Craigieburn families will have access to a range of early childhood services in one convenient location thanks to the new $6.3 million children’s centre opened in Calwell today.

Federal Member for Calwell Maria Vamvakinou welcomed the opening of the centre. “The centre shows the Federal Government has delivered on its 2007 commitment to the Craigieburn community.

Maria Vamvakinou, Member for Calwell announced that 37 local organisations will receive $142,000 in federal funding to support their volunteers.The local community organisations are sharing in $21 million in volunteer grants delivered across the country by the Gillard Government.

“Exercise Your Mood Week is a great initiative to highlight the benefits of exercise in combating depression,’’ Ambassador for the Black Dog Institute and Calwell MP Maria Vamvakinou said.“I encourage Calwell residents to participate in Exercise Your Mood Week campaign, being held across Australia from 11 to 19 September to underline the importance of exercise for maintaining good mental health.”

Ford Australia today celebrated two unique milestones – 85 years of Ford production and innovation in Australia and 50 years of the Ford Falcon.

Speaking at the event, Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said that the innovative Falcon is the longest-running Australian-made brand.

The Federal  Government will invest $30 million to increase Australia’s research and development capacity through CSL Limited. This investment forms part of a $235 million project that will strengthen our ability to protect Australians from disease.

Communities in Calwell are set to benefit from Federal Government funding that will help them secure their water supplies in a future with less water. Federal Member for Calwell Maria Vamvakinou today, welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Water, Senator Penny Wong, that $259,000 in funding had been awarded to Hume Council for the Securing Water for Sunbury Community Facilities project.

People in Melbourne’s north can look forward to a GP Super Clinic for Hume city under a Gillard Labor Government.

To be constructed in Hume City, the GP Super Clinic will take pressure off existing health services, offer after-hour GP services and provide training for future health professionals.  

The Hume GP Super Clinic is being funded because of the strong financial management of the economy by the Gillard Labor Government.  GP Super Clinics provide an excellent setting to help train the more than 3,000 nurses and 1,300 GPs who will come on line as a result of the Government’s investment in health.

 Member for Calwell, Maria Vamvakinou, recently announced the Federal Government is delivering about $160,000 in funding to the electorate, to help community projects run by The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust and The Victorian Arabic Social Services.

These Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust will receive $75,850 for its Inclusive Neighbourhood in Craigieburn Project. The project is aimed at developing social networks and access to services that will enhance parenting and relationship skills for families in Craigieburn and Roxburgh Park. 

The Victorian Arabic Social Services Inc will receive $82,000 for its Arabic Speaking Family Strengthening Project. The project supports Arabic speaking families through playgroups and programs in order to help develop parenting, relationship and social network skills.

The projects are among more than 220 community projects to across Australia to share in $19.6 million as part of the Federal Government’s Community Investment Program.

These projects provide on the ground, practical help for people facing social and personal challenges and also help strengthen communities through locally developed initiatives.

“The Australian Government values the enormous contribution made by these projects to local community and this funding will enable this good work to continue,” Ms Vamvakinou said.

“I congratulate the Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust and the Victorian Arabic Social services for their work to improve the lives of the most vulnerable people in our community.

“We know that by working organisations with local knowledge and links we can help build a stronger community and support local families in need,” the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin said.

“This funding will help these important local organisations to deliver quality services over the next 12 months.”

A full list of the projects is available at: www.fahcsia.gov.au

Media Contact:  Marianthi Kypuros (03) 9309 3655