Speaking on behalf of the Rushworth Community House, President Sandy Ashton welcomed the funding increases announced in the State Budget, and indicated that the additional funds would permit a heightened level of operational flexibility and increased service delivery to the local community.

 

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL

To launch the campaign to lobby the State Government for increased funds for Neighbourhood House Coordination Programs, coordinators from local Houses met at Tongala with Noel Maughan, Member for

Rodney & Shadow Minister for Community Services, in November 2005.

Pictured are the

coordinators from Tongala, Rushworth, Heathcote, Rochester, Echuca,

Girgarre and Kyabram with Member for Rodney, Noel Maughan.

 

(Photo

Courtesy

Weekly Times)

The Minister for Local Government, Ms Candy Broad, made the announcement to a gathering of over two hundred Neighbourhood House workers and volunteers at their annual conference in Warrnambool in late May.

Speaking after the announcement, Ms Colleen Saunderson, President of the Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres said ‘Neighbourhood Houses are the heart of our community and this new funding will help to address the urgent need to make them financially viable and sustainable in the future. The funding is a good first step towards enabling Neighbourhood Houses to involve more people in their activities, and become more active in their local community’.

Ms Saunderson added, ‘Neighborhood Houses can play a vital role in implementing the State Government’s Fairer Victoria policy, by providing opportunities for people to overcome disadvantage and take greater control over their own lives and futures’.

‘Victoria’s three hundred and sixty Neighbourhood Houses perform a unique role in local communities – they provide sustainable community building infrastructure, because they are community owned and managed’ Ms Saunderson said.

 

“Rushworth Community House seen steady growth over the last few years, with programs supporting community development through the delivery of adult education,  health promotion, recreational activities and generally connecting people with the wider community,” she said.

‘These programs build people’s skills and capacity to gain employment, participate in community life and contribute to the health of their local communities’,  Ms. Ashton said. “They are worthy of the widest possible support and encouragement.”