Renee Coffey
Griffith · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“He has also been a leader in sepsis advocacy, helping improve awareness, care and recovery for people affected by sepsis. Professor Hans Peter Soyer received his honour for distinguished service in dermatology, skin cancer diagnosis, medical research and governance.”
“His work aims to find skin cancers earlier, improve patient outcomes and address gaps in access to care, especially in regional, rural and remote Australia. Katarina Carroll AO APM received her honour for distinguished service to law enforcement, disaster management and the community.”
“This year's King's Birthday Honours recognised 14 Griffith recipients whose service reflects the best of our community. In my short few minutes here today, I want to acknowledge a few of them. Matthew Ames received his honour for significant service to community health, engineering, business administration and corporate governance.”
“Christine also contributed to the taskforce on domestic and family violence which delivered the landmark Not now, not ever report. She now serves on the board of DVConnect, continuing to work to support people experiencing violence and abuse. I also acknowledge the other Griffith recipients named in this year's honours.”
“Australia's strength has never come from sameness. It has come from the people who have built lives across difference, from our many First Nations communities with millennia of history and culture—the oldest continuous cultures on earth—to people who arrive with little English, little money and deep hope for their children, people who tur…”
“My friend the member for Reid said in this House in her maiden speech: In just over half a century, we have moved from an embrace of a White Australia policy to a country that is now a majority-migrant nation. But what is more remarkable is how this news was received—not with backlash but with a genuine embrace of modern Australia.”
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“Ms Woodward said: Charities provide such a broad range of services that they touch almost every part of the economy. She also said: Charities continue to be a key driver of the economy. The ACNC has helped the charity sector by boosting public trust through its public register and accountability measures. It has reduced red tape for charities via the report-once-use-often framework and Charity Passport, and supported charities with guidance, education and resources to meet their obligations and improve operations. Charities that maintain their reporting to the ACNC demonstrate accountability not just to the ACNC but to donors, beneficiaries and the broader community. The ACNC's data is available to the general public online.”
“The ACNC was established to achieve the following objects: (1) maintain, protect and enhance public trust and confidence in the Australian not-for-profit sector; (2) support and sustain a robust, vibrant, independent and innovative not-for-profit sector; and (3) promote the reduction of unnecessary regulatory obligations on the sector. The ACNC's five values—fairness, accountability and transparency, independence, integrity and respect—underpin its regulatory approach. In the most recent charities report, ACNC commissioner Sue Woodward AM revealed: Our data confirms the charity sector should not, and cannot, be ignored or underestimated. It is a powerhouse of good, bringing benefits to many people, and is an active economic contributor and driver.”
“In a Morningside warehouse, a Foodbank worker manoeuvres a forklift to place another pallet of rescued food in place, ready for collection. In South Brisbane, a new, life-saving, state-of-the-art incubator is wheeled into a ward with funding from the Mater Foundation and Mater Little Miracles. Charities and nonprofits enrich our communities. They support families and vulnerable Australians in tough times, and they deliver services that we, as governments, could not deliver alone. I am so proud of our Australian charity and not-for-profit sector. The sector has grown significantly in the last 20 years, becoming a vital economic contributor and employment powerhouse. In 2012 the Labor government established the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, ACNC, the national regulator of charities.”
“With each of the charities and nonprofits, I have been proud to work at the intersection of government, corporate and philanthropic bodies to help deliver remarkable outcomes for our community through genuine partnerships, where the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts. Every single day in my career and my volunteering in Australia, and especially in my electorate of Griffith, I saw volunteers, donors, partners, fundraisers and community organisations roll up their sleeves to help where governments and markets cannot. In Camp Hill, a Care Kits for Kids volunteer packs a backpack for a child who has recently entered foster care. In Musgrave Park, a Rosies volunteer hands a warm cup of coffee to someone sleeping rough.”
“Before coming to this place, I had the honour of working and volunteering in the Australian charity and non-profit sector for more than two decades as a volunteer, a fundraiser, a leader of teams, a CEO and a board director of other charities and nonprofits working within the sector. In that time, I had the opportunity to work to advance reconciliation between the broader community and First Nations people in South Australia, to empower young people across Australia to thrive beyond the impacts of family mental illness and to support more than 1,000 First Nations young people from communities throughout Australia to gain transformative scholarships.”
