The Prime Minister visited ASC and announced the Government will provide $214 million for the next stage of the Future Submarine Project. The subs will be assembled in SA. This is great news for jobs in the Port and Peninsula. More

As well as holding regular street corner meetings, Mark likes to get out and about in the community meeting and chatting to local residents. If you'd like any information about the Federal electorate of Port Adelaide, please give the office a call on 8242 0733.

Mark took part in the ANZAC Day service at the Semaphore Memorial and was represented at the Port Adelaide Naval Association's service. It was terrific to see so many turn out to remember the contribution of those in wars past, and also pay tribute to the thousands of men and women who are serving us today. Lest we forget.

Mark and State Education Minister Grace Portolesi officially unveiled the new mosaic at Nazareth Catholic College. The mosaic was designed by artist Gail Donavan and put together by local mums working with art teacher Ilvanna Mittiga. It represents the terrific community spirit at the school and within the Nazareth community.

Mark attended the official opening of new facilities at Settllers Farm Primary and Junior Schools. The Federal Government provided $5.85 million for undercover shade areas, new classrooms, a green upgrade with a recycled water and irrigation system, and a significant upgrade to ICT infrastructure and hardware across the campus.

Mark attended the 2012 Semaphore Greek Cultural Festival. The festival is held for two days each January, and showcases Greek culture, food and heritage. The 2012 festival marks 33 years of Greek community involvement and celebration at Semaphore.

Over 220 local seniors joined Mark at the Port Adelaide "National Conversation on Ageing" Forum. The views of local seniors are helping to guide the Gillard Government's aged care reform proposals being led by Mark as Minister for Ageing.

Mark participated in two Parliament Alive events in the electorate recently. Students at Portside Christian School and Salisbury Downs Primary School spent the day with staff from the Parliamentary Education Office, learning about how parliament works and Australia's system of democracy. Students participated in a parliamentary role play, and were also able to ask Mark questions about his day to day work as the Local Federal MP.

Mark and his staff recently took part in a local community arts project run by the Port Adelaide Artists Forum. Local community groups came together to build giant paper lanterns for a river parade. The lanterns were paraded at dusk on the Port River as part of the official opening celebrations of the new home for Dragon Boat SA and the Port Adelaide Artists Forum. The groups now share the old Port River Sailing Club building on the Port River.

The Gillard Government is investing $2.5 billion over 10 years to give every senior high school student in Australia access to a Trade Training Centre (TTC). Nine schools in the electorate of Port Adelaide have benefitted from the initiative, which offers a quality pathway into a trade vocation and helps improve Year 12 retention rates.

Mark joined in Australia Day celebrations and welcomed new citizens at Carisbrooke Park in Salisbury.

Congratulations to Susan Close on her election as the new State Member for Port Adelaide. Mark looks forward to working with Susan and her new team.

Mark attended the Man Alive Festival at Semaphore, a local event raising awareness about the importance of Men's Health in the community.

The Australian Government has embarked on the most comprehensive review of school funding since 1973.

Mark encourages all families, teachers and principals to get involved in public or online forums as they are announced in the coming months.

Clink on the link to learn more ... More

More than 2000 people per week will use the new Burton Park and Adams Oval facilities for structured sport, officially opened by Mark recently.

At Burton Park, three full sized soccer pitches and two large regional playgrounds have been constructed. At Adams Oval, there's a new soccer pitch, new lighting, and upgraded clubrooms, 100 new carparks and improved power supply.

The Australian Government invested $4.36 million in the projects through the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.

The Local Sporting Champions program is an Australian Government initiative designed to provide financial assistance for young people aged 12-18 towards the cost of travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment when competing, coaching or officiating at an official national sporting organisation (NSO) endorsed state or national sporting championships or a School Sport Australia national championships.

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Mark's next round of street corner meetings kicks off shortly in the inner west and northern areas of the electorate - keep an eye out for an invite.

Local schools continue to benefit from the roll out of the Building the Education Revolution with new classrooms, school halls, science and language centres. Largs Bay Primary School, Salisbury Downs Primary School, Mawson Lakes School and Our Lady of the Visitation are just some of the local schools to share in the Government's $16.2 billion investment.

Mark met with Uniting Care Wesley in Port Adelaide to discuss how the Government will work with the community to help people who are both long term unemployed and living with a mental illness lead more socially and economically productive lives. More than $78 million over five years is available to support some of the most marginalised members of the community to find and retain employment.

Mark attended the opening of the new headquarters of the largest defence project in SA - the construction of three new warships at the Techport precinct. More than 800 people are working on the new destroyers, with the number expected to increase to more than 1000 in 2012. The project could see an investment of up to $2 billion here in SA and that means jobs for the local community.

Mark was appointed Federal Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister for Social Inclusion and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform in December 2011 and relishes the opportunity to work in these portfolios at a time when the Australian Government is committed to delivering long lasting reforms to these sectors.

Woodville High School, Seaton High,
Le Fevre High School, Mount Carmel College, Portside Christian School, Croydon's Islamic College, Ocean View College, Parafield Gardens High and Paralowie R-12 have all secured funding for access to world-class education and training facilities through the Australian Government's Trade Training Centres in Schools program. The Government's $2.5 billion program aims to increase educational and training opportunities for young people, creating a pathway to future employment opportunities.

Mark recently met with the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman highlighting community concerns about aircraft noise in the electorate.  More