Media Releases

Minister for Higher Education and Skills Peter Hall has announced more than 80 Learn Local organisations will share in $3.78 million as part of Round 2 of the Adult Community and Further Education (ACFE) Capacity and Innovation Grants.

Mr Hall made the announcement at the Moe Life Skills Community Centre today. The group is a recipient of two of the grants.

“Adult Community Education plays a vital role in Victoria’s education and training system and in achieving our social and economic success,” Mr Hall said.

“In the coming days more than 80 Learn Local organisations across Victoria will be notified of their success in gaining funding worth $3.78 million.”

The ACFE Capacity and Innovation Grants help Learn Local organisations, including neighbourhood and community houses, develop new programs to boost participation and learning.

“I am particularly pleased today to be announcing grants to a local organisation, Moe Life Skills, which is receiving $127,506 for two innovative and exciting projects,” Mr Hall said.

“The first is a project where people with a disability learn real skills in hospitality through setting up and running a coffee bar at Narracan Garden in Newborough.

“The cafe will be run in partnership with Narracan Garden Aged Care Facility and MECRUS – an Australian owned company that supports and retrains staff and managers to work productively.

“Their second project will see the development of new curriculum resources and assessment strategies to support learners attaining new skills at the Baw Baw and Latrobe pre-accredited network of 11 Learn Local organisations.

“Today’s announcement comes hot on the heels of the 2011 Victorian Learn Local Awards where Moe Life Skills won an award for Outstanding Pre-accredited Program for a theatre program designed for adults with an intellectual disability.

“There are great projects up and running in Moe that seek to improve the employment prospects for people who need support.

“As a knowledge-driven economy, Victoria will increasingly need an inclusive workforce with higher levels of qualifications and skills.”

The Brumby Government must establish its planned $25 million Latrobe Valley Advantage Fund before any part of Hazelwood Power Station is shut down, Eastern Region MP Peter Hall has told the Victorian Parliament.

Speaking in parliament following the State Government’s announcement of a staged shut down of Hazelwood Power Station, Mr Hall said the Government needed to invest in the Latrobe Valley now before the inevitable job losses at Hazelwood.

“There is much anxiety in the Latrobe Valley about the impact this staged closure will have on local employment,” Mr Hall said.

“Given that Hazelwood provides direct employment for more than 800 persons, I asked the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Gavin Jennings, whether he could guarantee that a staged closure would not add to the region’s already high unemployment levels.

“Mr Jennings was unable to give any guarantees that there will not be a net loss of jobs which is a huge concern for people in the Latrobe Valley,” Mr Hall said.

The Nationals MP said he was surprised Mr Jennings had not mentioned the Government’s $25 million Latrobe Valley Advantage Fund which the Premier claimed in a press release would be used to drive jobs, investment, training and new technology in the Latrobe Valley.

“If we cannot guarantee that there will not be a net loss of jobs, will the $25 million fund at least be established prior to any part of Hazelwood being closed so as to create new jobs before any existing jobs at Hazelwood are lost?,” Mr Hall asked.

Mr Jennings stated that it was the Government’s “intention to commence work imminently” and “prior to the outcome of the negotiations with the operators of Hazelwood”.

“I can only hope the Government keeps its promise to invest in the Latrobe Valley’s economic activity and employment levels before shutting down Hazelwood Power Station which is one of the largest employers in the Latrobe Valley,” Mr Hall said.

“The Government needs to act now so that Hazelwood workers, their families and other related stakeholders in the community can be confident they will not be left in the dark following the Government’s staged closure of the power station.”

Eastern Region MP Peter Hall is pleased to advise that a Victorian Legal Aid Child Support lawyer will visit Bairnsdale, Sale and Morwell this month to provide free legal advice.

“It is important that people have access to this type of service in Gippsland and this legal advice is free to parents or other persons who require assistance with child maintenance or child support problems including proof of paternity,” Mr Hall said.

The Child Support Legal Service of Victoria Legal Aid assists parents with legal problems relating to:

• Getting or paying child maintenance (including “over 18” maintenance)
• Getting or paying child support
• Parentage testing
• Changes of assessment

“I’m sure there are a number of parents in Gippsland who could benefit from free legal advice in regard to Child Support and it is pleasing to see this can be obtained in our local area,” Mr Hall said.

“I think it’s very beneficial that people can actually sit face-to-face with a Child Support Lawyer to discuss their legal matters rather than having to do so over the phone.”

