The Nationals Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad has urged the State Government to provide increased recurrent funding to secure the future of Victoria’s neighbourhood houses.
Ms Broad told Parliament neighbourhood houses were running “on the smell of an oily rag”.
“During the past year I have met co-ordinators from neighbourhood houses in northern Victoria and seen firsthand the excellent work they do,” she said.
“Their workload has increased dramatically as local residents battle cost-of-living pressures and recover after natural disasters,” she said.
“In the last week I have received correspondence from neighbourhood houses across northern Victoria, including Birchip, Nathalia and Mooroopna.
“They have raised concerns about current funding levels, the increased demand for emergency food relief and a lack of funding to establish new neighbourhood houses in growth areas with obvious needs. There is now a serious threat to their viability under the current neighbourhood house co-ordination program.
“Our neighbourhood houses are currently fighting an uphill battle when it comes to funding and now face having to cut programs, including the provision of emergency food relief, which is not funded.
“Neighbourhood houses and community centres provide a valuable service to local communities right across Victoria, yet local co-ordinators spend valuable time applying for grants just to cover costs because they are on tight budgets and have limited resources.
“More than half of Victoria’s neighbourhood houses are in regional Victoria and The Nationals are advocating for additional recurrent funding in the coming state budget to secure their future.”
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au