Thursday, 1 September 2022

St Albans seniors

Ms SULEYMAN (St Albans) (17:11): (6531) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers. The action that I seek is for the minister to join me in visiting the St Albans seniors group in my electorate of St Albans to mark the Victorian Seniors Festival. We know the incredible contribution that older Victorians make, in particular in my electorate. Whether it is through their working life, volunteering efforts or caring for grandchildren, our older Victorians deserve to be recognised and celebrated. The seniors festival is a chance to do that. This year the seniors festival, in its 40th year, will build on the success of previous festivals, hosting events including online radio programs, First Nations performances and entertainment by local artists from across Melbourne.

Past festivals have been a massive hit, and I know in my electorate there are a lot of festivities and events. In St Albans our seniors groups do a great job. They provide opportunities to reduce social isolation, be active and celebrate cultures and traditions. Most of all, this is an opportunity for older Victorians to meet up, engage, communicate, participate in annual dinner dances and other festivities and really get to know each other and different cultures and nationalities. This creates a very strong community, and I am extremely proud of the contribution my seniors make in St Albans.

In particular I look forward to the minister joining me, not only to see firsthand the contribution of our senior citizens but also to acknowledge and thank these organisations for their tireless work—work that they do each and every day, volunteering. I have to say that most of my seniors volunteer during the week and often seven days a week—weekend work as well. Some are getting used to the transition to being online and getting used to computer systems. These organisations do their very best to make sure that the members of their clubs are well informed on issues that are important, such as health and wellbeing and how to be active, and some of the programs and supports that are available to senior citizens. I commend all of my seniors groups and the contribution that they make each and every day in the St Albans community. We could not be the St Albans we are without our seniors, and in particular our multicultural seniors groups across St Albans, who have contributed immensely to the tapestry of my electorate.