Ms THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): My question is to the Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers. I ask the minister: what steps, including progress on the Community Services Indexation Working Group, has the Victorian government taken to ensure our neighbourhood houses have the funding and support they need?

In the electorate of Northcote, neighbourhood houses have always been critical to the provision of connection, inclusion and support to vulnerable members of our community.

Over the course of the pandemic, their role has become even more vital. Neighbourhood housing staff have checked in on vulnerable residents, provided information, masks, sanitiser and emergency food relief to those in need, and helped to keep us all connected.

Locally we are fortunate to have SPAN Community House, Jika Jika Community Centre, Alphington Community Centre, and the Bridge Darebin.

Can I tell you—these are some of the most hardworking, selfless and dedicated people you will ever meet. They have gone above and beyond for my community and work day in and day out to reduce disadvantage and support those who need it.

Now, they need us.

Neighbourhood houses in my community have shared with me the rising costs of providing their high-quality, accessible services. In some cases they are dipping into resources they don’t really have—and volunteering their time because they see the need within our community.

These tailored and extremely local responses are unique in the service sector—and valued immensely by residents.

I acknowledge, and am pleased, that the Victorian government is establishing a Community Services Indexation Working Group to determine an appropriate indexation methodology for this sector into the future.

I would be most grateful for an update on this important work and any further actions which the government is taking to enable our neighbourhood houses to carry out their critical work.