Angela Stathopoulos Angela is the Principal Executive Officer at Prahran Community Learning Centre. Expand Tell us about your experience in the sector? I have been fortunate to be involved in the neighbourhood house sector for almost 20 years. I wanted a little break from teaching and thought, "this might be fun for a year" before intending to head back to teaching. 20 years later, and I am still loving this sector! I commenced at Prahran Community Learning Centre (PCLC) as the youth admin officer and have been the Principal EO for the last 12 years. In my time at PCLC, I have successfully registered the organisation as a Non Mainstream Senior Secondary School, an Occasional Child Care Service as well as multiple other new accreditations. PCLC is also a proud Rainbow Tick accredited organisation. What makes being part of the neighbourhood house sector so special? Most definitely the human interactions on a daily basis. The people I meet, the stories I hear, the impact we have on people's lives. The neighbourhood house sector is such a unique and special sector - creating connections on a daily basis. What do you hope to achieve in your time on the NHVic Board? I am passionate about creating change for intent and purpose. I hope that I am able to enhance the work that previous Board members have commenced and continue to build on working towards the most positive outcomes for members of our sector. As President of the Board, I want to be able to visit houses and actively listen to challenges they may be experiencing in their communities. I want to be fully informed when I Chair the Board meetings so that the Board can respond to matters which are relevant and current. What passions or interests take up your spare time? I am an avid vintage and thrift shopper! The thrill of finding that perfect piece is a never ending desire of mine. I actively try and only wear resold items as I am conscious of the enormous issue of clothing wastage in our landfills. Sustainability of clothing is an issue I am constantly aware of and work towards trying to make a difference. Tell us a quote that inspires the work you do If I had to choose a favourite, it would have to be, "If you don't choose to do it in leadership time up front, you do it in crisis management time down the road" - Stephen Covey
David Pearce David is a Committee Member at West Footscray Neighbourhood House. Expand David has been a West Footscray Neighbourhood House committee member since 2014, serving as Treasurer and Vice Chair. He specialises in risk management and compliance. “I’m passionate about being involved with and developing the West Footscray community. I look forward to bringing my experience with risk management and insurance to the NHVic Board.”
Elizabeth Bonner Elizabeth is the Chief Executive Officer at Cloverdale Community Centre. Expand Elizabeth was newly elected in November 2021. More information to come.
Greg Ferrington Greg is the Manager at Wyndham Park Community Centre. Expand Tell us about your experience in the sector? I have served on the boards of neighbourhood houses in both Victoria and Queensland for over 30 years. I have worked at Banksia Gardens Community Services, managed Manor Lakes Community Centre and Tarneit Community Learning Centre, and for the last three years, have been the current manager of Wyndham Park Community Centre. I am also the ACFE Regional Chairperson for North West Melbourne. I am proud of the fact that I have visited over 50 houses across the state and have built amazing partnerships with some of our rural/regional houses. What makes being part of the neighbourhood house sector so special? The collaboration that occurs across our sector and how we have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. What do you hope to achieve in your time on the NHVic Board? To continue to represent all houses across the state and foster greater partnerships between metro and rural/regional houses. What passions or interests take up your spare time? I love my beautiful dogs and the love they give unconditionally. I love eating out and enjoy traveling when we get the chance. Tell us a quote that inspires the work you do? "Inclusivity has to be seen as a benefit to the community. The lack of diversity has to be seen as a detriment to that community."
Helen Rodd Helen is the Treasurer at Tin Shed – St Albans Community Youth Club. Expand Helen was newly elected in November 2021. More information to come.
