STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms SPENDER (Wentworth) (13:30): I'm thrilled to speak about two amazing initiatives from my electorate. The first is Cosy Companion, started by a young constituent Skye and her friend Ina. Both had grandparents in aged care and saw firsthand how isolating that experience can be.

They created a youth led movement where student volunteers spend time with residents, having conversations, doing activities, organising concerts and writing to pen pals, building friendships that span generations. Cosy Companion now collaborates with six schools and 13 aged-care homes across Sydney, with over 50 volunteers having touched the lives of more than 70 elderly Australians.

I commend Skye and Ina for their community spirit, and I look forward to watching that grow. Please get involved if you can. The second is Kids Breaking Bread, started by four local mums who wanted to build stronger ties between communities through their children.

Students from Kincoppal-Rose Bay and Emanuel School came together to make breads that hold deep meaning in both Jewish and Christian cultures. They braided friendship bread, shared stories and simply got to know each other. As co-founder Anna put it, 'The children are actively learning and embracing the similarities in our different cultures.' Both initiatives remind us about the power of connection and what young people can achieve when given the space to lead.

They are both enormously inspiring, and I congratulate everyone involved in Kids Breaking Bread and Cosy Companion for the leadership they're showing in our community.