Thursday, 14 November 2019

 Ms SHING (Eastern Victoria) (09:52): I rise today to congratulate Spectrum Journeys, which has, as a recipient of Pick My Project, been responsible for some of the most extraordinary conversation, assistance and advocacy for women who take care of children and family members who are on the spectrum and who battle a range of different considerations and challenges in their lives. One of the things that I was really privileged to do was to head along to an afternoon tea which was coordinated as part of the Pick My Project prize and funding allocation. To see the hundred or so women who are part of this work come together and have a conversation—from the Yarra Ranges, Mooroolbark, Nillumbik, Manningham and Whitehorse areas—was absolutely brilliant. To Carly, Lori, Roxy, Jade, Tanya, Rebecca, Alicia, Charlinda and Sher, and to Kate Johnson herself, thank you so much for organising this event and for being such a strong foundation for people to come together and to share their views, suggestions, heartache in many cases, camaraderie and friendship.