Independent Member for the Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed today thanked Premier Daniel Andrews and Education Minister James Merlino for delivering on their promise to fund Greater Shepparton Secondary College’s new state-of-the-art campus.

“It’s still sinking in and I would like to thank the Premier and Minister for keeping their word and funding this fantastic new campus,” Ms Sheed said.

“Both have visited our region numerous times, and both have sat down with parents, carers, students and teachers. By delivering this $119 million – around $20 million more than originally flagged I might add – together with $21.5 million in last year’s budget, they have demonstrated they understand the needs of our community, the need to super-charge state secondary education in our region to create better pathways and equality of outcomes for some of the most needy students in Victoria.”

Launched in April 2017, the funding announcement forms another milestone in the Shepparton Education Plan, a decade long strategy to revolutionise state education in the Shepparton region.

“This plan is a very deliberate and methodical overhaul of state education in my electorate which targets every level of development, from early childhood through to Year 12 and beyond,” Ms Sheed said.

“We all know why we needed this transformation. For decades, outcomes were not good enough and our state students were neglected for far too long.

“All of that is changing now. The Mooroopna Integrated Early Learning Centre is under construction. Greater Shepparton Secondary College is up and running and now its campus is under construction. The tertiary pathways are expanding. Soon state students in Shepparton will have the kind of opportunities once reserved for their metropolitan counterparts.

“This is a great time for the region and I sincerely thank everyone involved for their persistent advocacy and support.”

ENDS

Media contact

Myles Peterson 0467 035 840│myles.peterson@suzannasheed.vic.gov.au

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As the Coronavirus Pandemic unfolds, Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has been liaising closely with ministers in the Victorian Government advocating for her electorate and the wider regional community.

“These are extraordinary times due to Stage Three Measures and I would like to thank the many ministers for making themselves available on a regular basis to hear my concerns and those of my electorate,” Ms Sheed said.

“Some of our discussions have involved broad areas of advocacy, such as the need to roll out extra online digital tools with Education Minister James Merlino or the pressing issue of family violence, especially for those women experiencing homelessness, with Minister Gabrielle Williams.

“Other communications have included the Treasurer Tim Pallas and the many important projects that have had their funding announcements potentially postponed due to the delayed budget including the Shepparton-Mooroopna Bypass and Greater Shepparton Secondary College’s new campus.”

The plight of regional media during the Coronavirus Pandemic was brought to the attention of Premier Andrews in March and the subsequent $4.7 million assistance package announced in April was timely and well received, according to Ms Sheed.

“My office has also been receiving many individual representations from the community and we have been passing on those concerns to the ministry where appropriate,” Ms Sheed said.

“Last month the Goulburn Valley Aero Club voiced concerns Stage Three Restrictions may prevent necessary maintenance flights and this matter has been brought to the attention of the Premier.

“This is a challenging time and the necessary rules for keeping us all safe and helping to overcome the Coronavirus Pandemic have meant my office is busier than ever as many of my constituents raise their concerns and I would like to reassure my community that the business of government continues.

“These are very unusual circumstances and I commend the premier and cabinet for making themselves regularly available to local members to listen, to take on board any worthwhile suggestions and to respond as needed.”

ENDS

Media contact

Myles Peterson 0467 035 840│myles.peterson@parliament.vic.gov.au

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Independent Member for the Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has called on the Minister for Mental Health Martin Foley to include her electorate in a recently announced funding boost.

On Sunday, the Minister and Premier Daniel Andrews announced an additional $59.4 million to assist Victorians struggling with mental health issues due to the Coronavirus Crisis. The package includes $17.8 million for an additional 170 mental health beds and $7 million to expand “telehealth” mental health services.

While thanking the government for the extra-funding, Ms Sheed raised concerns over how it would be allocated.

“It is clear from the figures that there is an unprecedented number of people seeking mental health support as they work through the lock-down period,” Ms Sheed said.

In a letter sent to the Minister on Tuesday, Ms Sheed called for part of the funding to be directed to her electorate with recent consultations and inquiries finding the need in the Shepparton District was overwhelming.

“You will be aware from the round tables in Shepparton and the evidence before the Royal Commission into mental health services that my region has a great need for improvement in services with a significant lack of mental health beds being readily available within the region,” Ms Sheed wrote.

“I would be grateful if you could provide me with information in relation to this package of additional funding, what services within the Shepparton region you anticipate will benefit by it and how I may be engaged in working with agencies to ensure that their needs are taken into consideration by this funding boost.”

ENDS

Media contact

Myles Peterson 0467 035 840│myles.peterson@suzannasheed.vic.gov.au

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Independent Member for the Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has made an urgent request to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to support regional media at this critical time.

“I was shocked to see The Great Southern Star, Yarram Standard and Sunraysia Daily closed this week at the very time when their respective communities need them,” Ms Sheed said.

“We’ve known for a long-time regional media is in trouble. The Premier and I both attended the Victorian Country Press Association conference late last year where we both heard of the dire state of the industry.”

Rural and regional newspapers, many of them locally owned, are vital in providing accurate and trustworthy information for their communities both in print and online, from court reporting and coverage of local politics to keeping corruption in check, according to Ms Sheed.

“I have contacted the Premier today and requested we find a way to keep regional media afloat as their traditional revenue streams are attacked by the Coronavirus crisis, just as many other businesses are suffering,” Ms Sheed said.

“While the ABC is a valuable source of information, it cannot breach the gap of the hundreds of journalists across the state employed in their respective communities that provide valuable and trusted information; information that is sorely needed during this unprecedented Coronavirus crisis.

“Victorian regional media has been suffering under the threat of digital disruption for more than a decade and many have taken significant steps to diversifying their business and move to their own digital platforms. However, I am extremely concerned this latest crisis will accelerate closures at the exact moment we are relying on them the most.”

ENDS

Media contact

Myles Peterson 0467 035 840│myles.peterson@suzannasheed.vic.gov.au

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Independent Member for the Shepparton District has welcomed a $6 million commitment from Minister for Housing Richard Wynne to help the plight of people experiencing homelessness during the Coronavirus crisis but has expressed concerns the not-for-profit charity sector is suffering staff losses.

“I am extremely concerned by the plight of the homeless during this crisis,” Ms Sheed said.

“The Shepparton District was particularly hard hit by homelessness before the Coronavirus pandemic and I am seeing some very worrying trends emerging as the crisis unfolds.

“Shortages in crisis accommodation and emergency food services were apparent prior to the COVID-19 spread. Now volunteer staff, many of them elderly, are being sent home, services are being stretched to breaking point and donated food supplies are becoming erratic. We need a very deliberate government response to assist these incredibly vulnerable members of our community.”

While making up less than 10 per cent of people experiencing homelessness, Ms Sheed said she was particularly concerned about the plight of rough sleepers.

“These are the most vulnerable. They are generally in poor health. They have limited access to medical care and they cannot self-isolate. If COVID-19 gets into this population the results will be dire.”

Ms Sheed also called for community assistance.

“We know local organisations in the Shepparton District such as FoodShare were struggling before the pandemic and now even more so.

“Donations are desperately needed. Look after yourselves and your own family first, but if you have the capacity, please consider donating any excess stocks of canned foods and hygiene supplies to our local charity organisations.

“Together, we can get through this crisis and together we can lessen the impact on the homeless.”

ENDS

Media contact

Myles Peterson 0467 035 840│myles.peterson@suzannasheed.vic.gov.au

Click here for PDF version