Tuesday, 9 December 2025

 Ellen SANDELL (Melbourne) (14:44): (1464) My question is to the Minister for Carers and Volunteers. Minister, my electorate is home to several incredible neighbourhood houses. They bring together the community in ways that are just amazing. Between them they run so many wonderful programs: English and language classes, playgroup, study, social support, dance, exercise, art, music, choir – I could go on and on. They support some of our most vulnerable community members with food relief, employment pathways and financial and digital literacy. But their funding has been slowly whittled away over the years, and they need urgent help. Neighbourhood Houses Victoria is calling on the state government to increase annual funding by $11.7 million or risk the closure of 200 neighbourhood houses across Victoria, including many in my electorate. Hundreds of people in my electorate have signed postcards calling for neighbourhood houses to be saved. Minister, will you commit to properly funding our neighbourhood houses, particularly those in my electorate, so that they can continue their incredible work supporting our wonderful communities?