Chatty Cafe Scheme
Mr ERDOGAN (Southern Metropolitan) (09:59): We all understand how vital mental health is to every aspect of our lives. Among the leading mental health challenges in our society today are social isolation and loneliness, with an estimated one in four people experiencing feelings of isolation or loneliness every week. Last week I had the honour of attending the launch of the Chatty Cafe in Sandringham with Minister Leane and Fiona Patten. The Chatty Cafe Scheme aims to connect communities and increase social interactions by getting people chatting, both at their favourite local venues and while travelling. The program encourages hospitality venues across Australia to provide a shared table where customers can sit if they are happy to talk to other customers and just have a chat. The Bayside Chatty Cafe was funded as part of the Metropolitan Partnerships Development Fund, with project support in the 2020–21 budget geared to aid Melbourne’s suburbs to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic. I extend my thanks and congratulations to Bayside City Council, including mayor Alex del Porto, Cr Clarke Martin and CEO Mick Cummins, for their support and encouragement of this program. If you are local to the Bayside area, get down and have a chat.