Jodie Belyea (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before entering this place as an MP, I spent three decades working in the community sector learning how real and lasting change is created when people come together with shared purpose. That experience shapes everything I do as the member for Dunkley. I know that the strongest solutions are built from the ground up through listening, partnership and genuine collective impact. Social challenges are never simple. They are interconnected, embedded locally and felt every day by families, workers, young people and older residents alike. Meaningful change starts by engaging the people who live these realities: residents, organisations, community leaders, local businesses and those whose lived experience guides us toward the truth of what is needed.

Two of the most pressing issues facing the Dunkley community are men's health and wellbeing, and housing. These matters are not abstract policy debates. They shape daily life, dignity and opportunity. As the member for Dunkley, I feel a deep responsibility to create the spaces where our community can come together, share openly and design real, practical solutions.

That's why I convened the Dunkley Men's Health and Wellbeing Forum, a place based response grounded in genuine community need. The forum brought together men and boys aged 16 and over from across Dunkley for an open, honest conversation about men's health and wellbeing issues. This workshop was facilitated by the Man Cave, supported by Movember, and the Frankston Dolphins football club. Around 70 men and boys and community organisations attended. What emerged was extraordinary honesty, hope, vulnerability and a willingness to share.

My son, Flynn, spoke courageously about growing up as a young man today, the pressure to be perfect, the constant comparison and the weight of social media. His words reminded us that young men want to talk—often, they just need a safe space to begin. We also heard from the Special Envoy for Men's Health, the member for Hunter, who spoke powerfully about mental health, body image, prostate cancer and the courage it takes to ask for help in a society that still tells men to tough it out. What struck me most was the connection in the room; teenagers sitting beside retirees, everyone speaking without judgement or bravado. From this forum grew a tangible outcome: a commitment to establish the Dunkley Men's Health Network, focused on connection, prevention and strengthening the support systems that help men in Dunkley thrive.

Housing remains one of the most complex challenges of our time, but any lasting solution must be informed by local reality. That is why I brought together representatives from all levels of government: community housing providers, developers, universities, landlords, service providers and investors—people with the insight and influence to help drive meaningful change. What emerged was rare—genuine alignment across sectors. Participants recognise the scale of the housing crisis and share a determination to collaborate on diverse, place based solutions. We identified that Dunkley already has many preconditions for success, from redevelopment opportunities and strategic planning frameworks to strong local demand, driven by education, health and workforce growth. Federal initiatives such as the National Housing Infrastructure Fund were acknowledged as critical tools to unlock progress.

When I was first elected, I wasn't entirely sure how best to translate my community experience in this role. I am now absolutely clear: my responsibility as the member for Dunkley is to listen deeply, understand needs and opportunities, and bring people together to create solutions to the complex challenges we face locally and nationally. As our challenges grow more complex, so must our collaboration. The future we want depends on relationships, shared purpose and the courage to work together, even across the aisle. In Dunkley we have that courage. We have that determination. We have capacity to come together and lead. The strength of a community is not measured by the challenges it faces, but by the way in which it comes together to overcome them.