Wednesday, 29 November 2023

Banksia Gardens Community Services

Kathleen MATTHEWS-WARD (Broadmeadows) (19:12): (476) My adjournment matter is for the Treasurer and Minister for Economic Growth, and the action I seek is for the minister to join me in a visit to Banksia Gardens in Broadmeadows. Banksia Gardens Community Services, so ably led by CEO extraordinaire Gina Dougall, do incredible work in my electorate. The Treasurer and Minister for Economic Growth will be most interested in their work on social enterprises and the economic empowerment these projects offer to people who have often faced barriers to education and employment. They have opened two social enterprise cafes locally – the wonderful Common Bean cafes – in partnership with DPV Health and Kangan Institute and most recently a makers market on Thursday night. I really hope we do not sit late tomorrow night, as I would love to get there to do my Christmas shopping. The last market was such incredible value, and I loved being able to buy so many ‘made in Broady’ products – candles, mugs, gifts, plants, homewares, skincare products, artwork and fashion pieces – all the while supporting our wonderful young people to further develop their skills and confidence.

Of further interest to the Treasurer, Banksia gets full value out of every dollar of funding that they receive and proactively seeks funding from other sources. Just last week we heard of another successful philanthropic grant application from the Jack Brockhoff Foundation to expand the wonderful bike kitchen program. Peter Ewer set up this program, and it ticks all the boxes for me: skill development, supporting kids, promoting active transport and the circular economy as well as reducing waste. The program just makes my heart sing. Kids come after school, enjoy a snack and learn skills by repairing discarded bikes and later gift these bikes to local kids who do not have bikes. It was so great to see the smiles on local kids’ faces when they received the bikes last year. Banksia Gardens also supports many families with total care packages, and the Treasurer will enjoy seeing this program and the tangible difference it makes to so many people’s lives.

In government we often talk about place-based solutions, but Banksia lives and breathes and delivers place-based outcomes every day. It has been wonderful to work with them, a range of state agencies and Hume council in the vicinity to make tangible improvements for people living on the estate. The recent announcement with the Premier and the Minister for Housing of $80 million to build 120 new social homes was just fabulous. Banksia are also a key partner in the work of the Broadmeadows Revitalisation Board and just so many partnerships for good across the community. The refurbishment of the futsal pitch and basketball half-court is a great example of this collaboration, and I thank the Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence for her support of that project.

Banksia does a wonderful job working with kids and schools with their innovative Project REAL and the Northern Centre for Excellence in School Engagement. It would take me far longer than 3 minutes to talk about all the fabulous programs at Banksia, including GPAN – Good People Act Now – women’s groups, children’s programs, food relief, community gardens, language programs, computer skills and digital literacy. I look forward to showing it all off to the Treasurer.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I remind members to use correct titles.