Ms THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): I rise to pay tribute to all the carers in my electorate and to thank them for what they do. Some of these carers are professionals in our disability, mental health or aged-care sectors, some are volunteers and some would not call themselves carers at all. Carers come from all walks of life, but what they have in common is the heart to give of themselves to improve the wellbeing of someone else. That is a special thing, and it should be recognised.

I have recently had the opportunity to spend time with some of the wonderful organisations in Northcote doing amazing work caring for people with disabilities. I brushed up my singing with the High Street Bells Choir and I had the pleasure last week of opening the brand-new Able Australia facility in the heart of Northcote. At the opening I met Michelle Stephens, who is deaf-blind and blew us all away with her incredible piano playing. Michelle relies on Tactile Auslan to communicate, a system where she places her hands over the hands of an interpreter and feels the movements of the sign language. It was moving to watch this interchange between Michelle and her interpreter; so different and yet so immediate and so beautiful.

It crystallised for me how important it is to have appropriate, tailored supports for people with disabilities and to give our carers the tools they need to do their vital work. I congratulate the organisations in my electorate that have received grants for projects to support carers, including Syndromes Without A Name, Span Community House, Wellways, Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities and the Australian Camps Association.

I also lend my voice to the call from the Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers for the federal government to release the $600 million committed to the national disability insurance scheme for Victorians. This is not a line item on a federal spreadsheet; these are vital funds for Victorians with a disability struggling to access the NDIS.