Tuesday, 7 May 2024

Better Health Network, Parkdale

Tim RICHARDSON (Mordialloc) (14:10): Recently I joined the Minister for Health to open upgrades to Better Health Network’s facilities in Parkdale. Formerly known as Central Bayside Community Health Services and brought together under Star Health and Connect Health & Community, Better Health Network provides a range of allied health services in our local community. It was great to see the new facilities that are being delivered as part of a $2.6 million project upgrade as part of the Metropolitan Health Infrastructure Fund.

I want to give a big shout-out to the leadership there: former chair of Better Health Network Janice Munt, a former member for Mordialloc and Parliamentary Secretary for Health – an outstanding leader in the south-east and indeed across Victoria; and the former Cain government minister Peter Spyker, who is an outstanding champion for community – you see Peter around Cheltenham all the time – and to see him there at the opening was really amazing. Central Bayside Community Health, the legend and story goes, was established in the back of Peter Spyker’s electorate office. Things have changed these days, but such was his determination to establish this service that now has hundreds of employees and so many volunteers, that he put it together in the back of the electorate office.

To Deb Stuart, the former CEO of Central Bayside Community Health, for all her leadership and advocacy in building this great project and to the workers that put this together and then the incoming CEO as well, thank you for the work that has been done. Amanda Murphy is coming in and is doing an outstanding job. It was great to join the Minister for Health to celebrate another milestone in health care and allied health services in the Mordialloc electorate.