Carol Berry (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to recognise Narelle Clay, the outstanding CEO of Southern Youth and Family Services, an organisation that has had a transformative impact on the lives of many people in my electorate and across southern New South Wales. Narelle has spent her entire career supporting vulnerable people in our community, and she's incredibly passionate about social justice. Narelle was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2005 for 'distinguished service to the community in the areas of direct service delivery and advocacy for vulnerable people'. In 2017 she received a premier's award for public service. Narelle has held many leadership roles, including President of the Australian Services Union, New South Wales and ACT; and chair of Homelessness Australia.

Last week I had the pleasure of joining Narelle and several of my parliamentary colleagues, including the Minister for Social Services, at the Southern Youth and Family Services awards night in Warilla, which is in my electorate of Whitlam. In particular, the organisation's accommodation service in Warilla provides transitional housing to people aged between 18 and 23, supporting their move to independence and improving their chances of completing education, accessing training and gaining employment. We heard wonderful accounts of how this service—one of many offered by Southern Youth and Family Services—has changed lives.

I thank and congratulate Narelle, an extraordinary leader who I've admired for many years, and all those involved with Southern Youth and Family Services for the life-changing work they do for our community.

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