Jennifer Keerie Jennifer is the Manager at Milpara Community House. Expand Tell us about your experience in the sector? I was completely new to the neighbourhood house sector when I arrived in Victoria. The underpinning framework of community development was what attracted me to this line of work. My former work roles included citizen advocacy (for people with disability, most vulnerable, most at risk), service provision for people with disability using recreation activities as the method of engagement, local government, and legal practice. I’ve been a member of Rotary, on the board of Neighbourhood Houses Gippsland, currently on the South Gippsland Bass Coast Local Learning Employment Network, the Korumburra Business Association, the Korumburra Round Table, the Korumburra Railway Station Working Group and more. What makes being part of the neighbourhood house sector so special? Working closely with community to help make things happen is what I love about this sector. The work is not locked into one way of achieving outcomes, and this is key because every person we meet has individual circumstances. The work is exciting, challenging, rewarding, complex, and so very essential in supporting people in our community to grow, become strong, to learn, to connect, to share, and to give back. What do you hope to achieve in your time on the NHVic Board? I have knowledge, skills, capability, experience, and so do the other Board members. I’d like to learn new approaches to the work houses do, and to make a contribution to supporting the peak body of this grass roots sector. Grass roots yes, and sophisticated, professional people, worthy of more recognition of the incredible role undertaken in supporting our communities. What passions or interests take up your spare time? Spare time? Who on earth has that, and tell me where I can find some! I love reading, driving while listening to classical music, gardening when I have the chance, and have recently been elected to local government. Tell us a quote that inspires the work you do "Courage doesn’t always have to roar. Sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I’ll try again tomorrow.'" - Mary Anne Radmacher
Maree Cullinan Maree is the Manager at Balla Balla Community Centre. Expand Tell us about your experience in the sector? I have had the pleasure of being involved in the sector since 1999. I have worked across two local government areas, for two very different neighbourhood houses during that time. I have also been involved in a number of different committees and organisations including: Founding member of Communities in Partnership Member of the Casey Alliance group in an active role, which included implementing the marketing strategy with a small team and mentoring Managers. I have had the privilege of sitting on various panels with Local Government Sit on the board of Information and Support Cranbourne Involved in the Social Prescribing with the Alfred Hospital Secretary of Cranbourne Toy Library Vice President of Bicycle Users Group Cardinia What makes being part of the neighbourhood house sector so special? Watching people develop and grow in their confidence and skills is such a special part of my job. Then seeing them move onto employment or a return to study and fulfilling their dreams warms my heart. Also having the opportunity to work with community groups to bring about change at a local level, and sometimes not so local. You don’t get to be a part of that in many sectors. I think the neighbourhood house sector feels like one big family where we all want to help one another where we can. What do you hope to achieve in your time on the NHVic Board? I would like to be a part of the strategic planning for the sector to ensure sustainability and growth for the future. I'm also keep to work through how the sector can move towards meeting some of the UN Sustainability Development Goals. I look forward to working with Nicole and her team to identify new partners who will built on the capacity of all neighbourhood houses. What passions or interests take up your spare time? My all-time favourite is coffee and chats. I also enjoy reading, gardening in my new garden – built in and around COVID lockdowns, bike riding and walking... that always ends in that other favourite passion – COFFEE! Tell us a quote that inspires the work you do? Be the change that you wish to see in the world - Mahatma Ghandi
Sandra Joffe Sandra is the Network Manager at Network West. Expand Tell us about your experience in the sector? When I emigrated from South Africa, I applied for a job in a neighbourhood house having no idea what they did. My wonderful colleagues and community at Port Phillip Community Group taught me about the sector, the local history and Australian social policy, and I learned about Australia through the lens of community. My second neighbourhood house experience was in remote WA where the history – we were located on a site with a terrible history for local Aboriginal people – played a critical role in how the different sectors across the community engaged with us. I am very proud of the shifts we made over the four years I was there. What makes being part of the neighbourhood house sector so special? My experience in St Kilda was fundamentally different from my experience in Broome, and I realised how remarkable neighbourhood houses are in their ability to respond to local community demographics, history, interests and identity. I also love that neighbourhood houses can’t be boxed into a silo. We recognise that people are more than the sum of their housing, income and family circumstance, and we engage with them as whole people. And most of all, I have met some of the most remarkable people in the world through neighbourhood houses. What do you hope to achieve in your time on the NHVic Board? Two things – I want to contribute to seeing NHVic flourish as an organisation that is responsive, accountable and an effective voice for the sector. I also want to contribute to building our future through working collaboratively on a strategic plan that is brave and considered. The change and uncertainty of the pandemic has provided us with a unique opportunity to reflect on the nature of our sector, and the ways we add value to our community. What passions or interests take up your spare time? I am keenly interested in current affairs and the history that shapes them, including our colonial history in Australia and Africa. I read and (in the olden days pre-COVID) traveled extensively to understand this impact of history on culture and life. Increasingly, this interest is underpinned by my concern for the environment and the need for action on climate change. I also love doing things that nurture – cooking and gardening. I am an enthusiastic cook and love throwing together a meal for friends. More recently, I have been overcome by the joy of gardening as I coax my new garden from the mass of ivy and brambles it was two years ago. Tell us a quote that inspires the work you do? The African concept of Ubuntu was described by Nelson Mandela. “Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu” or “I am, because you are” is how we describe the meaning of Ubuntu. Archbishop Desmond Tutu elaborated on the concept saying: “We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world,” he said. “When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity." – TRC 1996 “Ubuntu … speaks of the very essence of being human….It is to say, ‘My humanity is inextricably bound up in yours.’ We belong in a bundle of life.” – Desmond Tutu, No Future Without Forgiveness.
