Tuesday, 2 December 2025

 Natalie SULEYMAN (St Albans – Minister for Veterans, Minister for Small Business and Employment, Minister for Youth) (19:23): Can I begin by thanking the member for Lara for raising the adjournment matter, and I am pleased to provide an opportunity to update how we are backing young people in the member’s community, and in particular in the electorate of Lara. I would also like to congratulate the winners of this year’s Geelong Youth Awards, who I had the absolute pleasure this evening to actually meet with the member for Lara. I do want to take a moment to thank and congratulate Nick, Parri, Jesse, Alex, Xavier, Rezai and of course Alexander as well. I was extremely honoured to meet such fine young leaders. Not only are they showing up and making an impact in their local community, but they are also providing guidance and support for other young people and of course vulnerable communities in the Geelong community.

There is no doubt our government has delivered a record level of funding when it comes to our youth portfolio. We have seen over $30.9 million in this year’s state budget – a budget that delivers for young people, a budget that backs the Amplify, Engage!, Future Ready and Youth Fest programs, including those programs delivered and rolled out into the Lara electorate. Of course to deliver these programs I am absolutely proud to be able to partner with a range of organisations and in particular youth organisations in the Geelong region and within that community, together with the City of Greater Geelong, local schools and many, many other young people, so that we can continue to grow and expand those programs and of course support young people.

In addition, the City of Greater Geelong and our government delivered the Nest Youth Hub. I know that this has been an absolutely active space for young people. This hub was co-designed with local young people and puts their ideas and needs first and foremost. I know the Nest has been really active. It has seen close to 500 attendees from 30 June to 30 September, so in a short period of time you can see how this hub has been able to provide support for local young people, not only wraparound services but also in particular backed with a $400,000 investment through our Victorian youth strategy.

I know members, in particular the member for Lara, the member for Geelong and of course the member for Bellarine, had the opportunity to be at the Nest and be part of the opening celebrations. It was wonderful to join not only the young people and youth organisations but also young people really making a difference at the hub. Not only are they delivering programs and supporting young people, they are also providing six-weekly youth hub reference group meetings. They are providing, as I said, that wraparound support when it comes to mental health and wellbeing and of course delivering really important support programs to young people. I know that since the hub kicked off there have been a range of local community groups and organisations using the space. So it is not just for young people, it also includes really important groups like the Cultura youth council, CatholicCare, the Department of Justice and Community Safety and of course local schools. This is really, really an important hub, and I find that these youth hub spaces across Victoria do valuable work for young people.

I do also want to thank in particular the member for Lara for her commitment and dedication to supporting local young people, not only in programs and leadership but also in those work experience opportunities for young people in particular in her electorate. I really do look forward to continuing to support young Victorians to be their very best and to do their very best in their local communities, because when we do provide opportunities, we know that young people will embrace those opportunities into the future. I thank you very, very much for raising this adjournment and continuing to do that great work in supporting our young people across the state.

A number of members raised matters for other ministers, and I will make sure that these matters are referred on to the relevant ministers.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The house stands adjourned till tomorrow morning.

House adjourned 7:28 pm.