Andrew Leigh

CENTRAL COAST RECONNECTED FORUM A SUCCESS

Central Coast charities and not-for-profits came together today to exchange ideas on boosting social capital and community engagement at another successful ‘Reconnected’ roundtable.

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

Worrying trends have emerged over the course of the last generation. Australians are less likely to join community organisations or play organised sports, and recent years have recorded troubling drop-offs in volunteering rates and donation rates.

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 twelfth Reconnected Roundtable, following on from successful forums in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle, Launceston, Hobart, Parramatta and Darwin. Across these forums, we have had the chance to meet with representatives of more than 1100 Australian charities.

The local groups who joined today‘s conversation included:

• Regional Youth Support Services
• The Benevolent Society
• Coast Shelter
• Central Coast Community Council
• Bateau Bay Neighbourhood Centre
• PCYC Bateau bay
• Toukley Neighbourhood Centre
• Meals on Wheels

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.

WEDNESDAY, 16 MAY 2018

Authorised by Noah Carroll, ALP, Canberra