Friday, 27 July 2018

Thousands of Victorians are about to reap the benefits of a record funding boost to be shared by the state’s neighbourhood houses thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

A total of 162 neighbourhood houses in Victoria are getting additional coordination hours, which will give families improved access to employment, training and volunteering opportunities.

In Gippsland recipients include Paynesville Neighbourhood Centre, Bass Valley Community Group, Cann River community Centre, Loch Sport Community House who each receive extra funding of $14,760 which will deliver an extra 25 hours of support.

All of the 162 neighbourhood houses have been funded to deliver 25 coordination hours per week, part of a record $21.8 million investment to deliver an extra 76,700 hours each year.

It’s an investment eight times bigger than what was delivered by the previous Liberal National Government.

The additional coordination hours will help staff and volunteers provide the activities and services Victorians need and want closer to home, like language classes, computer tutoring, health and well-being activities, life skills lessons, self-help groups and occasional childcare.

Almost 200,000 people visit a neighbourhood house or use their services every week in Victoria, bringing people together to connect, learn and contribute with fellow community members.

Additional funding through the Victorian Budget 2018/19 will also allow mobile neighbourhood house networkers to spend 4,800 extra hours with individual houses to improve access to key services and activities.

Gippsland Regional Neighbourhood Houses Group Inc, which services Bass Coast Shire, Baw Baw Shire, Latrobe City, South Gippsland Shire and Wellington Shire and The East Gippsland Network of Neighbourhood Houses Inc which services East Gippsland Shire and Wellington Shire, will benefit from extra networker hours.

Victoria has more than 400 neighbourhood houses across the state within 16 networks. Neighbourhood house networkers have responsibility for visiting and supporting houses in their area to ensure the community is getting the best service possible.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos

 “More hours, more staff and more volunteers – this investment is a win for the local communities neighbourhood houses support across Victoria.”

“This is a great boost for the regions – with more than half of the houses to get extra funding in regional Victoria.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing:

“Neighbourhood houses are a wonderful part of Victoria, including here in Gippsland.”

“From gardening lessons to IT training, there’s always support, advice and a helping hand to be found at neighbourhood houses – it is wonderful to be able to increase their funding.”

Funding Recipients