Peter Hendy (Eden-Monaro, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak about two matters. The first is the Queanbeyan Children's Special Needs Group, which I visited in May this year. Ken Roberts, as CEO, has ably led a truly dedicated team that provides care and teaching for Queanbeyan and district children. He is now retiring from that position, and I wish to publicly thank him for his service. The group offers early intervention for 45 children under school age through home visits and playgroups, support in preschools, assistance with transition to schools, a small toy library, a learn to swim program, speech therapy and wide-ranging parent support. It was inspiring to meet the hard-working staff who have to confront varied challenges. They are very special people helping very special children.

On Friday last week I visited another hard-working service for the less fortunate. HOME at Saint Benedict's Queanbeyan is an interdenominational group inspired by the example of Christ that helps the mentally ill by providing shelter where they can live independently and with dignity and still get the support they need through live-in carers and links to other programs and services. The project provides group accommodation for 19 residents. There I joined Assistant Minister for Social Services, Mitch Fifield, to learn more about this unique model of help for the otherwise homeless. I thank manager, Anne Pratt, and commend HOME Queanbeyan on their mission.