“However, when it came time to do my final prac, it meant giving up work for six weeks, and that was not something that I could afford. I graduated with only my arts degree, and it was many years before I was able to save up, go back to university and finish my teaching qualification. Paid prac is a policy I have advocated for inside the Labor Party, and now with these changes we are able to support people studying these absolutely essential professions. Education is the single greatest investment we can make in our children, in our economy and in our future. For Griffith, this means cheaper child care, better resourced schools, fairer student debt and paid prac placements. When we invest in education, we invest in a stronger, fairer future for Griffith and for Australia.”
“This critical funding is helping schools improve facilities, build pride in their communities and give students the learning environments they deserve. We're also making higher education fairer and more accessible. In Griffith, almost 32,000 people have a HECS debt, and, thanks to Labor's reforms, they will see an average cut of $6,392 each. For someone on $70,000, repayments have dropped around $1,300 a year. We're also supporting students through the Commonwealth prac payment, so those studying teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work can afford to complete their placements. More than 20 years ago, when I was studying at university for the first time, I undertook a Bachelor of Arts and a bachelor of education degree at the University of Queensland. My intention was to graduate and become a teacher.”
“I acknowledge the work and dedication of our P&C parents the country over for all that you do and the teachers and the school leaders who invest their own money in classroom resources to ensure our kids don't miss out. It's exhausting but essential work to ensure our public schools aren't left behind due to shortfalls in funding. Labor is changing that. We're investing an additional $2.8 billion in Queensland's state schools over the next 10 years, putting every public school on the path to full and fair funding. Griffith is home to 45 schools, and many are already seeing the benefits of our targeted investments. Through the Schools Upgrade Fund, we've delivered over $100,000 in local school infrastructure upgrades, including for Camp Hill State Infants and Primary School, Whites Hill State College and Dutton Park State School.”
“But, having sat on the school council of this small state school, I had too often seen the principal forced to choose between paying for new literacy resources for the little school library or the plumber to unlock the P-3 toilets or the contractor to complete drainage repairs or the pest exterminator to deal with the persistent rodent problem, or for essential upgrades to our outdoor safety lighting. Our hardworking P&C parents across the country work hard, selling raffle tickets, trivia tables, second-hand uniforms and salad wraps to make up the shortfall—and we have done a very good job over so many years. As one of my handprinted corflutes during the campaign said: school mums get stuff done!”
“In Griffith, families are benefiting from Labor's cheaper childcare policy, which is saving the average family around $7,400 a year—that's real cost-of-living relief—and, from January 2026, every child will have access to at least three days of high-quality early education under our three-day guarantee. This is about making sure that every child in Griffith, no matter their family circumstances, gets the best start. For too long public schools were left behind. My two boys attend our small local state school. It's a place of wonder, exploration, discovery and learning. The school is supported by a remarkable school leadership team, and my boys' learning is facilitated by some of the best, most dedicated teachers in the world.”
“We know the best start begins with early education. Early education is important because it establishes critical foundations for a child's future success, laying the groundwork for cognitive, social, emotional, physical and creative development during a period of rapid brain growth. Having been a working mum of two young boys, I know firsthand the struggle of paying for the best quality early education and care for our little people while trying to make up for lost salaries and readjust to a job and career following periods of parental leave.”
“In my first speech as a new member of parliament, earlier this year, I explained that I am Labor because I believe in the primacy of education and its power to transform lives. As our Minister for Education, Jason Clare, shared, 'education is the great equaliser in an unequal world'. I know this to be true because I have seen it in action. I have seen in my career that a quality education is what gives every child the chance to thrive, no matter where they grew up. In my community—from Bulimba to Holland Park and Carina to West End—parents, teachers and young people across my electorate of Griffith tell me that education is at the heart of their hopes for the future. That's why the Albanese Labor government is continuing to build a better and fairer education system, from early childhood and schools to higher education.”
“Each of these organisations plays a critical role in supporting the health, wellbeing and inclusion of people in Griffith and across Queensland, because equality isn't just an aspiration; it's something we must actively build. That means standing firmly with trans and gender-diverse Queenslanders against harassment and misinformation. It means workplaces free of discrimination, and communities where hate has no home. It means ensuring access to inclusive health care, better mental health services, and schools where every child is respected and supported. In this parliament, I'm proud to echo the voices of all those who continue to fight for equality in our community.”
