Lynbrook Community Centre and Selandra Community Hub in Clyde North will be funded neighbourhood house services for the first time under a Labor Government pledge.
Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos visited Lynbrook Community Centre on Wednesday 31 October to announce it was one of 27 additional neighbourhood houses that will be funded through the Neighbourhood Houses Coordination Program.
It includes 16 brand new houses – including Lynbrook which will provide neighbourhood house services for the first time through the program – while a further 11 already established houses will receive ongoing state funding for the first time.
Each of these neighbourhood houses will receive funding for up to 25 coordination hours per week, which is estimated to deliver up to 50 hours of activities and programs per week for their local community.
It is one of two projects in Casey to receive funding to set up a new neighbourhood house, along with Selandra Community Hub in Clyde North.
Ms Mikakos said: “More neighbourhood houses mean more support for Victorians to do the things they enjoy and care about – this is what we’re delivering here in Cranbourne.”
Neighbourhood houses provide service such as language classes, computer tutoring, health and wellbeing activities, life skills lessons, self-help groups and occasional childcare.
The Labor Government announced a record $21.8 million over four years to boost its Neighbourhood House Coordination Program in the Victorian Budget 2018/19, which has led to an increase in coordination hours for 162 houses, including three neighbourhood houses in Casey – the biggest ever boost of its kind.
They received a boost in coordination hours from 20 to 25 hours a week and include Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House, Oakgrove Community Centre and Hallam Community Learning Centre.
Neighbourhood Houses chief executive Nicole Battle said she was thrilled the Victorian Government was backing neighbourhood houses “to thrive and provide more Victorians with the vital services, support and learning opportunities they need to participate in their local community.”
