Communities in Melbourne will have more say on the issues that matter to them with the continuation of the important work of the Metropolitan Partnerships for the next four years.
Minister for Suburban Development Shaun Leane congratulated 25 new and 33 ongoing community members who will engage with their communities to identify key priorities in areas such as health, jobs and skills, housing, transport, social inclusion and the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Partnership members cover six metropolitan regions: Northern, Southern, Western, Eastern, Inner Metro and Inner South-east.

Partnership members represent the diverse communities in which they live, 33 members are female, 17 members are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including five members of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, and three members live with a disability.

Initiatives include work championed by Northern Partnership member Esme Bamblett, who now leads the Aboriginal Metropolitan Partnerships Development Fund project.
As part of her role with the Metropolitan Partnerships, Dr Bamblett worked with the Aboriginal leaders on each Partnership to develop the Elders Cultural Wellbeing project, which focuses on Elders across Melbourne experiencing isolation due to COVID-19.

This $250,000 project, delivered by the Aborigines Advancement League, is funding which yarning circles with Elders to better understand their needs, support cultural wellbeing and provide resources to reduce social isolation and loneliness.

Other examples include targeted mental health support for diverse communities, including single mothers from African communities, with CoHealth receiving $50,00 through the Western Metropolitan Partnership.

Almost $11 million in the Victorian Budget 2021/22 was allocated to the Metropolitan Partnerships to further support Melbourne’s communities as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the full list of Metropolitan Partnership members, visit suburbandevelopment.vic.gov.au/partnerships.