Thursday, 2 May 2019

Adjournment

Mr SOMYUREK (South Eastern Metropolitan—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Small Business) (17:45): I move:

That the house do now adjourn.

Big Group Hug

Mr ONDARCHIE (Northern Metropolitan) (17:45): My adjournment matter tonight is for the Minister for Health and is concerning a wonderful organisation in the Northern Metropolitan Region, specifically in Bundoora, called Big Group Hug. It was established in 1984 as a new and independent charitable organisation with a clear mission to galvanise and mobilise community support to respond to the immediate needs of young children, in particular vulnerable children, and their families wherever they may reside. These people are all volunteers. They have a premises that they rent and try and raise money for in Bundoora, and in there they collect nappies, toys, clothing and everything to assist families, particularly those who need it.

Now, the government may say, ‘Well, we help out with our baby bundle’, but that only helps newborn babies. We are talking about families beyond that, particularly disadvantaged women who are subject to a whole range of social challenges, including family violence, that are looking for support. These volunteers are doing a wonderful job in Bundoora, but the fact is despite the amount of fundraising and the amount of work that they do, they are struggling to pay the bills. So the action I seek from the minister is to find a way in the upcoming state budget to support Big Group Hug so they can support the many women in the north and west corridors of Melbourne to find solace and support for their families.