About 40 representatives of charities and not-for-profit groups came together at The Entrance Community Centre, on Wednesday, May 16, to share ideas about community engagement and building social capital at the ‘ Reconnected ’ roundtable.
“While the Turnbull Government is working in Parliament to stifle the voice of our charities, Labor is listening to the sector to hear how we can ensure that our communities have stronger bonds and louder voices,” said the Member for Dobell, Ms Emma McBride. “Worrying trends have emerged over the course of the last generation,” Ms McBride said. “Australians are less likely to join community organisations or play organised sports, and recent years have recorded troubling dropoffs in volunteering rates and donation rates,” she said.
“These are the trends that Labor is trying to reverse, as we hear from charities and organisations about what they’re doing to foster community spirit and build social capital at a local level,” she said. Shadow Assistant Treasurer, Mr Andrew Lee, said: “Today‘s was the 12th Reconnected Roundtable, following on from successful forums elsewhere.
“Across these forums, we have had the chance to meet with more than 1,100 Australian charities,” Mr Lee said. The Entrance Roundtable included representatives from: Regional Youth Support Services; The Benevolent Society; Coast Shelter; Central Coast Community Council; Bateau Bay Neighbourhood Centre; PCYC Bateau Bay; Toukley Neighbourhood Centre; and Meals on Wheels.
Source: Media release, May 16 Alysson Watson, office of Emma McBride