Tuesday, 26 August 2025

Community food relief

Meng Heang TAK (Clarinda) (20:30): (1271) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Carers and Volunteers, and the action I seek is for the minister to provide the latest update on the 2025–26 community food relief program. This is an important program in my electorate, one that is supporting Victorians facing food insecurity and access to healthy and culturally appropriate food. There is a lot of work happening in the district of Clarinda to support vulnerable members of the community. South East Community Links has been a recipient under the program previously, and emergency relief services are a very important resource for our community. They provide immediate support and relief to people facing difficulty. They can help to buy what you need, including food, clothes, Mykis, petrol and medication.

There is also Make a Difference Dingley Village, which offers a huge amount of support to vulnerable community members facing food insecurity. Together with the Minister for Finance, I have seen firsthand the important service that they deliver. Every Thursday morning their emergency relief program distributes food, gas and electricity bill contributions to houses from out of the Marcus Road office. The program has seen a significant increase to demand due to the cost of living and serves as an important referral point. They also receive referrals from other service providers, such as South East Community Links and the Monash Health hospital outreach post-suicidal engagement program or hospital admission risk program, where financial stress and hardship has been identified. They have done an amazing job servicing residents in the City of Kingston and the City of Greater Dandenong, which has the highest level of homelessness in Victoria. They have been doing important work in the community for more than 40 years now, which is an amazing achievement. I commend Marion Harriden and the executive officers, as well as all the staff and volunteers for their generosity and kindness and commitment to serving the community. I thank the minister and look forward to hearing more on this important program.