Tuesday, 30 May 2023

1st Deer Park Scouts

Luba GRIGOROVITCH (Kororoit) (19:14): (206) The adjournment I wish to raise is a matter for the Minister for Youth. Many in this house might have seen last week that $140,000 was allocated to the Deer Park Scouts – a hall that is seriously in need of repair. The action I seek is for the Minister for Youth to join me and members of the 1st Deer Park Scouts in my electorate of Kororoit and outline how the Andrews Labor government is delivering on its election commitment to upgrade the 1st Deer Park Scouts hall. I am pleased to say that I have had the pleasure of visiting the 1st Deer Park Scouts hall on Station Road in Deer Park on a number of occasions and meeting with the families of this group.

I was able to see firsthand that the facilities need upgrading. The 1st Deer Park Scouts do wonderful work in providing the youngest members of the community with the skills and values that they will take forward into the future by exploring the outdoors and embedding them into a warm network of mentorship and peer support. In partnership with Scouts Victoria, the Andrews Labor government is delivering $140,000 towards upgrades for accessibility and new toilets for the 1st Deer Park Scouts hall. The facilities upgrades will include new flooring, accessible toilets, ceiling upgrades and better drainage. This funding is part of the Andrews Labor government’s commitment to investing in the wellbeing and connection of young Victorians and ensuring that more young people across the electorate of Kororoit can use upgraded accessible spaces that meet their needs and strengthen community participation.

I want to thank Michael Thomas, Scouts Victoria’s strategic growth manager, who helped show me around the hall many months ago and all of the incredible volunteers and families at the Deer Park Scouts hall who are leading a network of young community leaders. I am very proud of the dedication and commitment that you all show our local young people. I would like to thank the Labor government for supporting our Scouts. I cannot wait to see the finished works at the Deer Park Scouts hall and see more young people enjoying this upgraded building. I invite the minister to come and see firsthand the investments that this government is making in our young people and the Scouts and to thank them for all of the incredible work that they do.