Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Chatty Cafe Scheme Australia

Brad ROWSWELL (Sandringham) (19:09): (925) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Mental Health, and the action that I seek is for the minister to meet with me and representatives of Chatty Cafe Scheme Australia to discuss the opportunity of securing state government funding for this vital community service.

Over the past 12 months I have reached out to the minister several times to highlight the extraordinary work of the Chatty Cafe Scheme and the work that is doing right across Victoria, including in my own electorate. One in three adults in Australia reports being lonely each week, and the Chatty Cafe Scheme is a 95 per cent volunteer-run organisation which helps to reduce social isolation one chat at a time. Chatty Cafe’s ‘Have a Chat’ tables have been instrumental in creating welcoming environments for people from all walks of life. The initiative is particularly beneficial for seniors, young parents and carers. These simple social interactions provide an opportunity for community members to build connections, and feedback from participants has consistently highlighted the significant impact on their mental wellbeing, with many reporting improved mood, reduced anxiety and the development of new friendships through the program. Despite its success, Chatty Cafe faces an uncertain future due to limited and unguaranteed philanthropic grants, which are currently its primary source of funding. Without additional support, the organisation may struggle to continue providing these essential services to some of Victoria’s most vulnerable individuals.

I have previously requested meetings with the minister on behalf of Chatty Cafe’s founder Glenys Reid and board member Sue Barrett. While I have the opportunity, Glenys Reid is not just a magnificent Victorian but a magnificent Australian. She is well and truly deserving of an Australian honour at the next opportunity, more so than some other recipients in recent times. This meeting will provide an opportunity for the founder of Chatty Cafe Australia to discuss the program’s impact and explore potential funding options from the state government to ensure Chatty Cafe’s continued sustainability and benefit for Victorians. I urge the Minister for Mental Health to prioritise this request, recognising the positive impact that Chatty Cafe has had on mental health right across this state. I hope the minister will listen to this, will heed this humble request and will meet with us to talk about Chatty Cafe’s future.