Tuesday, 9 December 2025

 Kat THEOPHANOUS (Northcote) (12:32): In Northcote we love our neighbourhood houses, and we are fortunate to have some of the very best: Bridge Darebin, Jika Jika Alphington Community Centre and Span Community House. These are places where people come to learn, connect and feel supported. They are places where isolation is met with kindness, where people find community and where dignity is upheld in small but powerful ways. We know that rising costs and growing demand are placing enormous pressure on their ability to keep programs running. Despite this, they continue to show up for our community every day. Recently the hardworking volunteers and staff from all four houses visited my office with colourful wheelbarrows overflowing with more than 400 ‘Keep our doors open’ postcards. Each one was signed by a local resident and held a clear message: neighbourhood houses are essential. I was proud to stand with them and sign their placard because, as they put it so beautifully, strong communities start here.