meg Thompson, Merri-bek City Council
How important was it to connect with other professionals working in this area?
Given how complex hoarding disorder can be, connecting with a broader network of professionals was invaluable. It gave us the chance to share ideas, consider different approaches and better understand what may be possible.
Those conversations have strengthened our practice and given us greater confidence as we continue to refine our approach.
Has that connection continued beyond the training?
Yes. The northern networking meeting that Aliki convenes has also been an invaluable resource. It brings together key people and organisations from across the sector to share ideas, brainstorm and work through complex challenges.
My team has found the meetings incredibly helpful as we consider how we can best support people and make the best use of our resources. I know those ongoing connections will continue to be valuable as we build our understanding, knowledge and practice.
Thank you, Meg, for sharing your team's experience.
And thank you Merri-bek City Council for the work you do every day to improve the wellbeing of older people.
Ready to strengthen your team's response to hoarding and environmental neglect?
Book your team into
Understanding Hoarding and Environmental Neglect
with Aliki Karantzoulis on 6 October 2026.
