It’s been a busy month throughout the Oxley electorate.

Firstly, we were fortunate to receive a visit from the Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Shadow Assistant Minister for Innovation, Senator Deborah O’Neill. Senator O’Neill and I hosted the inaugural Oxley Community Mental Health forum with the Salvation Army with over 20 service agencies and organisations in attendance.

This important gathering of mental health services personnel discussed the challenges facing the sector along with opportunities for how we can better support people suffering from mental illness.

Following the forum, Senator O’Neill and I held a planning meeting with Inala Headspace and participated in a walk through of the Inala Community Health Centre.

We also had the privilege of hosting the Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for Education and Shadow Minister for Women Tanya Plibersek.

Tanya and I visited Forest Lake SS and reaffirmed our commitment to needs based funding for all schools. This is a key area for our region to give every student at every school the best chance of success.

Finally, the Shadow Minister for Veteran’s Affairs and Shadow Minister for Defence Personnel Amanda Rishworth joined me to host a Veteran’s Roundtable.

The roundtable featured representatives from each of the electorates RSL Sub Branches including the Forest Lake RSL Sub-Branch.

We have some of the most dedicated and hardworking RSL Sub Branches here in Oxley who all do a tremendous job of representing our veterans. At the roundtable we discussed strategies and programs to better support their invaluable work.

This was followed by a visit to the Cementco Bowls Club, home of the Darra and District RSL Sub Branch to inspect the proposed site of a replica Anzac Cove memorial statue.

Finally, I’d like to wish a big Merry Christmas to all readers and their families. It’s a wonderful time of year to spend with family and friends. If you are travelling over the holiday period, please also remember to drive safely.

I look forward to speaking to you again in the New Year.