Funding boost for learning centre

By Dion Teasdale
HEALESVILLE Living and Learning Centre has received a $20,000 funding boost that will see its activities in the wider community increased.
Local Government Minister Candy Broad announced the funding at the centre in Badger Creek Road last Thursday, 7 September. She toured the centre a day before announcing major funding increases for neighbourhood houses and learning centres across the state.
On Friday Ms Broad announced the Government would fund 4000 extra hours of activities every week across 299 neighbourhood houses throughout the state.
The $20,000 funding for the Healesville Living and Learning Centre will pay for the employment of the centre’s community development officer for 10 extra hours a week.
The centre’s manager, Karen Kisala, said it would also allow income generated by the centre to be diverted to pay for the increase of administration support.
“This is a real windfall for the learning centre and for the local community,” Ms Kisala said. “It means we will be able to increase our community development activities and foster more partnerships in the wider community.”
Ms Kisala said the funding could allow the centre to expand its administration resources and provide full-time reception facilities five days a week.
“Having reception services from 9am to 5pm five days a week would mean we could better support the community when they come here to access our services,” she said.
Ms Broad said she was pleased to be able to visit Healesville to announce the funding and said she was impressed with the learning centre’s facilities.
“This is a major learning centre and taking a tour of the facility, it’s hard to think of what isn’t here,” she said.
“The centre offers many wonderful opportunities for the community to learn and be engaged.”