A Child Support Lawyer will visit Bairnsdale and Sale on 20 July, 21 September and 16 November. Visits will be made to Morwell on 21 July, 18 August, 22 September, 13 October and 17 November.

For information regarding venues and to make a booking contact 1800 677 402 or (03) 9269 0408 during office hours.

www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au however applications can be emailed, faxed or mailed to the Grants Unit.

More information can be found on the grants website or by phoning 1300 366 356.

Hard copies of the applications are also available from Peter Hall’s office at 181 Franklin Street Traralgon or by phoning him on 5174 7066.

Grants of up to $50,000 are available from the Department of Planning and Community Development to assist in the establishment of Men’s Sheds which support men’s participation and volunteering in their community.

Member for the Eastern Region, Peter Hall, is encouraging groups considering establishing or upgrading a men’s shed in their community to take advantage of this grant.

“These sheds provide spaces for men to become involved in their communities in a meaningful and positive manner and help to reduce isolation encouraging social interaction for men,” Mr Hall said.

“Since first being established these Men’s Sheds have been instrumental in assisting older men to realise their value to their communities and assisted them in maintaining their health and well-being.

“I encourage interested groups to liaise with their local Government Authority or other relevant organisations to take advantage of this grant offer and submit an application,” he said.

www.donotcall.gov.au or call 1300 792 958. Fax numbers can only be registered online.

Member for the Eastern Region, Peter Hall is encouraging local people to have their eyes checked during Macular Degeneration Week from May 24-30.

Mr Hall said the awareness campaign was aimed at reducing the incidence of macular degeneration in Australia.

“Macular degeneration causes central vision loss, affecting the ability to see fine detail, read and recognise faces. It affects one in seven people aged over 50 and is the leading cause of blindness in Australia.

“It is progressive and painless and while there is no cure, there are treatments that can slow its progression,” Mr Hall said.

He said that the earlier the problem was detected, the better chance there was of retaining more vision.

Member for the Eastern Region, Mr Peter Hall is encouraging all Victorians to support Neighbourhood Houses, and to acknowledge them for the important role they play within local communities. As part of Neighbourhood House week Mr Hall will be visiting centres in Gippsland; including Bairnsdale East and the Traralgon Neighbourhood house.

Mr Hall said there are approximately 360 Neighbourhood Houses across Victoria with at least one Neighbourhood House in just about every town and suburb in Victoria.

“Neighbourhood Houses are an integral part of our community and offer services including; low priced child care, language classes, and lessons in computing skills and the use of emails and internet, just to name a few.” Mr Hall said

“An average of 149,360 people visit Neighbourhood Houses each week in Victoria. They are looked after by an estimated 71.5 hours of volunteered time at each centre every week.”

Mr Hall said that he will be visiting the Bairnsdale East Neighbourhood House tommorrow, Wednesday the 12^th of May, at 12.30pm. Mr Hall will be accompanied by the Nationals Candidate for Gippsland East, Mr Tim Bull.

“Mr Bull and myself will be hoping to see what the community needs in regards to Neighbourhood Centres, and we will see firsthand the great work that they are doing,” Mr Hall said.

Mr Hall will be visiting the Traralgon Neighbourhood House on Friday the 14^th of May at 10.00am.

More information on Neighbourhood House Week Victoria and to find a Neighbourhood House in your area please visit; http://www.anhlc.asn.au/nhweek2010. Or alternatively you can contact Mr Hall’s office on 5174 7066, or visit his office at 181 Franklin Street, Traralgon.

Member for the Eastern Region, Mr Peter Hall is encouraging all parents and guardians of school aged children to participate in the National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday the 7^th of May.

Mr Hall said the National Walk Safely to School Day is a great way to encourage young people to adopt a more active lifestyle. Studies have shown children need a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity a day. By incorporating a walk to school into the daily routine of children it is a helpful measure in reducing childhood obesity.

“Over 25% of Australian children are overweight or obese, which obviously needs to change and this is a great initiative for that change to begin.” Mr Hall said.

Mr Hall said the objectives for the National Walk Safely to School Day are also noble, some of them being;

• To promote the health benefits of walking and help create regular walking habits at an early age.
• To help children develop the vital road-crossing skills they will need as they become mature pedestrians.
• To reduce the car dependency habits which will be difficult to change as children become adults.
• To promote and improve the use of public transport and reduce the level of traffic congestion.

 “Children are our future and we need to encourage them early to undertake healthy habits. An important one being is to walk when possible.” Mr Hall said.