Health & community services
Practical and compassionate responses.
Everyone should have access to the services needed for a fair standard of living, self determination and equality. I strive to serve all of our diverse communities equally, and to ensure that everyone can be involved and have a say in decisions that affect them.
I promote practical and compassionate solutions for city social problems. I support prevention and early intervention, with harm minimisation strategies to keep people safe until further action is possible. I work with advocacy groups to achieve change for people in need, particular our most vulnerable and marginalised.
I acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and work to promote respect, understanding, equality and justice. The City of Sydney’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Panel includes respected community and industry professionals, youth and elders.
Mental health and alcohol/drug services are under-resourced and I lobby for expanded funding and services, including specialist support for social housing tenants. My advocacy helped achieve the new integrated mental health, drug, alcohol and health-care Caritas facility at St Vincent’s.
My motion at the 1999 Drug Summit established a trial for the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre to prevent overdose, blood-borne disease and street injecting, and to refer people addicted to drugs to treatment. This service finally became permanent in 2010.
As state MP, I push government to provide better support for public schools, new teachers and teaching principals, and greater investment in TAFE and adult learning.
The City of Sydney provides diverse local services and programs, including children, youth, over-55s, homeless, Aboriginal and multicultural support. Our Inclusion (Disability) Action Plan aims to achieve equal access; safety strategies target violence and crime prevention; and libraries, community centres and volunteer programs provide opportunities for local involvement.
The City’s community transport services, including the council-funded ‘Village to Village’ shuttle bus service, help connect over 55s and frail residents with social events, services and shops.
I am committed to planning new and expanded community facilities for our growing population. Recent City projects include the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, Surry Hills Library, and the Sydney Town Hall essential services upgrade. Work is underway on a new Waterloo Youth Facility, the Prince Alfred Park Pool, Burton Street Tabernacle cultural centre and Glebe Town Hall.
Council’s $4.7 million annual grants and sponsorships programme supports diverse community, cultural and business groups, including vital funding and affordable rental space.
Click HERE for my petitions on health and community services.