Shima Ibuki Shima is a Project Coordinator at Alamein Neighbourhood and Learning Centre. Expand Tell us about your experience in the sector? From 2014 to 2021, I was Manager of Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre - I very much enjoyed helping to lift its profile and steer the organisation towards more of a community building focus with greater community engagement. As well as running the usual courses and activities, we also auspiced an annual music festival, supported a historical society, ran the annual Surrey Hills ANZAC Dawn Service, and auspiced a charity called You Matter until it could run independently. I helped establish a partnership with the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre so there was a Foodbank drop off point in the eastern suburbs. During COVID I really enjoyed working with volunteers to establish a community care program and a mask making initiative called the Make And Spead Kindness Collective. From 2018 to 2021, I was also President of Network of Inner East Community Houses - As President I really enjoyed supporting and learning about other neighbourhood houses in Monash, Whitehorse and Boroondara. Currently, I am Project Coordinator with Alamein Neighbourhood and Learning Centre, coordinating a project that focuses on residents living on five public housing estates in Whitehorse, Monash and Boroondara. I'm very much enjoying this work and its scope to create partnerships with a wide range of supportive organisations. What makes being part of the neighbourhood house sector so special? We are such a diverse sector and the services and types of support we offer across the board is incredible! We are also very nimble and responsive so with our expertise in knowing how to work with community, we get things up and running very quickly and effectively. Our open door policy means we find ways to welcome and support people who find it hard to navigate other types of funded services. I also love the types of people who are attracted into our sector, many of whom are incredibly talented and have transitioned from other careers. What do you hope to achieve in your time on the NHVic Board? I hope to accurately represent the interests of many neighbourhood houses in Board discussions so that the decisions and the strategic direction we take will resonate and will be of real support to members. I also want to ensure the staff at NHVic feel validated and appreciated - they work so hard and the change of the organisation in the past few years has been so positive and impactful. I would like to contribute as a reasonable, constructive and hardworking board member. What passions or interests take up your spare time? I have so many! I am a developing ceramicist - you can look at my work on Instagram. It's becoming a bit of an obsession! I also write professionally but also have that 'novel' waiting to come out. I play tennis and have been accused of having a bit of white line fever. I also have three gorgeous kids aged from 20 to 14. And cooking - I love cooking (and eating). Tell us a quote that inspires the work you do? Maybe my old school had more of an influence than I realised! Its motto was 'Non nobis sed omnibus': 'Not for one but for all.' I've found the most rewarding aspects of my work has been in experiencing the collective power to achieve - through collaboration, partnerships, by listening to others, by trusting other people's skills and abilities, and by being open to ideas and opportunities around us.
