Women's Community Centre

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (15:23): On Saturday just past, I had the honour of attending an open day at the only surviving women's community centre in Nelson Street, St Peters. I was very honoured to be invited and also pleased that the guest of honour was Mrs Lan Le who symbolically planted a tree at the centre. The centre began as the result of goodwill and tenacity of the St Peters Women's Group who wanted to make a difference in the lives of other women to mark the first International Women's Day celebration in 1975. That is in South Australia; there have been a lot more International Women's Day celebrations around the world.

What they managed to achieve in 1977 was funding from the state government, the then premier Hon. Don Dunstan and through lobbying of his women's adviser at the time, Ms Deborah McCulloch, and the Women's Electoral Lobby. Governments of both political persuasions have continued to support the centre since that time.

I think it is also important to note that this women's centre was the birthplace of the first women's shelter in South Australia, the Rape Crisis Centre, and also the Women's Information Service. Their history—or 'herstory', I would say—has been interwoven with the 'herstory' of women's achievement in South Australia. However, I am very sad to hear that their funding has ceased as from 1 July this year. They have soldiered on to try to make sure they can continue to provide the many services that are available to women by seeking sponsorships for the different courses they run. Many women are now sponsoring courses of one or two hours in a weekly program. There are also organisations like Zonta, in particular, that have taken up the challenge to try to make sure that this centre continues.

The women's centre is a non-profit organisation and it has deductible gift recipient status, but I must say that, having been associated with that centre for probably over three decades, I am really concerned the centre may close. One of the things I think we need to remember is that while we are talking about domestic violence and the services that need to be there and the prevention that needs to be put in place—and I am very heartened to hear members in this place take the issue very seriously—there also need to be safe places where women can go, and the women's centre at St Peter's is one of those places. It is somewhere that a number of women who have had some really difficult circumstances in their life go, even just to socialise or to take up the many courses that are available.

I understand that the women's centre has a Facebook page that has 1,000 likes and is reported to reach 2,000 people weekly. They are on Twitter, they have a website, and they spend a lot of time on public media, particularly Radio Adelaide community programs. So with their 800 plus members we are really hoping that we can make sure this organisation continues.

I was very impressed when I went there for a visit a couple of weeks ago to see the number of women who are learning how to draw, and there are some beautiful art classes that are happening there. There are mosaics as well as weaving, and also an English-language program for many people who either want to brush up on their English or, in fact, be able to speak and understand English. There is gardening, there are classes on home maintenance, fitness, recreation, singing, ukulele and photography, as well as counselling and health and wellbeing support. Let us hope this organisation continues, and I urge the government to think very seriously about making sure that this women's community centre, the only one left, has a continued life.