Funding strife
COMMUNITY houses urgently need more funding from the State Government to enable them to continue to service South Gippsland’s growing population.
The state funding given to Leongatha Community House – $3 per hour – equates to less than the cost of a takeaway coffee for every hour the house operates.
South Gippsland Shire councillors Andrew McEwen and Jeremy Rich have tabled a joint motion calling on council to back a campaign by Neighbourhood Houses Victoria – and South Gippsland’s four community houses – seeking more state funding.
Their notice of motion will be debated by South Gippsland Shire Council at its meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).
Community houses provide educational opportunities that help people secure employment, serve the community and pursue hobbies for wellbeing.
Courses are often provided cheaply to be accessible to people who cannot afford courses at other institutions. Centres also provide a way of connecting isolated communities such as Venus Bay.
South Gippsland Shire is serviced by Milpara Community House at Korumburra, Leongatha Community House, Venus Bay Community Centre and Manna Gum Community House at Foster.
More than 25,000 people use the centres a year.
A joint statement by councillors McEwen and Rich to The Star said state funding has failed to match growing demand and population growth.
“Neighbourhood houses are a vital part of the social fabric of our communities, with over one in four people using their services,” their statement said.
“Neighbourhood houses, along with sporting clubs and men’s sheds, provide not only important activities, but connect people and build social support systems that help people and enrich communities.
“Neighbourhood houses are the mechanics institutes of the 21st century, providing education, social programs and social supports for people and communities.
“Neighbourhood houses save the community money by providing social supports and connections for many people. There is clear evidence that people using neighbourhood houses are healthier and happier.”
Their notice of motion supports the request by the South Gippsland Community Houses Cluster for increased funding by the State Government for neighbourhood houses, specifically in South Gippsland.
The motion calls on council to direct mayor Cr Lorraine Brunt to write to Victorian Families and Children Minister Jenny Mikakos to ask for more money.
“The 2018 Budget is this government’s last opportunity to honour its own commitment to the 400 neighbourhood houses in Victoria that welcomed the 2014 ALP (Australian Labor Party) election platform,” the motion statement says.
The state-wide campaign is being supported by the peak body for councils, the Municipal Association of Victoria. Wellington and Latrobe City councils have also written to Ms Mikakos.
A spokesperson for the minister said the government would provide more than $30 million to neighbourhood houses in 2017-18.
Short URL: /?p=24209
Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Feb 27 2018. Filed under Featured, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
