Hemmant Flexible Learning Centre will soon have two new General Learning Areas and associated walkways after Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP today announced a $298,312 Australian Government grant through the Capital Grants Program.

Mr Vasta congratulated Hemmant Flexible Learning Centre on being selected for the grant and said it would be in addition to the record levels of funding the Turnbull Government is investing in schools.

“These funds will ensure students at Hemmant Flexible Learning Centre have the infrastructure necessary to help them get the most out of their time at school,” Mr Vasta said.

Principal of Hemmant Flexible Learning Centre, Paul Flanders said he was pleased with the announcement.

“These additional educational facilities at Hemmant Flexible Learning Centre will be of great benefit to the young people who attend the school,” Mr Flanders said.

“These new rooms will allow for more differentiated and specialised delivery of curriculum to cater for the diverse needs of our student population.”

Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the Capital Grants Program provides funding for non-government schools to improve capital infrastructure where they otherwise may not have access to sufficient resources. 

“The Turnbull Government is committed to improving the quality of our school education and ensuring students have access to the resources they need so they are equipped with the skills to succeed in an increasingly competitive world,” Minister Birmingham said.

“The Turnbull Government believes in an education system that puts students first. That’s why in addition to our Capital Grants Program, our record levels of schools funding will be allocated according to need and tied to a range of evidence-based initiatives. These initiatives will focus on outcomes in literacy, numeracy and STEM subjects, helping lift teacher quality and better preparing our children for life after school.” 

Further information on the Capital Grants Program can be found on the Department of Education and Training website at www.education.gov.au.

8 November 2016

Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta MP, has encouraged the community to honour Remembrance Day and remember every Australian who has made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our nation.

“Remembrance Day on November 11 marks 98 years since the Armistice that ended the First World War,” Ross Vasta said.

“I encourage everyone to pause for one minute’s silence at 11am and to wear a red poppy in memory of our servicemen and women who have lost their lives fighting for our freedom in both World Wars and in all theatres of war and conflict.

“On Remembrance Day we honour more than 102,000 Australians who have died serving our country.

“It is important we keep their memory alive and educate the next generation about their service and sacrifice.”

I’m pleased today to provide a positive update on the nbn rollout in Bonner. Under the Coalition’s revised rollout plan, thousands of people are being connected to the nbn each month. More people can access the nbn every month than Labor managed to connect the entire time they were in office!

The nbn has hit every rollout target the Coalition has set since coming to Government. This includes for Bonner.

Construction of the nbn network is now underway around the Eight Mile Plains and Capalaba exchanges. Right now, 1,100 premises in Eight Mile Plains are being equipped for fibre to the node connections. By Christmas it’s expected construction will begin for around 14,000 premises in the area.

Work is planned to progress south of the Eight Mile Plains site over the next few months. It is also expected to extend west of the Capalaba site, with nbn construction expected to begin in Chandler, Ransome and Gumdale before the end of the year.

There’s also good news for the Mt Gravatt region. Nbn network construction is planned to start in the Mt Gravatt area in the first half of 2017–mainly in areas of Upper Mt Gravatt, stretching toward Mackenzie. This is an area that, thanks to Labor’s mismanagement, has had to wait even longer for superfast broadband.

I’m thrilled for the locals in these areas who’ve been sharing with me for years their frustrations with slow, choppy internet. I’ve fought hard to bring the nbn to Bonner on their behalf and now it’s well on its way.

The vast majority of residents and businesses in Bonner will have access to the nbn in the next few years. Everyone in my electorate will have the nbn by 2020. This is a remarkable achievement and I thank my colleagues and nbn™ for working so hard to make this a reality.

I’d like to speak today about Gundala Kindergarten, an outstanding local institution in Wynnum. Gundala is the only indigenous kindergarten in the local area. They have been meeting the early educational needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children since 1978.

Gundala services Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander families in Wynnum as well as from all over the Brisbane southside. Principal Deb Meates tells me many parents travel for up to half an hour to 45 minutes to bring their children to Gundala.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Gundala with the Cabinet Secretary. We saw firsthand the outstanding services they provide. Gundala offers a deeply-imbedded cultural program based on Quandamooka culture that teaches Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander culture to its students. This is a great example of the importance of Government funding for early childhood learning.

Over the last year Gundala has been raising funds for a school bus. They decided on the bus after looking at studies and recognising the barriers for some Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander families in getting their children to school. I’m pleased to report they now have a new bus!

Deb has also told me about their side project to have a local Indigenous artist design a mural that will go up on the bus as well as the Gundala building. I commend Gundala for their work closing the gap for local Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander families and making available to them these services and opportunities.

Today I rise to reflect on the enormous contribution Australia’s informal carers make to our nation. I’d also like to inform the House on how Bonner will be celebrating its local carers this National Carer’s Week.

National Carer’s Week is a time to celebrate and honour our unpaid carers. More importantly, it’s a time to raise awareness of the work carers do and the huge difference they make. There are over 2.8 million unpaid carers in Australia. The unpaid work they put in represents close to 2 billion hours a year.

Carers deserve our appreciation and support. That’s why I’m pleased to have partnered with FSG Australia to host a Carers Morning Tea in Wynnum this Friday. Carers from the Wynnum-Manly community are invited to attend. This will be a great opportunity for local carers to learn more about the support services available to them.

As one of my constituents Gillian has put it to me, it’s important to let carers know they’re not alone and that there’s help out there for them. Gillian had to give up full-time work to care for her father for five years, while also caring for her multiple handicapped son. She tells me people often struggle to understand just how difficult it is for carers in her position. 

