Friday, December 5, 2025
The Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, has called on the Allan Labor Government to urgently guarantee adequate, long-term funding for Neighbourhood Houses across the region, after learning that Broadford Living and Learning has missed out on critical funding just days before Christmas.
Ms Cleeland said the timing could not be worse for a service that supports around 60 local families every week with food relief and community support.
“For too many families, Broadford Living and Learning is the difference between going without and getting through,” Ms Cleeland said.
“To discover they have missed out on vital funding on the doorstep of Christmas is devastating. This is exactly when demand is at its highest and stress is at its peak.”
In the lead up to the 2026 Election Budget, Ms Cleeland is calling on the Allan Labor Government to commit to a 25 per cent increase in core funding for Neighbourhood Houses or risk widespread service cuts and closures across Victoria.
“Neighbourhood Houses deliver enormous social and economic value. They are not optional extras. They are lifelines,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Without sustainable funding, their doors will close. With fair funding, they remain the safe, welcoming places every community deserves, especially at this time of year.”
Neighbourhood Houses Victoria’s statewide Keep Our Doors Open campaign is calling for a 25 per cent funding increase to meet soaring demand. As part of the campaign, community members have been writing postcards to the Minister for Carers and Volunteers, sharing what their local Neighbourhood House means to them.
Ms Cleeland delivered more than 200 of these postcards to Parliament this week, collected from all ten Neighbourhood Houses across the Euroa electorate.
“These cards carry the voices of our communities straight into the Parliament,” Ms Cleeland said.
“They are honest, raw and powerful reminders of what is at stake.”
“The Neighbourhood Houses keep everything running and make people happy. If we don’t keep the houses going, we would lose a sense of ourselves,” said Jenn from Violet Town.
“With the rising costs of living, this service can help many families who are struggling,” another message read.
“It supports the underprivileged in the community and beyond. They have a vibrant and calming atmosphere,” said Jamie from Violet Town.
Another simply read, “Food and friendship.”
Ms Cleeland said ten Neighbourhood Houses across the Euroa electorate are now at risk:
“Budgets have barely grown in a decade while demand has surged nearly 30 per cent since COVID,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Without a 25 per cent increase in the 2026 Budget, many Houses will be forced to cut programs, reduce hours or shut their doors entirely.”
Ms Cleeland said the Government’s priorities are “completely out of touch”, pointing to Labor’s $13 million spend on machete bin PR while ignoring services that support more than 185,000 Victorians every week.
“Families are already doing it tough. They should not be wondering whether the place they rely on for food, learning and connection will still be there in the new year,” she said.
“The Allan Government must guarantee proper funding for Neighbourhood Houses across our region so locals can get the support they need, when they need it, not just at Christmas but all year round.”
Get local announcements and project updates from across the Euroa electorate.