“Last month I was also honoured to host in my electorate an LGBTQIA2+ health and wellbeing roundtable with the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon. Mark Butler MP, alongside representatives from leading community health organisations. It was an important opportunity to hear directly from those working on the ground about the barriers LGBTQIA2+ Australians face in accessing inclusive health care, and to hear how the work of government is already having a positive impact in the community. As part of this ongoing engagement, I've also met separately with many dedicated organisations doing vital work every day, and I acknowledge the work of the Queensland Council for LGBTI Health, Queensland Positive People, and the Queensland LGBTQIA+ Alliance.”
“The Make a Scene: Fashioning Queer Identity and Club C ulture in the 1990s exhibition at the museum was another highlight—an aspiring showcase of creativity and resilience, capturing the power of self-expression and community that helped people through difficult times. I was also pleased to attend the Queer Here exhibition at Griffith University on Southbank, an event celebrating the diversity, creativity and leadership of queer students and staff. It was a great honour to see the powerful work of one of our local secondary school students, Gabe McLoughlin, from Cannon Hill Anglican College. It was a vivid reminder that universities are not only places of learning but also of belonging, where visibility, acceptance and pride walk hand-in-hand.”
“Pride is not just about celebration; it's also about resolve and honouring those who came before, marching when it was dangerous and unpopular, especially during the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, giving strength to those continuing the fight for equality today. I also attended Brisbane Pride's intergenerational panel of LGBTQIA2+ community members at Queensland Museum Kurilpa in South Brisbane. It was a powerful conversation about the history of pride in Queensland. The evening included the formal handover of a section of the Gilbert Baker 25th anniversary Pride flag, donated by Brisbane Pride to the Queensland Museum's collection.”
“September was Pride Month in Brisbane, and it was wonderful that so many Pride events were held in the Griffith electorate, from the Come to Daddy Pride Launch to Pride Fair in Musgrave Park. I was honoured to attend the Pride rally in Queens Park and to join the Pride March with Rainbow Labor. I thank Brisbane Pride, the volunteers and the many community organisations who made the event such a success. I send a special congratulations to James McCarthy, the President of Brisbane Pride, for facilitating another cracking Pride. What struck me once again was the incredible spirit of the crowd.”
“I see everything that they give up to support our country, and it is right that we support them in return. I know the difference that that support can make, and I have also seen firsthand the cost when it is absent. Our task is clear: to serve those who serve, to honour those who sacrifice and to ensure that no family ever feels alone. Together, with the voices of lived experience guiding us, we will continue this vitally important work for our Defence personnel, for veterans and for their families. As our minister said this morning, it is not just what they need; it is what they deserve.”
“We are already seeing more people choose to stay longer as a result and we have expanded our veterans and families hubs so people can access their support close to home. We're working hard to ensure we achieve the most comprehensive reforms to the systems, processes and culture to support Defence personnel, veterans and families ever undertaken in Australia. Implementing these reforms from the royal commission is vital to ensuring that Defence personnel, veterans and also families receive vital care, services and support. I stand here not just as a parliamentarian but as someone who has walked alongside families in this space in my career prior to coming to this place. I have found it an enormous honour in my career to have been able to work with those families and with those children and their parents.”
“I especially want to thank Legacy Brisbane CEO Brendan Cox and his whole team for their tireless service and relentless advocacy. The compassion, respect and practical support that they provide is extraordinary. We know there is so much more work to do. Too many families still struggle to access timely, appropriate support, but we are making progress. Veterans claims are being processed faster, more people are choosing to stay in the ADF for longer and our veterans and families hubs are expanding so that support is closer to home. The royal commission tasked us with nothing less than a once-in-a-generation reform, and that is exactly what we are delivering. As the minister outlined this morning, we are not limiting ourselves to just the work of the royal commission.”
