From Rebecca's Desk
Welcome back to my Albany Update newsletter for the Noongar season of Bunuru (February to March).
Ministerial Visits
I accompanied Minister Don Punch MLA as he toured local businesses and community facilities to better understand their needs.
We toured Albany Community Care Centre to witness first hand their great services and programs, which was invaluable for Minister Punch as Minister for Disability Services.
The Minister and I also toured the Albany Seafoods facility in relation to the Regional Development portfolio alongside Great Southern Development CEO Natasha Monks.
It was great to see this facility, run by well-known fishing industry stalwarts, the Westerberg family, who are continually finding innovative ways to expand their offerings in the domestic seafood market.
I also hosted Training Minister Simone McGurk for a tour of the major upgrade now underway at South Regional TAFE's Albany campus.
It was brilliant to see work on the $22.17 million new trades workshop which showcases the local talent of local builders Wauters Building Company and Albany architectural firm H+H Architects on a significant infrastructure project.
The facility will be used to deliver training in traditional trades such as automotive, metals and engineering, and electrical and plumbing.
The state-of-the-art workshops will replace the ageing 50-year-old trade facilities and will provide a contemporary training setting in line with local industry needs.
The upgrades include construction of new specialist workshops for heavy and light auto, metals fabrication and electrical and plumbing, and new contemporary classroom spaces for students that will replicate on the job working environments.
The project also includes upgrades to the existing Skills Training Workshop, and a new classroom for training of working at heights and confined spaces.
After completion of the main trade workshop project, a separate project will be initiated to create a new carpentry and joinery workshop for the precinct.
The new facilities will allow more young people and local jobseekers access to specialist trade training in the region, with student capacity expected to increase by approximately 20 per cent.
The project employs more than 200 workers throughout construction, including apprentices and trainees and is expected to be completed in mid-2024.
A Message from Westminster
I write to you on my return from the 71st Westminster Seminar in London, where I had the honour of representing the Western Australian Parliament at the Commonwealth Day 2023 events at Westminster Abbey.
I've had so many incredible experiences that it's hard to pick out just a few! This past week, I have:
🔸 Chaired a session on Ensuring Representation and Diversity In Parliament with the Hon Minister Diana Gamage, State Minister of Tourism, Parliament of Sri Lanka and Sen Hezena Lemaletian, Parliament of Kenya. It was powerful, passionate and confronting.
🔸 I was London for the first Commonwealth Day message by His Majesty King Charles III, where he honoured his late Mother’s love of the Commonwealth.
🔸 I gave the final address to delegates on Friday after a week chock full of engagements in incredible venues such as Westminster Abbey, Speaker's House in the Palace of Westminster, House of Lords and the House of Commons.
It's been a welcome extension to the community work my team and I put in over the first couple of months over the year in Albany and I will treasure the memories and experiences for a lifetime.
Staffing Update
During this time I also said farewell to two valued team members and welcomed two others to the team. Kenneth John has moved to Perth to work with Dr Katrina Stratton MLA and Jo Taylor has taken on a position with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Local Karen Timmins joined the team to work alongside Tricia Darling, me and Claire Hanson.
Activities in the first three months of the year included:
🔸 Travelling to Hobart, Tasmania with the Joint Standing Committee on the Commissioner for Children and Young People as part of our inquiry into the most effective ways for Western Australia to address food insecurity issues for young people.
🔸 Announcing grants for Albany, including $447,333 to assist with construction of six tennis courts at Centennial Park Sporting Precinct Albany as part of the Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund.
🔸 Attending Pride Festival Fair Day to present a Lotterywest grant and taking part in the Albany Pride Regional Summit – Pride In Diversity event along with local farmer Nigel Moir and Interim CEO Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kristen Pyrz-Brown.
RAT Kits Available
If you, your family or your Albany-based community or sporting group require RAT kits, please contact my office on 9841 8799. We still have plenty to distribute to the community on behalf of the WA Government.
Rebecca Stephens MLA | Member for Albany