Lisa Darmanin (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last week I had the immense pleasure of visiting friends at the Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Darbar in Officer and seeing firsthand the extraordinary contribution this community makes to the lives of people across Officer and Pakenham. Led by Harpreet Singh, a deeply respected community leader, the Gurdwara has become far more than a place of worship for the Sikh community. It's a welcoming hub that brings people together, builds genuine connection and strengthens social cohesion across the region. It is a place where care, generosity and service are not just spoken about but lived every day.

Through the dedication of Harpreet and an incredible team of volunteers, the Gurdwara supports thousands of people in the local area, from providing meals made with locally sourced products, to redistributing leftover food to ensure that nothing goes to waste, this community puts compassion and sustainability at the centre of everything that it does. Their commitment to becoming fully self-sufficient is a powerful example of environmental sustainability in action as well.

The Gurdwara also runs a wide range of programs that support community wellbeing, including educational initiatives, health camps and a one-to-one-to-one swimming program that helps ensure children and families can access vital life skills. Participants only have to pay a third of the cost, with a third covered by the swim school itself and a third paid through donations from the temple. This program works closely with Life Saving Victoria to develop a 10-week program helping adult migrants learn how to swim and enjoy the water safely. This is something many people take for granted, having learnt to swim as a young age myself. However, these programs make a tangible difference to people's lives and reflect a deep belief in fairness, dignity and opportunity for all. And the food is delicious, generously shared and can be replicated in our own kitchens thanks to the beautiful recipe books they produce.

Harpreet and the entire community at the Gurdwara are Victorians that Victorians should be truly proud of. Your work shows what is possible when a community comes together with generosity and purpose and a commitment to looking after one another, and I pay tribute to all of you. It is leadership worth celebrating and an example worth aspiring to, and it is multicultural Victoria creating care and connections at its absolute best.

Another organisation similarly doing remarkable work in Upwey is Foothills Community Care, which I also visited last week. It's an organisation that provides meals, practical support and pathways to other services for people who are doing it tough in their community. What makes Foothills so special is its commitment to changing the way we think about care and support. Rather than a one-way relationship of those who ask for help and those who give the help, Foothills is built on dignity, participation and connection. People may come to receive a meal, but they are also welcome to contribute in meaningful ways, whether that is volunteering in the op shop, helping in the cafe or being part of the day-to-day life of the organisation. This approach actively removes barriers and reinforces a powerful message: everyone has something to offer, and everyone is of value.

Foothills operates as a social enterprise, reinvesting everything back into the community. They collaborate with a local coffee roaster, selling delicious, local, quality coffee, creating both employment opportunities and a sustainable income stream that supports their services. It is a practical, values driven model that strengthens the local economy while meeting real community need. The organisation is working towards expanding into a new multipurpose space that will include a larger kitchen, communal dining area, op shop and coffee shop where they can expand their reach into the community even further. They are looking to collaborate with other services in the area to help become more of a one-stop shop for support and connection.

Foothills is a powerful example of what community led, passionate service looks like, meeting people where they are, restoring dignity and building stronger connections across the community. To the team at Foothills, thank you for your dedication in creating important community connections and care.