“Each visit to the Gallipoli centre has been a reminder of the commitment and compassion that drive their work, and this year it was my great honour to commemorate Anzac Day at a very wet dawn service at Gallipoli Medical Research. The service reinforced just how deeply their research is connected to the stories, the service and the sacrifice of our defence community. I want also to pay tribute to Legacy Brisbane, headquartered in South Brisbane, in my electorate. Legacy Brisbane supports almost 4,000 family members of fallen and injured veterans across South-East, Central and western Queensland. They work to make a tangible difference to children, partners and ageing parents, ensuring that no-one is left behind.”
“In my own electorate of Griffith, I see firsthand the extraordinary work being done to support our veterans and their families. Gallipoli Medical Research is based in my electorate of Griffith and is leading world-class research into the mental health and wellbeing of our veterans. I want to acknowledge the work of Miriam Kent, their fabulous CEO, and her team. Their work on PTSD, transition and long-term health impacts is giving us insights that shape policy and improve lives. I've had the privilege of visiting the foundation multiple times over the last year, once with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and again with my colleague and good friend Luke Gosling OAM, the member for Solomon, who just addressed this place. He's a fourth-generation veteran and also special envoy for defence and veterans.”
“We can't make any noises,' and this other little boy who I thought wasn't paying attention looked up, as sharp as anything, and said, 'Me too.' It's those connections that children form with Kookaburra Kids and the knowledge that they gain about mental health that really empower them to go on and understand their family dynamics and how we can break cycles of mental ill health. Our service men and women willingly stand ready to protect our nation, sometimes far from home, with their families adapting to frequent moves and managing everything that comes with the deployment. They contribute so much, and families carry hidden sacrifices every day. It's only right that we stand beside these families, not just with gratitude but with tangible, meaningful support.”
“I was at a camp where these boys were participating in a chat group, which is where mental health literacy is taught to young people. One of our supervisors was sharing information about different mental health conditions to raise these children's awareness of them, and they started to speak about PTSD and what that can look like for somebody experiencing it. One of the symptoms that was shared with the young people was an aversion to and a sensitivity to loud noises. One of the little boys was very distracted. He was playing with little fidget toys and was very much focused on something else, I thought. Another little boy spoke up and said, 'When my dad's home, we have to be really, really quiet.”
“Relocation challenges and, for children, the challenges of making new friends, changing schools, parental absence—missing mum or dad—and, sometimes, dealing with the impacts of mental ill health within families, which might look like depression, anxiety or PTSD. Through camps, activity days and online programs, these young people find connection and community. They meet peers who understand the challenges of relocations, deployments, or having a parent affected by service. This unique program is supporting the unique needs of children from serving and ex-serving ADF families, and it has been made possible by the Australian government. The most impactful story that I encountered in my work with the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation involved two little boys, not much older than eight years old.”
“Kookaburra Kids was founded by Dianne Madden more than 20 years ago to support young people impacted by family mental illness, with the aim of empowering them to build resilience and lifelong knowledge and abilities so that they can reach their potential. Kookaburra Kids also supports the children of currently and formerly serving Australian Defence Force personnel through the Defence Kids program. The Department of Veterans' Affairs funds this foundation to deliver Defence Kids across Australia. The organisation provides camps, activity days and age-appropriate mental health education, focusing on coping skills and resilience, while allowing children to bond with peers who are facing similar challenges. For Defence families, challenges can be vast.”
“Delivering the strategy will help families to access appropriate housing solutions, offer greater certainty around locations for Defence Force personnel and their families, and provide better support during and after transition for ADF families. I listened with great interest—and, to be frank, quite a bit of pride—this morning as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, the Hon. Matt Keogh, updated the House on the progress that has been made since the royal commission and its final report. I'm fortunate to have some unique insight into the impact of Defence life on children and families. Before running as a candidate for my electorate of Griffith and stepping into this place as a member of parliament, I was the CEO of the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation.”
“Anyone who has read the report has encountered heartbreaking and devastating stories of anguish and loss. I say to those who spoke up that your courage and your commitment have provided us all with an opportunity to learn and strengthen how we, as the federal government, approach the mental health and welfare of current serving members, veterans and, as importantly, their families. Last year, the Albanese government released the Defence and Veteran Family Wellbeing Strategy . This delivers on Labor's commitment to identify ways to better support the families of Defence personnel and veterans, and it will further assist in responding to the royal commission.”
