Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to say a big congratulations to Kelly Hansen and her fabulous team at NOVA for Women and Children in Newcastle. They were awarded the 2018 Newcastle Community Group of the Year during the Australia Day ceremonies in Newcastle City Hall this year—and you could not find a more worthy recipient of the Community Group of the Year Award. NOVA for Women and Children is a service that works tirelessly to support women and kids who are at risk of homelessness or are escaping family and domestic violence. They are well known in my community for their very staunch advocacy on behalf of those women and their endless capacity to bring people together in the community.

Last year they opened a new refuge in Newcastle called Trisha's House, which was really borne from the generosity of the local community and, of course, the drive and enthusiasm of NOVA for Women and Children. This is exactly the kind of frontline organisation you would expect this government to support. Instead, every time you cut community legal centres, every time you don't fulfil your community housing agreements and every time you make it difficult for women to access services and financial support, you hurt groups like NOVA. (Time expired)