Melton South Community Centre is one of the heartbeats of the local community, but that could be under threat.
The centre which provides community with a place to meet and get involved with the community is backing Neighbourhood House Victoria’s call for the state government to increase the annual funding by $11.7 million or risk the closure of 200 neighbourhood houses across Victoria.
Postcards have been delivered to neighbourhood houses, with Melton South Community Centre asking patrons and students to sign and put a comment on the centre has helped them and how it may have affected their life.
Centre manager Pam Madej said the sector is grossly underfunded and has actually seen some houses reduce staff hours or actually close.
“As the sector’s workforce consists of 85 per cent of women, this underfunding will affect their lives and well-being, when it’s these same women who are the ones giving their all to help their communities, many times on a voluntary basis and unpaid.
“Neighbourhood Houses are the glue that keeps the community together.
“Some of the comments received on the signed Postcard so far are very heart-warming and give us the motivation to continue and do a much as we can.”
The centre will hold an afternoon tea with Djerriwarrh Community and Education Services where they will be asking people to sign the postcards.
Ms Madej said the plan was to march the postcards done to the office of Melton MP for him to deliver them to the relevant minister, Ros Spence.
She said Mr McGhie had said that he might attend the afternoon tea.
The afternoon tea is being held 24 November at 2pm in the garden area at Djerriwarrh Community Education Services on Station Street.
The state peak body is also calling on the state government to fund 25 currently unfunded neighbourhood houses, and commit to 20 new neighbourhood houses in Victoria’s outer metro and regional growth areas.
A state government spokesperson said they continue to support neighbourhood houses.
“We’re proud to back the Neighbourhood House coordination program with more than $43 million every year – supporting over 400 neighbourhood houses, 16 networks, and the peak body, Neighbourhood Houses Victoria,” the spokesperson said.
