Wednesday 2 March 2022

As Victoria opens up and people seek opportunities to re-connect with their community, around 50 Neighbourhood Houses have adopted the 'Chatty Cafe' concept.

Originating in the UK in 2017, Chatty Cafes provide an open invitation for community members from all walks of life to congregate at a local venue and have a chat over a cup of tea.

Neighbourhood Houses Victoria CEO Nicole Battle recently attended an official launch event in Bayside, with the Minister for Local Government, Suburban Development and Veterans, Shaun Leane, and Member for Northern Metropolitan Region, Fiona Patten (pictured above with Nicole and Managing Director Glenys Reid), among others.

"The concept is so simple, yet so effective,” Nicole said.

"Loneliness and social isolation are major issues in today's society, and this has only been exacerbated by the long periods of lockdown Victoria has experienced over the last two years. Not only could we not catch up with family and friends, we also missed out on a lot of those daily incidental interactions we experience, but don’t realise are also so important.

"Now that things are returning to as close to normal as they can in a post-COVID world, it's definitely the optimal time for Neighbourhood Houses to embrace this initiative.”

Nicole welcomes community members to Rosanna Fire Station Community House's very first Chatty Cafe.

Chatty Cafe Scheme Australia Manager Director Glenys Reid said Chatty Cafes were a simple way to encourage community connections and improve mental health outcomes in local communities.

"We are so happy to see so many Neighbourhood Houses in Victoria jump on board," Glenys said.

"This is going to have such a positive impact on the mental health and enjoyment of life for so many community members.

"Through chatty cafes, special connections are made. Strangers become friends. It gives people a social outlet; something they can look forward to."

"I hope we see even more Neighbourhood Houses join us in the future."

Highett and Hampton Community Centres were early adopters of the Chatty Cafe concept, which has been a successful way of drawing people to their centres and sparking connections: 

Neighbourhood Houses Victoria hosted an information session for the sector in August 2021. You can watch this here.

To sign up your organisation as a Chatty Cafe, register here.

List of Neighbourhood Houses running a Chatty Cafe

Click on the organisation name to find out more about when their Chatty Cafe meets.

Neighbourhood House	Address
Alexandra Community Hub	38A Downey St, Alexandra
Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre	11 Tuppen Dr, Sebastopol
Ballarat East Neighbourhood House	39 Barkly St, Ballarat East
Castlefield Community Centre	505 Bluff Rd, Hampton
Caulfield South Community House	450 Kooyong Rd, Caulfield South
Central Ringwood Community Centre	Bedford Park, Rosewarne Lane, Ringwood
Chelsea Heights Community Centre	160 Thames Promenade, Chelsea Heights
Cheltenham Community Centre	8 Chesterville Rd, Cheltenham
Cobram Community House	43-45 Punt Rd, Cobram
Community Learning Centre	40 Fulham Rd, Rowville
Craigieburn Education & Community Centre	20 Selwyn Ave, Craigieburn
Darley Neighbourhood House and Learning Centre	35 Jonathan Dr, Darley
Dingley Village Neighbourhood Centre	31B Marcus Rd, Dingley Village
Dromana Community House	15 Gibson St, Dromana
Elwood St Kilda Neighbourhood Learning Centre	85-87 Tennyson St, Elwood
Foundation Learning Centre	1 Malcolm Ct, Narre Warren
Hamilton Community House	19 Sedgewick St, Hamilton
Hampton Community Centre	14 Willis St, Hampton
Highett Neighbourhood Community House	2 Livingston St, Highett
Karingal PLACE Neighbourhood Centre	103 Ashleigh Ave, Frankston
Kerrie Rd Neighbourhood House	36 Kincumber Dr, Glen Waverley
Leopold Community & Learning Centre	31-39 Kensington Rd, Leopold
Living & Learning Nillumbik - Diamond Creek	119 Cowin St, Diamond Creek
Living and Learning @ Ajani	u2/284 Thompsons Rd, Templestowe
Longbeach PLACE	15 Chelsea Rd, Chelsea
Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre	52-54 Derwent Dr, Long Gully
Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre
Mackie Rd Neighbourhood House	36-42 Mackie Rd, Mulgrave
Mordialloc Community Centre	115A Warren Rd, Parkdale
Mornington Community House	3/91 Wilsons Rd, Mornington
Mount Eliza Neighbourhood House	90 Canadian Bay Rd, Mount Eliza
North Carlton Railway Neighbourhood House	20 Solly Ave, Princes Hill
Patterson Lakes Community Centre	54-70 Thompson Rd, Patterson Lakes
Paynesville Neighbourhood Centre	55 Esplanade, Paynesville
Phoenix Park Neighbourhood House	22 Rob Roy Rd, Malvern East
Port Fairy Community House	5 Railway Place, Port Fairy
Red Cliffs Community Resource Centre	23 Indi Ave, Red Cliffs
Rosanna Fire Station Community House	232 Lower Plenty Rd, Rosanna
Seawinds Community Hub	11A Allambi Ave, Capel Sound
Simpson & District Community Centre	11 Jayarra St, Simpson
Sundowner Community Centre	Community Hall, 24 Sundowner Ave, Clarinda
The Grange Community Centre	260-280 Hogans Rd, Hoppers Crossing
Warragul Community House	138 Normanby St, Warragul
West Footscray Neighbourhood House	Level 1/539 Barkly St, West Footscray
Wonthaggi Neighbourhood Centre at Mitchell House	6 Murray St, Wonthaggi
Woodend Neighbourhood house	47 Forest St, Woodend
Yarrunga Community Centre	76-86 Croydon Hills Dr, Croydon Hills
Yarraville Community Centre	59 Francis St, Yarraville