“As we approach World Suicide Prevention Day next week, it's important to reflect on what we have learned from the recent Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and the progress we, as a government, have made. On 8 July 2021, the Australian government established the royal commission. The inquiry, which concluded on 28 August last year, examined systemic issues and common themes in past deaths by suicide of Australian Defence Force members and veterans. Importantly, this included suspected suicides and the lived experience of suicide risk. The royal commission delivered its interim report on 11 August 2022, and the final report was delivered in September last year. I sincerely thank those serving and ex-serving personnel and their families who bravely shared their stories with the royal commission.”
“I also want to acknowledge the work of the Parliamentary Friends of Bowel Cancer, co-chaired by the member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas, and the member for Nicholls, Sam Birrell, whose cross-party efforts keep this issue on the national agenda. Too often bowel cancer is seen as a distant or later concern in life, but Kaz's story and the story of so many young Australians show us otherwise. By raising awareness, supporting research, encouraging testing and speaking about our own experiences, backing campaigns like Never2Young, we can save lives. This is a message worth sharing, and it is something that I am deeply committed to continuing here in this place and in my local community of Griffith.”
“I certainly did not imagine standing in federal parliament talking about my colonoscopy. It was embarrassing enough when the wonderful orderly at the hospital recognised me in my gown and asked if I was his new federal member of parliament, to which I said yes. But these conversations are incredibly important for us as a nation. By breaking down stigma, talking openly about symptoms and encouraging people to see their doctors, we can change health outcomes for our communities. I thank all the advocates from Bowel Cancer Australia's Never2Young campaign, a group of young Australians with lived experience who work tirelessly to raise awareness. Their message is clear: no-one is too young for bowel cancer. I want to sincerely thank them for their work, their courage and their advocacy.”
“Amazingly, the likelihood of colon cancer developing when this screening is followed is less than one per cent. I want to thank Kaz not just for her advocacy and the work she is doing nationally to raise awareness about bowel cancer but for prompting me and enabling me to be diagnosed and receive phenomenal preventative treatment, which I am so thankful for. Too many still believe bowel cancer only affects the elderly. It does not. The truth is bowel cancer can be treated and it can be beaten if it's caught early, and Kaz's story is proof of that. Early detection saves lives. Ninety-nine per cent of cases can be treated successfully when detected in the earliest stage, but, unfortunately, fewer than 50 per cent of cases are detected early. Conversations about bowel cancer may feel uncomfortable, but they can be lifesaving.”
“But it was due to a catch-up with Kaz and hearing more about her experience as a friend and as a young person living in my community, that I knew this was one appointment I should not have delayed. My routine colonoscopy just a few weeks ago led to my diagnosis of serrated polyposis syndrome. At my follow-up appointment, I learnt that this condition significantly increases the lifetime risk of colorectal cancer, with estimates ranging from 15 to 35 per cent increase or higher, several times the general population risk. The great news is that consistent rigorous screening—for me, that will now continue annually forever—allows for the early detection and removal of polyps, which is crucial for preventing their progression to cancer.”
“Kaz, from my community in Griffith, is one of them, and I was pleased to catch up with her this week as part of the Never2Young campaign. At just 36, she was diagnosed with stage 4 rectal cancer. With few symptoms, it was a routine blood test that revealed her illness. Kaz endured a gruelling nine-hour surgery and months of chemotherapy. Today, she is, thankfully, considered curative and on the path to recovery. Kaz told me without that blood test she may not be here today. Her bravery prompted me to book my own overdue colonoscopy appointment. I went doorknocking and campaigning last year, so I shamefully had put it off—eye exams, dental appointments and, yes, I'm sorry to say, my regular colon screening.”
“This week, I was honoured to meet with representatives from the Never2Young campaign from Bowel Cancer Australia. Bowel cancer is not something many of us want to think about, especially when we are young and living relatively healthful, vibrant and active lives, yet it is the deadliest cancer for Australians aged 25 to 54. Each year, more than 1,700 Australians under 50 are diagnosed, and risk before 50 has more than doubled since 2000. Younger Australians are now two to three times more likely to develop bowel cancer than their parents' generation. Too often it is detected late, which means tougher treatment and greater impacts on health, wellbeing, fertility and everyday life. These statistics are real people—mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, friends and colleagues, including in my electorate of Griffith.”
