Thursday, 31 July 2025

Ministers statements: Gippsland ministerial visit

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:22): As I mentioned yesterday, I was in beautiful Gippsland last week, and I rise to update the house on the important work happening to support children and vulnerable people in and around Bairnsdale.

I started my visit at the Keeping Place, run by the Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative, known as GEGAC. The Keeping Place is a considered and beautiful space which holds imagery, artefacts, timelines and stories. It is a place to understand and appreciate the living, vibrant and continuing culture of the Gunnai/Kurnai people, the original custodians of East Gippsland. I would encourage anyone visiting the region to book a visit.

Just next door at Dala Yooro is the local kindergarten run by GEGAC, offering three- and four-year-old programs. It was wonderful to meet Belinda Lobley, the early years manager, and her team, who work with local children and their families. From 2026 Dala Yooro will be offering 24 hours of pre-prep and will also benefit from increased funding from the 2025–26 state budget. This increase of $5.3 million over four years will mean an uplifted and streamlined rate for Aboriginal-led kinders. The Allan Labor government is committed to improving outcomes for First Nations children and advancing self-determination, and this is just one of the ways in which we are doing so. I would like to congratulate CEO Kenton Winsley and the whole team at GEGAC for the work they are doing across the Bairnsdale community.

It was also fantastic to visit the thriving Bairnsdale conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society, fondly known as Vinnies. Paul Heaton-Harris is the conference president of a 45-strong volunteer group which offers support to people of the local community, from Bairnsdale to Orbost and Lakes Entrance. They support locals from their impressive assistance centre, helping with emergency accommodation, housing assistance, food relief and clothing, as well as supporting residents with financial services. Together with Sheryl Carstein, Gippsland Central president, and Cath McMahon, East Gippsland regional president, we discussed issues close to their work, such as the importance of disability supports and how our government’s concession program is working for people with cost-of-living pressures.

While in Bairnsdale I also met with the Aboriginal Children’s Forum to progress our important and shared work in continuing to improve outcomes for Aboriginal children and their families.