Community involvement

Neighbourhood House Coordination Program

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A neighbourhood house is where people can become involved in community events, find out about other services or activities in the area, join a class or support group or take up an activity for fun and enjoyment.

About the Neighbourhood House Coordination Program

The Neighbourhood House Coordination Program (NHCP) provides funding to over 350 neighbourhood houses and neighbourhood house networks across Victoria to:

1. Support the provision of community development programs and activities which lead to community-strengthening outcomes through:

  • Supporting diversity by promoting community participation and inclusion
  • Facilitating community development and capacity building in support of individuals and groups within communities
  • Supporting life-long learning opportunities for people to improve their training and employment pathways and community participation

2. Support community development processes to address locally identified priorities and needs through:

  • Community consultation
  • Development of agreed community responses to identified priorities and needs
  • Identification of partners and funding sources.

Capital works non-recurrent grants- closed to applications

As part of the 2018-19 Victorian State Budget non-recurrent funding of up to $450,000 is available for neighbourhood houses for:

  • Up to $30,000 to support small scale infrastructure modifications to improve accessibility
  • Up to $10,000 for minor works, equipment and information and communication technology upgrades.

2018-19 funding increase- closed to applications

Through the 2018-19 State Budget the Victorian Government has committed an additional investment of $21.8 million over four years for the Neighbourhood House Coordination Program for:

  • Additional coordination hours to funded houses receiving less than 25 hours per week
  • Increased funding to Neighbourhood House Networks to deliver additional hours of support to neighbourhood houses
  • Coordination hours available to new or existing unfunded neighbourhood houses. Newly funded houses are listed below.
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  • Newly funded neighbourhood houses

    This funding was for coordination hours for new or existing unfunded neighbourhood houses. Eligible organisations were able to apply for up to 25 coordination hours per week. The successful recipients of this funding are:

    • Ballarat East Neighbourhood Centre
    • Bruthen and District Neighbourhood House
    • Charlton Neighbourhood House
    • Chiltern Neighbourhood House
    • Continuing Education and Arts Centre of Alexandra Inc. (CEACA)
    • Eynesbury Neighbourhood House
    • Fraser Rise Neighbourhood House
    • Geelong West Neighbourhood House Inc.
    • Glen Eira Adult Learning Centre (GEALC)
    • Greenbrook Community House
    • Hunt Club Community and Arts Centre
    • Kirrip Aboriginal Corporation
    • Kororoit Creek Neighbourhood House Inc.
    • Leopold Community and Learning Centre
    • Lynbrook Community Centre
    • Marley Street Community Hub
    • Marong Neighbourhood House
    • Mernda Community House
    • Nagambie Lakes Community House
    • Nairm Marr Djambana
    • Segue Community Hub and Arts Café
    • Selandra Community Hub
    • The Grange Community Centre
    • West Warrnambool Neighbourhood House
    • Westall Activity Hub
    • Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association
    • Wyndham Aboriginal Community Centre

  • Neighbourhood house coordination program guidelines 2016 to 2019

    The Neighbourhood house coordination program guidelines 2016-2019 provide information to organisations funded under the Neighbourhood House Coordination Program.

    The guidelines explain:

    • Funding and reporting requirements
    • Governance arrangements
    • The roles and responsibilities of committees of management
    • Networks and coordinators.

    They also include a sector guide about how to implement a community development model of the program.

    All members of committees of management, coordinators and networkers are encouraged to read the guidelines to inform the operation of their neighbourhood house program. For more information, see Related resources.

    Note: To request accessible versions of the Neighbourhood Houses survey 2015 and the Multiple Benefits - Neighbourhood Houses survey 2013 contact Neighbourhood Houses Victoria.

  • About neighbourhood houses

    Neighbourhood houses are not-for-profit centres where people of all abilities, backgrounds and ages can come to:

    • Meet, talk and make friends
    • develop new skills, transition to work and further study, volunteer
    • become involved in community events
    • find out about other services or activities in the area
    • join a class or support group, or take up an activity for fun and enjoyment.

    Neighbourhood houses usually operate with income from low-cost activities and input from volunteers. Funding from other areas, including government grants, help the houses to provide a range of activities for their communities.

  • Inclusive communities resource manual

    A guide to the inclusion of people with intellectual and psychiatric disabilities into Neighbourhood Houses, Learning Centres and other community managed organisations.

    This manual is designed to meet the needs of community based organisations wanting to improve the way in which they include people with disabilities.

    Most community organisations are not disability specific. They are generalist, managed by volunteer committees of management and often run by part time staff with help of volunteers. The practices recommended here are aimed at people with little or no training in the disability area.

    Many organisations are already implementing good practices in inclusion. For these organisations, it is hoped that this manual will provide not only affirmation of what they are already doing well but will also provoke new ideas.

    For others who are less sure of their practices, or who are finding themselves having to reevaluate programs and policies in the face of changing conditions, this manual is designed as a reference.

    Implementation of good practice makes demands on time and resources. Community based organisations are often short of both. However, this manual is not a set of rules. It is simply a collection of recommendations, which can be applied as is most practicable. For more information, see Related resources.

Contacts
Community Capacity Building
NHCP@dhhs.vic.gov.au
Neighbourhood Houses Victoria
03 9602 1228
info@nhvic.org.au
Shop B41, Level 4, 744 Bourke Street, Docklands VIC, 3008
Neighbourhood Houses Victoria