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Neighbourhood Houses furore

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THE Neighbourhood Houses hubs provide childcare, employment, education, training and opportunities to volunteer in local communities. During emergencies and the pandemic, Neighbourhood Houses have provided support to communities with services such as food relief, distributing personal protective equipment, providing advice and acting as testing or vaccination sites. The hubs are also instrumental in providing accessible education to the community, ensuring people from a diverse range of backgrounds have the opportunity to study and learn new skills that enable people to achieve their potential. Shadow Minister for Disability, Carers and Seniors, Tim Bull, said the government’s announcement had fallen short of what Victoria’s Neighbourhood Houses were seeking. The opposition last month committed to recurring funding if it were to form government after the November election. “Labor has left it until the last minute to make a commitment to funding these vital community hubs - several weeks after the Liberal and Nationals commitment to annual funding - but again it is fixed term and does not have a recurrent ongoing commitment,” Mr Bull said in a statement. “Neighbourhood Houses have made it clear they want certainty with funding to establish long-term programs and employment security for staff, but with only a three-year commitment from Labor it is impossible to do this.” A government spokesperson told the Gippsland Times the funding would be ongoing. “The Andrews Labor Government has provided certainty for the vital work of Neighbourhood Houses by investing in ongoing annual support for the community hubs across the state,” the spokesperson said. “Claims that the funding will end in three years are simply wrong - it’s only a Labor Government that will back the invaluable work of Neighbourhood Houses in our communities. “If the opposition can’t read a simple funding announcement, how can they be expected to manage Victoria’s economy?” Neighbourhood Houses Gippsland network manager Antonia Halloran-Levelle welcomed the funding boost. “I am really pleased to see the government support the sector and recognise this funding uplift should be recurrent,” she said. “I know previously the Green Liberal Democrats, Liberals, Nationals all expressed their support. It is a step in the right direction,” Ms Halloran-Lavelle said. “However, there does need to be more!” Ms Halloran-Levelle said the new funding was now in the “recurrent bucket” as part of the NHCP, whereas the government’s 2018 announcement of a financial boost to a number of houses was not. “It was only earlier this year the houses were made aware the funding (announced in 2018) was not recurring. “Funding was (pledged) in 2018 and we assumed it would go beyond 2024,” she said. “This (new) announcement means security for the eight houses identified and for the remaining houses is security that my role will not have to reduce. “However, this does not impact any funding directly of the remaining 13 houses,” she said. “A number of houses haven’t had an increase in funding since 2014 or so. “We’re still a very unfunded sector,” she said. There are more than 20 Neighbourhood Houses in Gippsland, with the Wellington Shire home to facilities in towns including Yarram, Stratford, Gormandale, Heyfield, Briagolong, Dargo, Rosedale, Sale and Loch Sport.

Briagolong Neighbourhood House. Briagolong Neighbourhood House.

Photos: Stefan Bradley

Marley Street Community Hub, Sale.

Heyfield Community Resource Centre childcare coordinator Michelle Brooks and 2IC Tammy Leighton in the ‘Kids House’. Heyfield Community Resource Centre.

Segue Community Hub and Arts Cafe, Stratford.

Have you lost a wedding ring?

Police Beat

HEYFIELD Police are hoping to reunite an item of jewellery with its owner. A man’s wedding band was found in Temple St, Heyfield, and handed to the local station. To make a claim for the jewellery, phone Heyfield Police on 5148 2202. The owner will be required to provide a description of the jewellery and details of the loss.

Animal cruelty charges

ON September 13, Yarram Police interviewed an 18-year-old male from Gippsland in relation to aggravated cruelty to animals, as a result of information received from the public. Police have suspended the male’s Victorian firearms licence, and he will be summonsed to appear at court over subsequent offences detected by police against the Firearms Act. Investigations are ongoing in relation to offences relating to animal cruelty. Anyone with further information is encouraged to phone Yarram Police on 03 5182 5033.

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