An elected Liberal Government in this Saturday’s state election will commit almost $4.7 million over four years to the Empowering Communities Program to support family, community and neighbourhood centres across the State.
This program, funded through the Department of Communities, provides funding to support more than 50 organisations, predominantly community neighbourhood centres, which offer a range of services suited to their local community from playgroups and seniors’ groups to life skills courses and emergency relief.
“These highly valued centres can be found across Western Australia, and each provides a range of services suited to their local community and their local needs,” WA Liberal Leader Libby Mettam said.
“The WA Liberals are committed to providing additional funding to the Empowering Communities Program to ensure these centres can continue to provide important services to their local community.
“A Mettam-Liberal Government will increase the current service agreements for each organisation who receive funding under the Empowering Communities Program by 15 per cent.
“This is a total funding uplift of nearly $4.7 million over four years and will assist 56 services and centres across the State.”
According to Linkwest, the peak body for these centres, approximately 32,000 West Australians access services, activities and facilities through a centre each week.
Liberal candidate for Riverton Amanda Spencer-Teo said that while our family centres had faced uncertainty, a Liberal Government would ensure their future through this increased funding.
“As Deputy Mayor of the City of Canning, I was proud to help lead investment into the $2.4m expansion of the Rostrata Family Centre, and I am proud now to stand as a Liberal candidate promising to increase its operating funding to help Megan and the team deliver services to our community,” said Mrs Spencer-Teo.
“The Rostrata Family Centre has been an important community hub for over 30 years, and I am committed to helping their future for the next 30 years.
“The Centre not only provides critical services directly to local residents, but the centre is also a home to many significant organisations such as a Child Health Centre and the Australian Breastfeeding Association.
“I am delighted to have helped deliver their new facility, but while the building is important, it’s the investment into these services that really impacts our community.”
Empowering Communities Program service providers include the Armadale Community Family Centre, Befriend Armadale, the Roleystone Neighbourhood Family Centre and the Forest Lakes Family Centre.