Vicki Coltman Vicki is the Executive Officer at Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre. Expand Tell us about your experience in the sector? I have worked with local neighbourhood house managers for 15 years so was happy to take on the Chair’s role for the Committee of Management at Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre when approached in early 2017. At the time the committee rarely achieved a quorum, committee papers were poorly constructed with a focus on operational issues, and there was limited time for strategic discussion at meetings. It took 18 months to achieve but we now have a skills-based and strategic-focused committee of business leaders who rarely miss meetings. They are also committed to growing and supporting not only Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre, but two other neighbourhood houses under a joint committee agreement. This unique structure created an opportunity for us in 2019 to apply and successfully receive coordination funding to establish a new house in Ballarat East. This house was established from scratch, and we continue to work together to grow and develop this new house. I stepped down as Chair to take on the acting manager role and after a four month recruitment process, was appointed as the Executive Officer in early 2018. My background is in business and technology, working across the private and public sectors in manufacturing, retail and technology industries. Many of my positions included change management and staff training so I am familiar with the requirements for training adults. I bring to my position, and the sector, experience in business, marketing and brand development, HR and accounting, skills which are not widely found in the sector. What makes being part of the neighbourhood house sector so special? I love working in a sector full of passionate and caring people who go out of their way every day to make a positive difference in someone’s life. How as a team we can pull limited resources to provide support to some of the most disadvantaged members of our communities is fantastic, but most of all, it is the reaction from community members when you help them – the smiles and gratitude they give you is extremely rewarding and the best part of this sector. What do you hope to achieve in your time on the NHVic Board? To bring my board experience and business skills to the Board and the sector. I have been involved with boards and committees since 2009 when I completed my MBA. Over the years, I have built a network of contacts who believe in the importance of helping small community groups and NFP organisations raise their governance levels and practices. During my time on the board, I would like to see NHVic become more involved with promoting the work of neighbourhood houses to other government departments and business networks. There are so many opportunities to expand our funding from different sources which would help offset the costs and expand the services we already offer. What passions or interests take up your spare time? I like to read, visit art galleries, play scrabble and have coffee with friends. I have always been family focused, making time to stay connected with my extended family and friends whenever possible. In recent years, this is more important to me as I continue to take time to support my aging parents and am 'Crazy Granny' to two small grandchildren who seem to take up a great deal of my spare time. Tell us a quote that inspires the work you do? “Instead of thinking out the box, get rid of the box.” – Deepak Chopra
Access to TAFE for learners with disability Expand In response to: Victorian Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee’s Inquiry into access to TAFE for learners with disability Submitted: October 2020 Summary: NHVic contributed to this submission led by ACEVic. Adult and community education (ACE) plays a pivotal role in the pathway to success for many learners with disability. ACE prepares learners with disability to transition into TAFE – and further, to succeed in accredited training and gain employment. This submission seeks appropriate recognition of ACE and the necessary resources to strengthen partnerships and pathways between the public and community providers of adult education to support learners with a disability to thrive in education, work and life.
Neighbourhood houses and disaster recovery Expand Year released: 2020 Summary: This research report was written by Laura Schieh during an internship with Neighbourhood Houses Victoria. Victoria’s neighbourhood houses, particularly those in rural and regional communities most often affected by natural disasters, often take on the work of community disaster response but do so with little structural support or adequate resourcing in the short-term response or the long-term recovery process. This report analyses four scenarios: Black Saturday 2009 (Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House) St Patrick’s Day Fires in Corangamite Area 2018 (Camperdown Community House) East Gippsland Fires 2019-20 (Buchan Neighbourhood House) Floods 2011 (Rochester Community House)
Portable Long Service Leave Expand In response to: Draft Long Service Leave Benefits Portability Interim Regulations Submitted: June 2020 Summary: Whilst NHVic supports the concept of portable long service, it is opposed to the forced introduction of the Portable Long Service Benefits Scheme. Our members have expressed great concern about the increased operational and administrative costs, lack of coverage clarity, incompatibility with existing EBA arrangements and the complexity and duration of record keeping that the scheme places on small community-based organisations like neighbourhood houses. All in all, the cumulative impact of the PLSBS actually has the potential to jeopardise the ongoing employment of the very people that the scheme is purporting to help. Download
Skills for Victoria Expand In response to: Department of Education and Training's 'Skills for Victoria' Issues Paper Submitted: June 2020 Summary: Our submission puts forward several recommendations including: Advocate federally for a shift to a new VET system adopting and adapting key features of successful European economies, including the expansion of apprenticeships or traineeships. Develop an integrated VET structure that articulates the role of Learn Local providers as a complementary provider of accredited and pre-accredited training. Reform the funding mechanism to ensure the actual cost of high-quality delivery is covered with consideration of learner need, market size and provider scale. Incentivise and resource collaboration between Learn Local providers and TAFEs
How many neighbourhood houses are there in Victoria? Expand There are just over 400 neighbourhood houses across Victoria. 52% of these are in metropolitan Melbourne 13% are in regional/rural towns with populations greater than 10,000 14% are in rural towns with populations between 3,000 to 10,000 20% are in rural towns with populations less than 3,000 Across Australia, there are over 1,000 neighbourhood houses - that's more than the number of McDonalds!
