Over 45 community leaders gathered at Coast Shelter in Gosford on July 21 for a breakfast symposium, discussing the current Central Coast housing crisis and topics around women’s safety, community wellbeing and mental health.
Coast Shelter is a not-for-profit organisation providing specialist homelessness services and support programs on the Central Coast.
Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, Emma McBride, and Member for Robertson, Dr Gordon Reid, attended the symposium to answer questions and share thoughts on some key community issues.
“For the first time, we welcomed over 45 community leaders in our humble Coast Community Centre & Restaurant to hear from the Hon Emma McBride MP and Dr Gordon Reid MP,” Coast Shelter CEO, Michael Starr said.
“Some fantastic questions were asked from the floor, and we really felt a sense of positivity for the future of our community.
“I want to thank all the leaders that came down, including Liesl Tesch MP, David Mehan MP, David Harris MP, business leaders from health, food manufacturing, banking, licenced clubs, media, philanthropy and the not-for-profit sector, as well as several Coast Shelter board members and staff.”
Dr Reid said it was great to see leaders from all levels of government, the business community and non-governmental organisations all discussing key issues affecting the Central Coast, such as housing availability, women’s safety and health matters.
“As a member of a new incoming federal government, it was a welcome opportunity to discuss how the federal government that I will be a part of will address these issues and work collaboratively with stakeholders on the Central Coast,” he said.
“I would like to thank Coast Shelter for organising and working so hard to improve the lives of many on the Central Coast.”
McBride said housing and homelessness were significant issues in the community.
“As the Assistant Minister for Mental Health, I understand the strong link between insecure housing and people’s wellbeing,” McBride said.
“That’s why our government is working with community leaders and advocates to create change and work towards a better future for all Australians.”
Hayley McMahon
Coast shelter helped me and my two little boys ,after escaping from domestic violence, and made such a positive impact years on.
The generosity of donations to start again made a huge difference. Will be forever grateful.