David Smith (Bean, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I wish to congratulate Women's Shed Canberra, based at Lake Tuggeranong, on receiving a Local Jobs, Local People grant. The women's shed will run a 15-month project to establish a hands-on construction and trade skills exposure program for migrant, refugee and humanitarian visa holder women in collaboration with Himayat and Master Builders ACT. This will ensure people from these backgrounds have reduced barriers when attempting to enter the workforce and will be connected to industry groups, contributing to their own financial independence. It will also ensure growth in the construction sector. I thank Women's Shed Canberra for the work they are doing in our community and for the support they offer to people across all backgrounds. I am proud to say that the Albanese Labor government is supporting this work.

Speaking of support for the local community, I was recently at the Mura Lanyon Youth and Community Centre to announce that the Albanese Labor government is investing over $190,000 to enable YWCA Canberra to provide emergency relief to more vulnerable households in the Lanyon Valley community, securing its operation until 2030. This funding will help individuals and families experiencing financial hardship who may be facing tough choices, such as buying new school shoes or doing a grocery shop, or keeping the lights on or paying their phone bills. Providers like YWCA Canberra deliver critical frontline support for those experiencing financial hardship and who would otherwise not have access to the resources they need to stay afloat. Someone experiencing homelessness and in need of food, bedding or toiletries will be able to receive help from YWCA Canberra at Mura Lanyon Youth and Community Centre.

A highlight of my visits to Mura Lanyon is always seeing what they're growing in their community gardens managed by Peter Gilligan, who I recognised as a community volunteer of the year at one of my annual volunteer recognition evenings. It is volunteer organisations and the people that keep them running that are the lifeblood of our community. I welcome any chance I have to recognise the work that they do. I greatly enjoyed being able to call a number of volunteer groups last week to let them know that they'll be invited to apply for the latest round of volunteer grants. These grants help ensure that volunteers can keep doing what they do best—working in and across our community. When the Albanese Labor government came in, we committed to investing back into our capital and right across Australia, and investing back into communities like mine. We are doing just that.

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