West Heidelberg Everyday Learning and Growing Project Launched

Sixty families in Melbourne’s West Heidelberg community will be given access to support services with the help of $150,000 in funding under the Howard Government’s Local Answers initiative.

The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, today officially launched the West Heidelberg Everyday Learning and Growing project, to be run by Philip’s Gate Incorporated.

“The three-year project will target families which have a member with a disability, Indigenous families and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds,” Senator Patterson said.

“The project aims to strengthen the community by working to minimise identified risk factors relating to family and community relationships,
socio-economic circumstances, education and employment opportunities.

“The project will promote the importance of life-long learning as a means to maximising personal and family health, development and wellbeing.

“As part of the project, families will have access to facilitated playgroups, a literacy expo, a leadership training program, mentoring and employment programs.

“Philip’s Gate works to provide opportunities for families to access relationship services and employment opportunities, while coordinating community-based education courses in computer literacy, multimedia, art, music and catering.

“A project officer has been engaged to provide regular playgroups as an education tool for young parents in an area which has the highest percentage of single parent households in Melbourne.

“West Heidelberg Everyday Learning and Growing is one of 41 projects approved in Victoria under the second round of Local Answers funding, totalling $5.52 million,” Senator Patterson said.