Andrew Leigh

ANDREW LEIGH, SHADOW MINISTER FOR CHARITIES AND NOT-FOR-PROFITS

JULIE OWENS, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR PARRAMATTA

PARRAMATTA RECONNECTED FORUM A SUCCESS

Today, we held a successful ‘Reconnected’ roundtable with Western Sydney charities and not-for-profits, exchanging ideas to boost social capital and community engagement.

While the Turnbull Government is working in Parliament to stifle the voice of our charities, we’re listening to charities to hear how we can ensure our communities have stronger bonds and louder voices.

Over the course of the last generation, we’ve seen some worrying trends. Australians are less likely to join community organisations or play organised sports. We’ve seen troubling drop-offs in volunteering rates and donation rates in recent years.

These are the trends Labor is trying to reverse as we hear from charities and organisations about what they’re doing to foster community spirit and build social capital at a local level.

Today‘s was the eleventh Reconnected Roundtable, following on from successful forums in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle, Launceston, Hobart and Darwin. Across these forums, we have had the chance to meet with representatives of over 1000 Australian charities.

The local groups who joined today‘s conversation included:

• Thrive Refugee Enterprise
• The Deaf Society
• Parramatta Mission
• Burns Support Foundation
• Macquarie Community College
• 2nd Baulkham Hills Scout Group
• Granville Tamil Welfare Society

A life spent with others is a better life. We thank the organisations who participated in today‘s vital conversation for their energy and ideas.

Authorised by Julie Owens ALP Parramatta