Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Victorian African Communities Action Plan

Meng Heang TAK (Clarinda) (19:18): (888) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is for the minister to provide the latest update on the homework club grant program delivered under the Victorian African Communities Action Plan. This was an important initiative from the last budget which delivered funding to continue implementing 14 African Australian led homework clubs across Victoria to students who require additional tailored support. This was part of an overall budget package worth $12.2 million.

Last weekend I was delighted to attend the third edition of the Melbourne Afropreneurs Summit at Victoria University, and the action plan and other state government initiatives were the talking points. Thank you to the organisers Africa Media Australia Ltd and Australian Multicultural Media Centre along with Victoria University. It was a wonderful event. It provided a forum to showcase African Australian entrepreneurship and innovation. It was great to see the connections being made at the event and the encouragement, learning, networking and collaboration. It was great to be part of the event supporting and strengthening the African community in Victoria and beyond and the contribution they bring to the socio-economic prosperity of the state.

We also have some amazing organisations supporting our African community locally, including the Multicultural Youth Support Services Inc. Afri-Aus Care is another. I had the pleasure of visiting Afri-Aus Care on many occasions with the Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs as well earlier this year together with the Minister for Employment and the member for Mulgrave to see the amazing work taking place there in the Jobs Victoria mentor program. Afri-Aus Care do a power of work providing assistance and support to individuals with a host of exciting and important initiatives, many of which I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand, from the Black Rhinos to South East Community Links youth engagement, Ubuntu peer support and the Empowering African Mothers Project: Ubuntu in Practice just to name a few. I thank the minister and look forward to his response.