Jeremy Rockliff

Premier of Tasmania



25 July 2014

Will Hodgman, Premier

Funding Boost for Neighbourhood and Community Houses

The upcoming State Budget will be about delivering our promises, fixing the Labor-Green mess and laying the foundations for the future.

Today's announcement is about delivering on our election promise to help Tasmania's disadvantaged by investing more than $1.7 million in the state's Neighbourhood and Community Houses.

Tasmania's 34 Neighbourhood houses provide lifeblood to many communities through a network of co-ordinators and volunteers who bring thousands of locals together to support each other and address local issues.

Our Government is providing every house with an additional one-off funding injection of $50,000 which will impact positively on communities.

Community houses will use the funding in various ways to suit local community and individual house needs, such as;

  • Increasing Community Lunch programs;
  • Employing staff to run an After School program;
  • Recruiting a Community Advocacy Networker to offer support and access to services;
  • Installing solar panels to reduce electricity costs; and
  • Hiring a Volunteer Coordinator to ensure volunteers are managed well.

Neighbourhood Houses provide crucial support to some of our most disadvantaged communities.

We are also providing $300,000 for mental health outreach services through the Neighbourhood House network. And $100,000 will also be provided to resource 20 start-up food cooperatives to increase access to low cost, fresh and healthy food by establishing partnerships between Neighbourhood Houses, communities, local food producers and food relief organisations.

The Liberals have always been strong supporters of the Neighbourhood House network and this support is evidenced by our ongoing investment at a time of budget constraint.

We are committed to working with our Neighbourhood and Community Houses and thank their staff and volunteers who play such an important role in supporting them.



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