Jacquie Petrusma

Jacquie Petrusma MP - Member for Franklin
NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE WEEK
May 17th, 2011

Mr Deputy Speaker, as many in this Chamber would know, last week we celebrated Neighbourhood House Week. There are 34 community-run neighbourhood houses and community centres located in disadvantaged and isolated communities across Tasmania, from Risdon Vale, Warrane, Clarendon Vale, Rokeby, Geeveston, Kingston and Woodbridge in my electorate of Franklin, through to other centres located in Beaconsfield, Fingal, Burnie, Rosebery, Dunalley and just about every other corner of Tasmania.

I believe that last week alone, local people who are committed to their community provided over 2 800 hours in volunteer labour across Tasmania's 34 neighbourhood houses. An example of the good work these volunteers and a limited number of paid staff have done include 22 community gardens, nine men's or community sheds, 13 breakfast clubs, 25 playgroups, 20 walking groups, 13 volunteer-run community cars, and so much more. On average there are more than 4 700 participants in total each week across Tasmania.

These projects are the entry point for many people back into their local community, often after years of isolation, and are critical in providing pathways into education and employment where none previously existed. There is also the enormous role that these houses play in providing social inclusion opportunities for people in their own neighbourhoods.

Information I have received from the Tasmanian Association of Community Houses quotes recent research by the Australian Neighbourhood Houses and Centres Association and indicated that through neighbourhood houses in Tasmania in 2010, 873 participants transitioned to further education; 204 volunteers transitioned to further education; 810 participants transitioned to paid work; and 82 volunteers transitioned to paid work. Clearly Tasmania's neighbourhood and community houses provide an essential service and are making a real difference to Tasmanian families and broader communities.

Mr Deputy Speaker, there are numerous examples of lives being changed and real social inclusion taking place as a result of Tasmania's community houses. One example closer to home is the community house in Moonah that my electorate officer attends. Every Tuesday night the neighbourhood house in Moonah runs a fathers' and children's group - no mums allowed. This gives fathers a rare opportunity to spend focused time with their children, to do art and craft together and to cook and share a meal together. It also gives the mums a chance to relax at home or have a coffee with friends and enjoy some down time.

Clearly Tasmania's neighbourhood houses are doing a wonderful job and provide numerous services within the community. Like family houses, however, neighbourhood houses are also under considerable cost-of-living pressures. The increasing costs of power, water, rates, petrol, telecommunications and other costs are making it more and more difficult for them to reach out to their communities and provide the breadth and variety of services that people love and have come to expect.