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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-11-28 Daily Xml
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Lutheran Community Care

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:34): It is a great honour today to speak about Lutheran Community Care and the launch of the National Community Hubs Program in South Australia. Honourable members, please allow me to share some historical information about Lutheran Community Care. In the 1950s, a small group of women in the Lutheran Church became increasingly aware of the growing need for community support. These support services included women suffering from domestic violence, mental illness, poverty and a number of social welfare problems termed as 'social distress'.

The Lutheran women of South Australia were visionary and definitely well ahead of their time. They formed a social welfare committee in 1964, which led to the opening of the Lutheran social welfare centre in 1969 at the current premises at 309 Prospect Road, Blair Athol. The centre serves as a safe haven for the most vulnerable and newly arrived migrants living in the northern metropolitan suburbs of Adelaide. In 1986, the Lutheran social welfare centre changed its name to Lutheran Community Care, as it is known to us today.

Based on their long-term commitment in supporting communities through responding to the needs of the most vulnerable individuals and families, it is no surprise that Lutheran Community Care is the natural partner to deliver the National Community Hubs Program in South Australia. The Hubs program embraces all people, regardless of language, culture, ethnicity or religion. The national program is an extremely successful initiative, working with marginalised and isolated migrant and refugee women and their families within school-based settings. I was very honoured to be invited to officially launch the National Community Hubs Program in South Australia on Tuesday 20 November 2018.

The launch took place at the Paralowie R-12 School. Despite it being a stormy, rainy day, the launch was very well attended. I would like to place on record my special thanks and congratulations to all involved, particularly the federal government through the Department of Social Services in partnership with the Scanlon Foundation; Dr Sonja Hood, CEO of Community Hubs Australia; Mr Leigh Goodenough, Manager of the National Community Hubs Program in South Australia; Mr Rohan Feegrade, Executive Director of Lutheran Community Care and his wonderful team; and Mr Peter McKay, principal of the Paralowie R-12 School for hosting the important launch event. I would also like to thank the teachers and staff who welcomed us and the students who performed beautifully on the day.

My heartfelt congratulations go to participating schools who have taken on great leadership in the establishment of the Community Hubs Program in South Australia. They are the Paralowie R-12 School, Para Vista Primary School, Salisbury Primary School, St Augustine's Parish School, Karrendi Primary School, Blair Athol North B-7 School and St Brigid's School at Kilburn. They are all to be congratulated for their fine leadership.

Community hubs are safe and welcoming spaces for all members of the community to connect, share and learn from each other. School facilities are community assets and sharing them has benefits for everyone, including creating better connected communities and fostering healthier and safer communities. Community hubs act as a gateway for migrant women and their young families to overcome obstacles, gain better access to health, pathways to employment and support services, and build connections with the wider community.

In 2017, Community Hubs Australia reported to have engaged 8,000 families from over 100 different countries of origin. Community hubs successfully engage culturally diverse women and children. It is very heartening to learn that children show more confidence in attending school and that principals and teachers have reported that they have better parent-teacher relationships and therefore a greater understanding and ability to respond to the needs of migrants and refugee families in their schools.

As a migrant myself from a non-English-speaking background, I have experienced firsthand the struggles and isolation of my parents and siblings in trying to fit into the Australian way of life when my family migrated to Australia back in 1979. I wholeheartedly welcome the establishment of the seven new community hubs in South Australia. As Assistant Minister to the Premier, I am proud to be a part of the South Australian Marshall government, which is absolutely committed to providing better services and support to our diverse communities.

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