The Nationals’ Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe, has slammed the Allan Labor Government for its failure to fund Neighbourhood Houses in the Shepparton District, leaving vital community services abandoned just weeks before Christmas, during one of the most financially stressful periods in recent memory.
“I have contacted the Minister for Carers and Volunteers, Ros Spence, urging her to support our local community houses who were denied critical food funding grants and to ensure a 25 per cent increase in core funding in the 2026 State Budget.”
Ms O’Keeffe also said she was appalled to hear that North Shepparton Community House, Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre, South Shepparton Community Centre and Nathalia Community Centre have all missed out on critical food funding, despite already being stretched to provide essential support to local families, seniors, jobseekers and vulnerable residents across the electorate.
“To have local Houses miss out on critical funding particularly at this time of the year, when demand is skyrocketing, during a cost-of-living crisis and people desperately needing support, is unacceptable, heartless and completely out of touch.
“The government must also guarantee a 25 per cent increase in core funding for all Neighbourhood Houses in the 2026-27 State Budget. If not, service delivery and program cuts are inevitable, without increased financial support many houses are at risk of closing their doors.”
Ms O’Keeffe said Neighbourhood Houses Victoria’s statewide Keep Our Doors Open campaign has sparked an outpouring of community voices across the region. As part of the campaign, over 1,000 locals have written postcards to the Minister sharing powerful, personal messages about what their local Neighbourhood House means to them.
“I am urging the Minister to actually read these messages, some of which are heartbreaking. These messages are heartfelt and impossible to ignore. They reflect the real impact these centres have on people’s daily lives and the devastation that funding shortfalls are causing in our community.
“The existing funding no longer covers staff wages, let alone operational costs. Approximately half of all Neighbourhood Houses in Victoria are running at a loss.
“It is wrong that staff and volunteers are having to deal with financial pressures that stops them from helping the people that come through their doors every day.”
While Ms O’Keeffe welcomed some funding that had been secured for the Shepparton District, she said the inequality highlights a government that has failed to keep pace with demand or deliver fair and sustainable support for the sector.
“Any funding is welcomed but Labor can’t pretend that this is good enough. When multiple Neighbourhood Houses in one electorate are left with nothing, the system is broke.”
Ms O’Keeffe said she will be delivering these postcards to the Minister in Parliament this week, collected from Neighbourhood Houses across the electorate.
