"We've been there for Tasmanians" - opinion piece in the Examiner, 20 September 2024

The recent severe weather events across North and North-West Tasmania brought out the best in our neighbours. Charging phones, sharing hot cuppas, checking on each other; it’s what Tasmanians do.

And while most Tasmanians go that extra friendly mile for each other during an emergency, members of our state’s Neighbourhood House network quietly go there all year round.

The 35 Houses are valued members of communities from King Island to Scottsdale, George Town, Geeveston and many places in between. These local Houses run by local people are trusted by tens of thousands of community members who receive their support and assistance every year.

In part, this trust results from the way Houses authentically reflect the characters of their local communities. It also comes from the ability of House Managers and volunteers to squeeze every bit of help and opportunity they can from each dollar in their budgets, creatively addressing the needs of local people and their families.

Houses are practical places that offer shelter in a storm (sometimes literally!), extend a warm welcome to the socially isolated and support people to connect and navigate housing, financial and legal services. And because they are also warm, personal places, Houses respect the individual needs of those to come through their doors.

Each community’s neighbourhood house is a vital part of the fabric of support that builds local resilience and capability around our state. Together, Tasmania’s Neighbourhood House Network represents the best of our culture of kindness and warm support for each other.

This week, almost 200 House managers, community connectors, staff and volunteers have gathered in beautiful St Helen’s to do something we rarely ever do; take a break from daily work to attend the annual Neighbourhood House Conference where we will connect, reflect on and celebrate what we’ve achieved together during the past 12 months.

Not only do we get to stop and look at all we’ve done in our own communities, but we can also see that our combined efforts are vital to what makes our neighbourhoods the places where we love to live.

The conference gives us all a moment to lift our heads up and affirm that we’re heading towards our shared long-term goal of connecting all Tasmanians to community, support and each other.

I have no doubt that our state’s House Network will return to their communities at the end of the week, ready to build on their positive impact and continue being the best neighbours local people could ask for.

Simone Zell is the CEO of Neighbourhood Houses Tasmania, the peak body representing the state’s 35-House Network.