“These initiatives will help more young people buy a home, and we have also delivered the largest increase in Commonwealth rent assistance. The Albanese Labor government is committed to reducing intergenerational inequality. We're creating a fairer tax system, providing relief for student debt, investing in housing, delivering free TAFE and ensuring that wages are growing again. In short, we are backing young people every step of the way, because they are not just the future of this country; they are its present. And, in Griffith, with one of the youngest populations in the nation, that commitment means everything.”
“More than 1.1 million jobs have been created, a record for any government in a single term. This benefits all Australians, including our younger Australians. We're delivering practical support: increases to the minimum wage and the superannuation guarantee, energy bill relief for households, tax cuts already delivered—with more to come—and support for apprentices entering the housing and construction industry. In Griffith, with nearly half the electorate renting, housing is absolutely front of mind. That's why our government is investing $33 billion in housing and supporting first home buyers with a five per cent deposit scheme with no lenders mortgage insurance. We know this will make a real difference to young people living in the electorate of Griffith and across Australia.”
“Indexation is now capped so debt never grows faster than wages, and we are cutting debts by 20 per cent, lifting repayment thresholds and lowering repayment rates. This means young people can plan their futures without being held back by the looming student debt. We are also delivering the new Commonwealth prac payment so teachers, nurses, midwives and social workers can be supported whilst on their placements. With more study hubs across outer suburbs and regions, young Australians can study closer to home and at lower cost. We're investing in free TAFE, with 600,000 places already delivered and more to come. This government is tackling the cost of living head on. Inflation is at a four-year low, wages are growing again and interest rates have been cut three times in six months.”
“They are paying rising rents, they are carrying student debt, and they're trying to save for a first home—all while managing the everyday costs of life. Now, as their representative, I have the privilege of standing in this place and ensuring that their voices—the voices of young people in Griffith—are heard. After a decade of coalition neglect, young Australians face greater challenges than the generations that came before them. Housing is harder to access, wages stagnant, student debt has is soaring and the cost of living is biting harder every day. That is why I am proud to be part of the Albanese Labor government, a government that is delivering real, practical relief to young people. We are making education more affordable. Over 31,000 students and graduates across Griffith are already benefiting from HECS relief.”
“I also want to thank the member for Curtin for raising this matter of public importance. My electorate of Griffith is diverse, it's vibrant and it's young. In fact, Griffith has more millennials and gen Zs than both the Queensland and Australian average, with a median age of just 34. Almost half the residents in Griffith are renters, far above the state and national figures. Over months of campaigning, I doorknocked close to 15,000 homes, and I hosted countless mobile offices, 'coffee with Coffey' sessions and free community food trucks. I also spent a lot of time in our local schools and our local educational institutions. I heard time and again from young people that they are struggling with cost-of-living pressures.”
“The two Medicare mental health centres in Gilmore are among 91 that will be operating across the country thanks to a $1 billion investment by the Albanese Labor government. And Gilmore's three headspace services will be bolstered by 58 new or expanded headspace services nationally, plus 20 youth specialist care centres for young people with complex needs. Whether people young or old need short-term help or ongoing care, we will ensure that a free mental health service backed by Medicare will be there for everyone.”
“The Moruya centre is a welcoming, friendly space that caters for the health needs of the local community and it will take pressure off the local hospital emergency departments. I'm thrilled that the recently opened mental health hub in Nowra will also soon be expanded to a full Medicare mental health centre. This means Shoalhaven locals will also have access to free walk-in mental health support and care when they need it, including access to psychologists and psychiatrists. These centres will improve access to, and awareness of, mental health care, especially for people who haven't accessed mental health support before. These are such important and needed services for the South Coast region, and I hope that everyone who walks through the doors at Nowra or Moruya finds the support they need without worrying about the cost.”
“Many people in my region are still reeling from the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires, from drought, from a string of floods and storms and of course from the challenges of the COVID pandemic, which is why I'm delighted to have opened the doors of two new adult mental health facilities in my electorate. People across the Eurobodalla now have access to free walk-in mental health support and care with the opening of a Medicare mental health centre at Moruya in December 2024. The centre provides on-the-spot support for people in distress and ongoing care for more complex mental health needs. It's staffed by a multidisciplinary care team, including social workers, nurses and peer support workers, who provide free wraparound support and care for people when they need it.”
