Neil Para talks

08/09/2026

ᴠɪᴏʟᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴꜱᴛ ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ - ᴡʜᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴅᴏᴍᴇꜱᴛɪᴄ ᴏʀ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴠɪᴏʟᴇɴᴄᴇ - ɪꜱ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ᴘʀɪᴠᴀᴛᴇ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ. ɪᴛ ɪꜱ ᴀ ꜱᴇʀɪᴏᴜꜱ ꜱᴏᴄɪᴀʟ ɪꜱꜱᴜᴇ.

38 more faces have joined the mural since its installation in March. 🔗 https://links.acm.media/IEsGwd

✍📷 Nick Powell

08/09/2026

ʜᴇʀɪᴛᴀɢᴇ ɪɴ ᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛꜱ. ᴀᴜꜱᴛʀᴀʟɪᴀ ɪɴ ᴏᴜʀ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴꜱ.

I welcome the Premier’s message to Victoria’s : “𝐖𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐖𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮.”

and are important. But I believe they should work both ways - between government and community, and between every person who calls home.

When we come to Australia, we should never be asked to forget where we came from. 𝐎𝐮𝐫 #𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭.

But if we choose to make Australia our home - and especially if we make the commitment of Australian citizenship - I believe we also have a to think about 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞.

That contribution doesn't have to be enormous.

It could be at a local community organisation.
Helping a .
Supporting a local .
Joining a sporting club.
Taking part in a .
Helping someone who needs a hand.

Nobody should be forced to . Life is busy, families have responsibilities, and everyone contributes in different ways.

But sometimes our priorities tell a story.

We can find time to gather in large numbers to welcome visiting leaders and celebrate where we came from. That's perfectly understandable - 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.

At the same time, many volunteer organisations across Victoria are struggling to find people willing to give even a few hours to help their local community.

So perhaps we should ask ourselves a simple question:

𝐈𝐟 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲?

For me, this isn't about choosing between heritage and Australia.

We can celebrate Deepawali, Hindu New Year, Holi, Eid, Christmas, Chinese New Year or any other cultural tradition - while also building friendships beyond our own cultural circles.

#𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲.

And when we participate, volunteer, help others and live by the shared values of , and responsibility, we our claim to - not because someone gives us permission, but because 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 #𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 #𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.

I also believe this is how we answer those who mock us for our , , or .

We don't need to respond with anger.

We can respond by 𝐖𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 - as neighbours, volunteers, , , and .

My Australia is big enough for many cultures, many and many .

But it is also an Australia where 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

🇦🇺 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞. 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞. 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲.

#𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 • #𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 • #𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 • #𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 • #𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭
𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐔𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄, 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑.

🇮🇳🇦🇺 ‘WE TRUST YOU. WE RESPECT YOU.’ Victorian Premier Ben Carroll MP has made a direct pitch to the state’s Indian community, hosting a roundtable with community and business leaders.

Read the full story in the first comment 🔗👇

Carroll told attendees:

“We trust Victoria’s Indian community. We respect you. As Premier, I will always stand with you.”

But Indian Victorians are looking for more than warm words.

The community wants action on:
1- anti-Indian racism and abuse
2- rising business and household costs
3- crime and community safety

Luba Grigorovitch MP Paul Edbrooke MP

08/09/2026

“𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬, 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.”

08/09/2026

⚽⚽ Are you our next coach? ⚽⚽
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If you have a passion for helping marginalised and vulnerable people, and have experience coaching soccer (or at least playing at a higher level), this role might be for you.
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Check it out for more info.
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Thanks 🙏💜

Are you motivated to make a positive impact & passionate about health, fitness & wellbeing? Join our Community Street Soccer team!

06/09/2026

Yesterday was Father’s Day.
Today (7/9/26) is the 3rd anniversary of the day my family was finally granted permanent certainty here. It did not come easily. A wonderful Australian community backed us every step of the way, and the Ballarat community stood strong, rallying the wider Australian public to our cause. It was through Ballarat that the rest of Australia learned our story. Ballarat is truly one of the most inclusive, welcoming communities for newcomers.
As a father, I might not remember every single thing I did for my family, but securing this certainty was the greatest achievement for my wife and children. To make this happen, I had to miss out on my children’s childhoods. Everything has a cost, and bringing stability to my family cost a lot. But seeing the happiness on everyone's faces today-not just in my family, but among everyone who believed in us and supported us-makes it worth it.
I hope you had a happy Father’s Day yesterday.

05/09/2026

💙 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 🇦🇺
Today, we celebrate the fathers who work hard, care deeply, guide quietly, and stand beside their families through life’s challenges.

Fatherhood is not only about providing. It is about 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲.
To every father, stepfather, grandfather, father figure, and every man who has played a fatherly role in someone’s life - 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲.

And if you are not a father yourself, perhaps today is a beautiful opportunity to pause and think about 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 - whether he is beside you, far away, or remembered in your heart. Some fathers are with us in person; others continue to guide us through the memories, lessons, and love they left behind.
For me, the values that make a strong family and a strong community are the same values I carry in life:
𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 • 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 • 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 • 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 • 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁
Let’s celebrate fathers today, but also remember that raising the next generation is something we do together - as families, neighbours and a community.

𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨. 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨. 𝘼 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚.

𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.
𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗱𝘀!
- Neil Para

05/09/2026

The numbers don’t lie: the Victorian Coalition has clearly gotten the message on modern representation.
Looking ahead to the upcoming state election, the preselected candidate lists show a massive generational shift. In 2022, only about 35% of Liberal candidates were women, with many placed in tough, outer-metropolitan seats. This time around, we are looking at roughly a 48% split among preselected candidates—and they are running in highly competitive, winnable electorates.
But the evolution doesn't stop at gender parity. The Coalition is building a team that actually reflects modern Victoria:
• LGBTQIA+ Leadership: Prominent local gay businessman and community leader Andy Pobjoy is contesting the critical seat of Geelong.
• CALD Diversity: Strong Culturally and Linguistically Diverse voices like Trung Luu, Roshena Campbell, and Lynda Awad are leading the charge in key multicultural electorates.
• History at the Top: Jess Wilson is leading the Victorian Liberals as the first woman to take the party into a state election.
No rigid, top-down quotas. Just a deliberate, successful focus on recruiting highly qualified, professional, and diverse Victorians who already lead in their communities. It’s a completely fresh look compared to 2022, and a massive step forward for parliamentary representation.