Media Release by The Hon Julie Collins MP

Funding Boost to help families in disaster affected Queensland

Joint Media Release with:

  • The Hon Shayne Neumann MP, Member for Blair

The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, and the Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann, today announced the Gillard Government would provide an additional $660,000 to three community organisations in cyclone and flood affected areas in Queensland.

The funding will be shared between Playgroup Queensland, Centacare Toowoomba and Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland, to expand playgroups in flood-affected areas and provide additional counselling services to help people affected by the devastation of the floods.

“Playgroup Queensland will receive $420,000 to replace lost playgroup equipment such as books and toys, and employ new staff to work in expanded playgroups in flood-affected towns,” Ms Collins said.

“Playgroups are an important place for families with younger children. They play an important part in a child’s development, allowing them to renew friendships, develop social skills and gain confidence in a nurturing environment.

“They will be a big help for Queensland families affected by the floods, helping parents establish important social and support networks.”

Mr Neumann said the funding would provide much needed support to the local community.

“The funding to Playgroup Queensland will benefit 39 playgroups in flood-affected areas, including eight across my electorate,” Mr Neumann said.

“We’re also providing additional counselling services to local people, with $120,000 each for Centacare Toowoomba and Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland.

“The floods devastated our region and we want to ensure people get the help they need to deal with what they have been through.
“Centacare Toowoomba and Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland were key agencies in providing counselling support services in the immediate aftermath of the floods.

“This funding will allow them to address the significant demand for counselling services, and to continue to assist our community’s recovery.

“It builds on $1.03 million in emergency relief funding the Gillard Government provided to community and charitable organisations in February to help Queenslanders in flood-affected areas, and $15.7 million to 31 December 2012 in the recent Budget for emergency relief and financial counselling services in disaster affected areas across Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.”