Page 1298 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 29 March 2017
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When you have lived experiences like this, you understand the power in your own voice in standing up against the bullying taunts from people who just do not know. To be condemned, time and time again, by members opposite for not understanding, to be accused, time and time again, by members opposite that we are failing to stand up for diversity and inclusion, is, quite frankly, insulting and condescending.
I know exactly what it is like to follow your parents everywhere—from hospital to the post office to your sister’s school—to interpret from the age of seven because even at that age your English is better than your parents’. I know exactly what it is like to see your parents spend hours, dictionary in hand, trying to interpret every single report card that you bring home. I know exactly what it is like seeing your parents get up at four in the morning to go to work in low paid, menial jobs to make ends meet, to set a good example for us, and to do their best to make a positive contribution to Australian society.
I know exactly what it is like to witness your parents kept awake all night, wondering whether the sacrifice they made to pack their bags and move to an unfamiliar country will be worth it for a better future for us.
As the Chief Minister likes to remind us almost every sitting day, ACT Labor was elected by the people of Canberra to govern for the people of Canberra. It is time that the ACT government got on with doing just that.
Better Hearing Australia
MRS KIKKERT (Ginninderra) (6.35): Yesterday I spoke about Heart Support-Australia, a wonderful organisation in my electorate that provides lifelong support to heart patients and their carers. Today I would like to share a few words about another outstanding community service organisation that has a significant presence in the Ginninderra electorate, the ACT branch of Better Hearing Australia.
As a not-for-profit public benevolent institution and recognised charity, Better Hearing Australia has a proud history of over 80 years in providing active support to the hearing impaired community all over Australia. Its origins date back to 1932 and the first meetings of the Victorian Lipreaders Club. In 1935 this community spread to Sydney. Better Hearing Australia first commenced operations in Canberra in 1993 as part of the Sydney branch but has since grown into its own branch, becoming an incorporated association in 2012.
The Better Hearing Australia Canberra group provide assistance to people in the ACT with hearing loss, offering information, education and support. They provide intensive training to numerous committed volunteers who then regularly help hearing impaired people in our community.
Every Tuesday afternoon in Holder and every Tuesday evening at the Woden Hellenic Club, you will find a cheery band of Better Hearing Australia volunteers and an enthusiastic community running and participating in an education program called “hearing loss management”. These sessions are designed to give new skills to those
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