Tuesday, 11 August 2026

 Chris COUZENS (Geelong) (15:23): Recently I held a members statement competition with students in my electorate. The winner was August Messer of Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College, and the runner-up was Nullah Farey-Williams of Newcomb Secondary College, who are both here in the gallery today. This is August’s winning statement.

Geelong QHub plays a prominent role in supporting our local community and enabling young LGBTQIA+ community members to feel safe and seen. Now more than ever it is so important that every young person has access to mental health and wellbeing support, and I am proud that the budget supports this through the continued funding of this important program. QHub provides a range of support services for young people across Geelong, including peer support, community connection programs and access to wellbeing resources. These services help create safe and inclusive environments where young people can access support close to home. Continued investment in programs like QHub ensures that the local organisations can continue to deliver services that respond directly to the needs of our community. For many young people and families across Geelong and the Surf Coast, having access to local and specialised support services can make a significant difference in improving wellbeing and reducing barriers in accessing help. I thank Drummond Street Services, Cafs and Wellways for their ongoing support of QHub, as well as the incredible staff and volunteers who make the Geelong community a more inclusive and safe space.