Wednesday, 1 May 2024

Kindred Clubhouse

Paul MERCURIO (Hastings) (19:16): (628) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Disability, and the action I seek is for the minister to come down to Hastings and meet with members and staff of Kindred Clubhouse. Kindred Clubhouse is a not-for-profit organisation focused on mental health support and was founded in 2016 to provide individuals with mental illness access to a safe, welcoming space – a space where members can come in and get involved in projects with others or sit quietly, knowing they are amongst friends and have their support. The clubhouse aims to create a strong community, a network of support and lasting friendships, with opportunities to access employment and education. It operates in line with the internationally recognised clubhouse model, an evidence-based model for mental health recovery.

I have been to many functions at the clubhouse and have personally witnessed new members come in very shy, reserved and frightened, and over subsequent visits I have seen them bloom into wonderful, confident people who feel safe and valued. Kindred Clubhouse is run by and for its members, and this means members work side by side as peers and partners with the staff to run every facet of the clubhouse. Earlier this year 72 recipients of the Victorian government’s 2023–25 disability self-help grants program were announced, and I am very happy to say that Kindred Clubhouse was one of them. This funding will be used for promotional materials to assist and encourage local GPs to social prescribe it to any of their patients that they feel would benefit from going to the clubhouse for a free coffee and a chat. I and the members of Kindred Clubhouse look forward to the minister’s visit.