“It also recognised the resilience of a community that has had to bear way too much loss. Headspace Kiama manager Charro and his fantastic team have embraced our youth, and they're providing mental health support as well as sexual health and drug and alcohol services and helping young people reach their work and study goals. Opening headspace Kiama is one of my proudest achievements as the federal member for Gilmore. The youth of Kiama, Nowra and Batemans Bay now have access to essential mental health support at three of the 89 headspace services helping people aged 12 to 24 across regional Australia thanks to the Albanese Labor government.”
“It was then, in 2020, that I joined with our community to campaign to establish a headspace facility to support the young people in Kiama and surrounding villages. I spoke with kids, local schools and amazing community groups about what was needed and set about lobbying for a headspace service on their behalf. It wasn't easy, with a new centre opened at Shellharbour and an established headspace at Nowra, but I wasn't going to give up the fight until we won—and we did. I was so thrilled when headspace Kiama officially opened its doors in October 2024, and I am delighted to say it's having a massive impact on the lives of our young people in Kiama, Gerringong and surrounding areas. Cutting the green ribbon alongside the young people of Kiama, who helped to shape this essential service, was a fabulous celebration.”
“The towns of Kiama and Gerringong on the New South Wales South Coast are simply stunning, with incredible beaches and surrounded by rolling farmland and pristine rainforest. Local families enjoy surfing, bushwalking and making the most of everything our spectacular region has to offer. The community is close-knit, with music festivals, cultural groups, very active surf lifesaving clubs, great schools and loads of sporting and community organisations. It's the kind of laid-back, fun-loving beachside community where you want to raise your kids. So you can imagine the utter devastation in 2020 when a number of much-loved young people took their own lives in Gerringong and Kiama. People in the community were rocked to the core, but they wrapped their arms around the families, friends and students.”
“I want to say a huge thank you to Care Kits for Kids Qld, their donors and volunteers. Your compassion ensures that some of Queensland's most vulnerable kids are cared for and supported when they need it most. Thank you. I would like to recognise Kate Warhurst, a courageous and compassionate change maker from my electorate, and founder of It's from Elsie. Devastatingly, Kate's beautiful baby girl, Elsie, passed away just seven days after she was born. In her grief, Kate has created an impactful way to honour Elsie's life by creating It's from Elsie, through which picture books are donated to NICUs so parents can read to their babies even when they can't hold them. Recently, what would have been Elsie's third birthday was marked with a special campaign to raise funds for Elsie's House.”
“I ask you to imagine being a child in an unknown place, without a toothbrush, without clothes that fit or without something as simple as a toy or book to call your own. Sadly, this is the reality for thousands of children across Queensland in care or crisis—kids facing neglect, poverty, domestic violence or homelessness. That's why Care Kits for Kids Qld, based in Camp Hill in my electorate of Griffith, is so important. They send a powerful message to children in care or crisis: you matter, and your community cares about you. Each care kit contains essential items, including new clothes, toiletries, books and comfort items, all lovingly packed into a backpack. I was delighted to join co-founder Stephanie and some of their amazing volunteers last month as they celebrated their third birthday.”
“This government has been working incredibly hard for the women of Australia. For generations women have fought to have their health recognised, respected and prioritised. Today, with this Labor government that truly reflects the voices of women, that change is happening. We will continue to stand with women every step of the way, ensuring their health and wellbeing are no longer left behind.”
“This is what you can achieve when you have equal representation in our parliament—a government that deeply understands women's health and the challenges we face, because more than half of the representatives sitting on this side of the House are women. As of May 2025, women make up 56 per cent of the Australian Labor Party caucus in federal parliament, and this Albanese Labor government's cabinet is now the first-ever federal cabinet to be gender equal, with women comprising 11 of the 22 ministers. As Senator Katy Gallagher, Minister for Women, explained earlier this year: And when you have that, the conversations change. And we can see it not only in women's health, but we've been doing it in terms of women's wages, in terms of access to PPL, super on PPL, in women's safety, in women's sport, in housing for women.”