ASSISTANT Charities Minister Zed Seselja visited Sunraysia charity groups on Tuesday to discuss welfare sector issues, operations and support.
Joined by Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster, Senator Seselja met Zoe Support, Mallee Family Care (MFC), Sunassist and the Mallee Accommodation and Support Program (MASP) and highlighted the importance of “getting out” to regional areas.
“(This is an) opportunity for me to learn on the ground what is happening in various charities and community organisations, what they are doing on the ground and whether the Commonwealth can be of assistance,” he said.
“It is a great opportunity to get out of Canberra, where I often hear from peak bodies who represent large organisations, large charities, large national organisations and be at a grassroots level, hearing from them and seeing what’s happening.
“We (visited) Zoe Support, which was wonderful and we met with a number of the young women who have been assisted and who are seeing real changes in their lives.
“I was quite struck, actually.
“I got to hear from a number of young ladies and see the growth and the greater confidence and job opportunities they are now getting, so that was wonderful.”
Senator Seselja said he would address feedback from his visit with his colleagues and discuss issues surrounding funding holes, and where there was a need for greater support.
Dr Webster said she was “really pleased” Senator Seselja was able to visit Mildura as the welfare sector was something she was particularly passionate about.
“The welfare sector is extremely important to Sunraysia and the services that MASP, MFC, Sunassist and Zoe and plenty of others provide is really essential given our current challenges that have been going on for some time,” she said.
“It is really important to have him here, to see how we are operating and how funding models are working, how service delivery is occurring on the ground.
“Obviously it is my background so I am particularly passionate about that and really pleased to have him here.”
