Learning Links

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-127719

Hansard session: Fifty-Seventh Parliament, First Session (57-1)

Learning Links

Mr MARK COURE (OatleyMinister for Multiculturalism, and Minister for Seniors) (22:41:53):

— I thank and congratulate Learning Links, which is a fantastic education support service within my electorate and which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary this year. Established in 1972 by parents concerned about a lack of education and support services for their children, Learning Links has gradually grown into the large-scale organisation it is today. It now operates five centres throughout Sydney, one of which is in Peakhurst Heights. It provides therapy, education and support services, and a childcare centre to almost 5,000 children and over 3,000 families.

Learning Links runs a number of services that are of great benefit to the local community, including a not‑for‑profit preschool, assessment and intervention programs for children with disabilities, support services and an Out of School Hours Care program. Those services an invaluable asset to the local community and they truly demonstrate Learning Links' core principles of empowerment, collaboration, excellence and integrity. This year, Learning Links collaborated with over 2,500 professionals to support 138 schools and communities across New South Wales. Recently the Government has committed to supporting local families and community Out of School Hours Care programs, like the one operating at Learning Links, through a $155 million program for before- and after-school care vouchers. That has ensured that cost-of-living pressures are eased for thousands of families within the St George area.

It was also great to pay a visit to Learning Links at Peakhurst Heights earlier this year for the launch of its Reconciliation Action Plan. A beautiful artwork was on display, which was painted by Aunty Donna, an Aboriginal Elder who does fantastic outreach work in support of reconciliation efforts throughout New South Wales. Learning Links has recently released its latest impact report and, I must say, it is an interesting read. I was particularly interested in the real-life testimonies of children who have had their lives impacted in some way by Learning Links.

One such testimony was that of a nine-year-old boy, Peter, who struggled with classroom participation as well as literacy and numeracy skills. After Peter was enrolled in an extra support service at Learning Links, his literacy, numeracy and comprehension skills have all improved and his confidence within the classroom has grown. This is one of several success stories that Learning Links shared in its latest impact report.

As I mentioned, Learning Links is celebrating a very important milestone this year: fifty wonderful years of operation. This is a great achievement for any community organisation and especially one which has contributed so much and made such a difference within the local area. Learning Links has continued to grow and cater for the needs of the local community during its time, whilst being supported purely by dedicated contributors, community partners and volunteers. From humble beginnings, Learning Links has grown into a mature organisation that not only supports the local community but has extended its reach all across Australia through its digital channels, now offering telehealth and online therapy services.

I recognise the fantastic efforts of the chief executive officer of Learning Links, Birgitte Maibom. Birgitte works incredibly hard with her team to ensure that children receive the best possible outcomes in their education and wellbeing. I thank the chair, Gregory Wallace, who will celebrate seven years of service at Learning Links this year. Furthermore, I thank the rest of the board, the leadership team and all of the staff who contribute to making Learning Links the institution it is today. Their work does not go unnoticed. Over the years, I have had a number of emails and calls to my office praising the fantastic work that Learning Links does for our local community.

The ability of Learning Links to go above and beyond, as well as its continued dedication and commitment, is something that it should be proud of. Through its hard work the team continues to uphold its reputation and be held in high regard within the community. Organisations like Learning Links are essential for community growth and development. They ensure future generations are confident in their abilities and develop a lifelong love of learning. I am extremely proud to have an organisation of such high calibre operating within my electorate, and I again thank Birgitte and the team for all they have done. Once again, I congratulate Learning Links on 50 years of operation. I look forward to the seventy-fifth and 100th anniversaries, which I am sure are to come.