Federal volunteer grants are now available for local organisations in Calwell. Grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 are available for eligible not-for-profit community organisations.

These grants can be used for purchasing equipment, contributing to transport costs, as well as providing training for volunteers or covering the cost of screening checks.

Expressions of interest must be submitted by 14 February 2020. 

Labor does not support the Coalition Government's cruel cuts that will hurt pensioners, especially migrant pensioners.

This Government wants to punish them and rip over $185 million from the pockets of Australian pensioners. It wants to do this by increasing the pension residency period from 10-15 years, and cutting the pension supplement after six weeks overseas.

Applications for the 2020 Commemorative Grants Program have opened. This round of grants will benefit from a funding boost and expanded eligibility of the Saluting Their Service (STS)  Program.

Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel, Darren Chester and Federal Member for  Calwell Maria Vamvakinou said the expansion to the STS Grants Program will see an extra $10 million allocated over the next four years to continue to honour  those who have served their country.

If elected, a Shorten Labor Government will invest $2 million in a cyber security training centre at the Kangan Institute, Broadmeadows TAFE, to meet the needs of Victoria’s rapidly expanding digital technology industries. The Victorian ICT industry employs about 85,000 people and is expected to grow sharply in the short to medium term.

This $2 million investment will include upgrades to teaching labs and the installation of computer hardware. Cyber security has been identified as having a critical skills shortage. At present, TAFE’s offering the Certificate IV are at capacity and unable to take additional enrolments.

After repeated calls from Labor, the Morrison Government is still keeping secret a major review into humanitarian resettlement. 
 
This is an important report that aims to improve the integration, employment and settlement outcomes of refugees in this country. The Australian public have a right to see it.  Failing to release this report is treating the public with contempt, as well as letting down refugees and our communities.

Above: Talking to the media with Lisa Chesters MP, and Andrew Giles MP, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs.

A Shorten Labor Government will invest an extra $8 million in community language schools so more Calwell children get the chance to learn other languages.

Currently, community language schools teach mostly school age kids.  But the younger someone starts learning another language, the easier it is to pick up.  That’s why we’ll help more community language schools open up their classes to pre-schoolers as well as school age children. 

Maria Vamvakinou MP, Federal Member for Calwell, welcomed Dr Bhagyaji and his delegation to her Parliamentary office in Canberra this month where they discussed the importance of spirituality and healing as a means to combat issues around mental health.

Above: Dr Bhagyaji (third from left) with Maria Vamvakinou MP, fourth from left. 

More Paralympic athletes will be given the opportunity to train at Essendon Football Club’s world-class home base, The Hangar, with a Shorten Labor Government to invest $4 million to support the expansion of disability sport programs. The Essendon Football Club has established a successful partnership with the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC), enabling Paralympic athletes to use the facilities throughout the year.

Labor’s investment will strengthen this partnership with the construction of wheelchair-accessible dormitory accommodation, improving access to facilities at The Hangar for athletes with disabilities, reducing APC program operating costs and providing new opportunities for disability sport participation, and talent identification activities.