Thursday, 27 August 2026

 Anthony CIANFLONE (Pascoe Vale) (17:40): (1818) Thank you for your service, Speaker. My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Youth, and the action I seek is for the minister to provide me with an update on the ongoing investments the Victorian Labor government continues to make for young people across Pascoe Vale to aspire, succeed and be supported.

As someone who grew up locally, a lifetime local and now a local dad, and having enjoyed the Don Bosco youth centre as a young person and with my kids, I was particularly concerned and disappointed to learn of the decision by the Salesians order a few weeks ago to put the Don Bosco centre on the market via a very limited EOI process which closed on Thursday 20 August. The Don Bosco youth centre and hostel has been part of the fabric of Brunswick in Melbourne’s north for nearly 90 years. Built on land originally and generously donated to the Catholic Church by the local Danelli family in 1939, it was subsequently entrusted to the Salesians. Don Bosco was intended to remain a place dedicated to supporting young people in need in the spirit of Don Bosco, the patron saint for youth, in perpetuity for our community.

For almost 90 years it has been a place where young people could build friendships and strengthen connections. Whether through the youth hostel accommodation for those in need or the iconic trampolines, there are so many families with a memory or connection to Don Bosco. However, we also know that over those years the Salesians tragically failed in their duty of care to protect vulnerable young people and children from horrific and traumatic abuse – a gross betrayal of trust. That is why my community wholeheartedly acknowledges the Salesians’ need to atone and raise funds in order to rightly compensate victim-survivors of institutional child sexual abuse and fulfil their legal and moral obligations. But at the same time, many locals, me included, are asking the question ‘Why should our community have to pay the price for the sins of the Salesians?’ That is why a community petition to save Don Bosco has now harnessed over 6000 signatures.

It is in this community spirit of good faith that I welcome and call on the interested parties to come together to help facilitate a positive outcome: (1) the Salesians should extend the official expression of interest process to allow for more time for genuine interested parties to be consulted, engaged and participate, (2) the Salesians should ensure that any proposals they receive or will receive from interested proponents on the future of the site will make provision for and maintain an ongoing presence for youth recreation services and spaces, namely, via the community not-for-profit sector and (3) considering the significance of the Brunswick site to the local community, the Salesians should be transparent with locals about why they decided to sell Don Bosco ahead of their various other assets. Exploration of alternative assets should also be considered. I understand the Salesians reported $290 million in property and plant equipment in their 2024 audited accounts.

It is also Merri-bek council that has an important role to step up here. Beyond their symbolic motion of 12 August, council needs to acknowledge that it is predominantly the role and responsibility of council to own, manage and operate local community facilities, including youth facilities. The original vision of the Oxygen Youth project that I was a founder of was to establish youth hubs in the north, centre and south of Merri-bek. The original vision of the Oxygen Youth hub in Coburg was to complement the offerings of Don Bosco in the south. Now Don Bosco has become available, council has the chance to fulfil its role and contribute towards this vision being realised. As part of this they should consider and be honest with the community about whether they would acquire or contribute towards the future site acquisition or whether they could partner with a future owner or a not-for-profit organisation, including through contributing and other measures.