Bonnie Doon Community House is among 27 Neighbourhood Houses to share in a $480,660 Brumby Labor Government funding boost that will enable them to increase their services and opening hours.
Member for Northern Victoria Region, Candy Broad announced the new funding for the Bonnie Doon Community House and said the new funding would allow more residents to access a range of social support and educational services tailored to community needs.
“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to help people in Bonnie Doon access a broad range of low-cost services, education and activities through their local Neighbourhood House,” Ms Broad said.
Ms Broad said the Bonnie Doon Community House would receive new funding for 10 hours a week.
“Neighbourhood Houses play a key role in bringing people together,” Ms Broad said.
“When communities are faced with significant challenges, like bushfires or the financial downturn, Neighbourhood Houses become a place people go to for all kinds of support.
“Many people rely on their local Neighbourhood House as a place to socialise, access local support services, learn new skills or find a job, so our ongoing commitment to them is an investment in local skills, infrastructure and social inclusion,” Ms Broad said.
The Neighbourhood House Coordination Program now provides funding to more than 370 Neighbourhood Houses across Victoria.
The new funding is in addition to $20.2 million already allocated to provide more than 8,700 hours in Neighbourhood House services across Victoria every each week.
Housing Minister, Richard Wynne said Neighbourhood Houses were an important component of A Fairer Victoria, the Brumby Labor Government’s action plan to address disadvantage and create opportunity.
“Over the past three years through A Fairer Victoria we have committed more than $5 billion to a range of initiatives that are making a real difference to people’s lives,” Mr Wynne said
“Neighbourhood Houses are a key part of that approach and have been integral to many communities during some incredibly tough times.”
Information on Neighbourhood House funding is available from www.dpcd.vic.gov.au or by calling the grants information line on 1300 366 356.