Ms ADDISON (Wendouree) (12:55): My constituency question is directed to the Minister for Housing. Would the minister please provide an update on what the Andrews Labor government is doing to assist people who find themselves homeless or who are at risk of homelessness?

Recently I attended a forum facilitated by Committee for Ballarat Future Shapers program participants Rochelle Kirkham, Fiona Murphy and Pam Sutcliffe called ‘Ballarat, where are you sleeping tonight?’ at the Ballarat Tech School. The forum addressed issues that contribute to people experiencing insecure and precarious housing and homelessness. The forum brought together frontline service providers and community organisations, including Uniting Ballarat, Breezeway, the Salvos, the Ballarat Foundation, Compassionate Ballarat and Federation Uni, to promote action across our community to prevent homelessness.

Thank you to the passionate advocates, the dedicated workers and the community members who participated, particularly Renee, who shared her lived experience—a powerful example of how homelessness can be overcome. I commend the organisers.

Read the Minister’s response here – or for more of my contributions in Parliament, click here.