Wednesday, 18 March 2026

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:23): I rise to inform the house that the twinning project has been expanded to the newly opened Ripley unit at Marngoneet Correctional Centre. The Ripley unit, opened in December 2025, is a dedicated structured youth unit for young men aged 18 to 25. The unit provides them with targeted supports and case management to interrupt the cycle of offending. This expansion of the twinning project to Ripley reflects the importance of rehabilitation programs in strengthening community safety and reducing offending. The twinning project uses a structured, eight-week sports-based model to build leadership, teamwork, resilience and respectful relationships. Participants in this program have a unique opportunity to learn important skills that help improve wellbeing, reduce incidents in custody and support positive reintegration upon release. I am proud that this program is the first in Australia to be supported by the FIFA Foundation, and I take this opportunity to thank FIFA for their support and their involvement in Victorian corrections. Their investment builds on Corrections Victoria’s partnership with City in the Community, the charitable arm of Melbourne City Football Club. I know the President is a big fan of Melbourne City as well – so am I. That partnership has seen the twinning project kick off in four prisons across the state, with 113 prisoners completing the program to date. I have had the pleasure of attending several twinning project graduations, and each time I have been impressed by the commitment of everyone involved. I commend all partners, particularly Twinning Project’s global CEO Hilton Freund, who joined me at the most recent Marngoneet visit; Melbourne City’s head of community Sunil Menon; and the FIFA Foundation for their leadership on this very important initiative.