This is why I continue to be a proud supporter of National Carers Week. The amazing contribution our unpaid carers make can’t be stated enough. I thank FSG for giving me the chance to personally acknowledge local carers and the vital role they play in our society.

This Friday, 21 October, FSG Australia (FSG) and Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta MP, will be coming together to host a Carers Morning Tea at the FSG Café in Wynnum during National Carer’s Week, to celebrate Australia’s more than 2.8 million unpaid carers.

“Unpaid carers are often performing this role for a loved one or family member, and it can often lead to levels of social isolation, as well as personal and financial stress. An estimated $1.9 billion of care is provided by this group and without them, aged and disability care would simply be unaffordable. It is therefore important to recognise the work they do. Events like this during National Carer’s Week are a small gesture from our community to say thank you,” says Ross Vasta MP.

FSG Australia provides supports to Australians who care for parents, children, relatives, partners and friends, through workshops, courses, respite services and information provision.

“Carers come from every area of our community. Not many people know that more than 300,000 of Australia’s unpaid carers are younger than 25. The role is often performed without support or recognition. We wanted to come together in our local community to demonstrate community support for our carers and let them know what they do counts,” says Sharon Munn, FSG Senior Coordinator, Aged and Carer Services.

“It’s important that people understand how difficult and isolating being a carer can be. I had to give up work to look after my late father for five years, while also caring for my multiple handicapped son. I’m glad we have events like this in our local area that let carers know they’re not alone and that there’s support out there for them,” says Gillian Dowling from Wynnum West.

FSG and Ross Vasta have invited carers from the local Wynnum/Manly community to attend the morning tea to acknowledge the vital role they play in our society.

Event details:
10am, Friday 21 October
FSG Café, 70-72 Edith Street, Wynnum

Today I rise to speak about a stalwart of the Wynnum community that, sadly, has shut its doors last week after 60 years of service. It’s with great sadness I announce that Bayside Electrical Services is no longer. I’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on the difference this small business on Tingal Road has made in the community over the last 60 years, thanks to its owner Brian Turpin.

Brian first opened Bayside Electrical back in 1957 when he was just 21 years old. He speaks with pride about the rundown 1938 Bedford he bought for 350 pounds back in the day, and restored to use for his business.

From there, Bayside Electrical became a fixture of the Wynnum area, known and loved by all. Brian didn’t just provide outstanding products and service; he also donated generously to local community groups. He made a difference to so many and asked for no recognition in return.

I was touched to receive a call from Brian’s granddaughter Kayleene last week inviting me to come down to shake Brian’s hand at the very last close of business. I could see how much the shop had meant to him, and I could see how much it had meant to the people of Wynnum.

Congratulations to Brian on a well-deserved retirement. Your generosity has been an inspiration. I wish you all the best in the future.

Today I’d like to speak on one of the most serious health issues this country faces: type 1 diabetes. I’d like to share the personal stories of some of my constituents who have type 1 diabetes, to highlight the importance of this issue and to show what this Government is doing to support diabetics and their families.

Type 1 diabetes is not preventable or curable. It’s a chronic, life-long and life-threatening condition. Type 1 diabetics face a constant struggle to keep their blood sugar levels stable. Without around-the-clock checks the consequences can be dire. This ranges from minor complications to something as terrible as passing away in one’s sleep from Dead in Bed Syndrome.

Many parents have shared with me the stress and anxiety of life with a child with type 1 diabetes. Imagine living with the fear your little one might not wake up every time they go to sleep. One mother wrote to me about the constant battle to keep her 2-year-old boy’s sugar levels within a safe range. This little boy has to be woken by his parents several times in the night to monitor his blood sugar levels.

Another father shared with me how he has to check his 6-year-old son three times a night, every night, and spend hours getting his blood sugar back to normal. He gets 20 minutes of sleep between checks. Just imagine the toll this would take.

That’s why I was thrilled when the Coalition Government announced in May this year that it will invest $54 million to subsidise continuous glucose monitoring technology for children and young adults under 21 to help them manage their type 1 diabetes. Our commitment to subsidise CGM devices on the National Diabetes Services Scheme will benefit an estimated 4000 young diabetics.

CGM devices help children and their parents monitor their blood sugar levels around the clock through a small, wearable device that will instantly warn them if glucose levels are getting too low. This removes the need to draw blood through a finger prick multiple times a day. 

I’ve received overwhelming support for this initiative from my constituents. One young woman who’s already trialled the technology told me it’s saved her many times. She’s able to sleep right through the night for the first time in five years! The peace of mind CGM devices give to type 1 diabetics is priceless and I’m proud to be part of a Government that’s supporting the use of this amazing technology.

I’m also proud to support initiatives working toward a cure for type 1 diabetes. Just recently I met with Cheryl Burton and her 18-year-old son Joshua. Josh has been living with type 1 diabetes since he was 4 years old. He’s passionate about a cure that would help him and thousands of others live a normal life free of fingerpicks and the lingering fear that comes with this autoimmune disease.

Right now Josh is fundraising for the JDRF One Walk. JDRF’s mission is to raise funds for scientific research to better treat, prevent, and ultimately cure type 1 diabetes. The JDRF One Walk is the world’s biggest type 1 diabetes fundraising event, raising over $85 million each year for life-changing research. Well done to Josh for supporting this vital cause. I wish him all the best in future.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, life-threatening disease that sadly is too often confused with type 2 diabetes, which is caused by lifestyle factors. I will continue to raise awareness of this condition and I will continue to support this Government’s efforts to support Australians living with type 1 diabetes.