House debates

Monday, 21 November 2016

Statements by Members

Dunkley Electorate: Learn Engage Connect Young Parents Program

1:47 pm

Photo of Chris CrewtherChris Crewther (Dunkley, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

On Thursday, I was honoured to be present at the Learn Engage Connect Young Parents Program graduation ceremony, held by headspace Frankston and supported by Chisholm TAFE, Anglicare, the Local Learning and Employment Network and Youth Support and Advocacy Service. Learn Engage Connect is an integrated VCAL program supporting young and disadvantaged parents with education, family support and early childhood education programs for their babies and toddlers. This program has very positive outcomes, with the program itself and headspace Frankston both being award recipients in the past two years.

For many of these individuals, it was the first time they had experienced a graduation ceremony or significant recognition, so it was truly special to share the celebration with these incredible people, whom I would like to name: Meagan McMurtrie, Jess Stanbridge, Kat Whitehead, Kimberly Jennings, Corrise Tarr, Abby Simmons, Jess Marshall, Lisa Rangi, Taylor Stewart, Patricia Davis, Belinda Pagram, Katherine Smith, Candice Hogg and Raelene Wicks.

Headspace do wonderful work to keep vulnerable young people a part of our society and to ensure that they do not become isolated. I would like to thank Rose-Mary Dowling, the manager of headspace Frankston, for inviting me to be part of this important night and for all the work that they do in Frankston.