Chief Executive Officer - Nicole Battle Expand Nicole became Chief Executive Officer of Neighbourhood Houses Victoria in May 2018. She is responsible for overseeing the overall strategic operations of Neighbourhood Houses Victoria and providing effective leadership for the sector. This includes ensuring a strong culture of governance and accountability, and advocating to government and other external stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of the neighbourhood house sector now and into the future. Nicole holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Victoria University, as well as a Master of Public Policy and Management from the University of Melbourne. She has over ten years experience working in local government, holding senior roles within Community Development, Youth Services, Emergency Management and Governance. She has also held a number of positions within the not-for-profit sector, as well as teaching politics and gender studies at Melbourne University. Nicole is passionate about social justice and is particularly interested in gender equality and Indigenous rights. She regularly attends classes at her local community centre, and has been a longtime supporter of neighbourhood houses and the important role that they play within local communities. As of 2019 she is the current President of the federal peak body, the Australian Neighbourhood House and Centres Association (ANHCA).
Adequacy of Newstart and other welfare payments Expand In response to: Senate Inquiry Submitted: September 2019 Summary: In partnership with our state counterparts, we submitted our calls for: an immediate $75 per week income to the single rate of allowances including Newstart an immediate 30% increase in Commonwealth Rent Assistance the establishment of an independent expert panel to set future rates for pensions and allowances the inclusion of a wage-based component in determining future indexation the regular review of rates by the independent expert panel replacing Family Tax Benefit part B for single parents with a supplement that increases as children grow
How many people visit a neighbourhood house? Expand Around 200,000 Victorians visit a neighbourhood house in an average week. Throughout a year, over 10 million visits occur across the state.
What services do neighbourhood houses provide? Expand Every neighbourhood house is different and will provide different services and activities based on the needs of the community they are situated in. Some common services you may find at a neighbourhood house include: Adult education (pre-accredited and accredited training) Art and craft classes Childcare Community events Community lunches / Social eating groups Community gardens Digital literacy training Food banks Government services such as Centrelink, Vic Roads Job seeking support Health and wellbeing activities such as exercise, walking groups, yoga and tai chi classes Internet access Library or book swap services Maternal child health Men's Sheds Migrant support programs e.g. english classes Playgroups Room hire Referrals Self help and support groups Seniors' groups Toy libraries Visitor/tourist information Volunteering opportunities Youth programs
Chief Operating Officer - Cameron MacRae Expand Cameron is responsible for NHVic's operational and financial performance, strategic partnerships, high-level project management, and supporting member's financial management and legislative requirements through professional development and individualised support.
How do I volunteer at a neighbourhood house? Expand There are over 6,900 people who volunteer at neighbourhood houses across Victoria. Their duties could range from assisting with arts classes, to cooking meals, to office admin. If you're interested in getting involved in your local community, contact the neighbourhood houses in your area directly to find out if they have any volunteering opportunities available.
Business Support Specialist - Victoria Larsson Expand Victoria is responsible for supporting the operational functions of the organisation.
How are neighbourhood houses funded? Expand The State Government's Department of Health and Human Services provides core funding to more than 95 per cent of Victoria’s neighbourhood houses through the Neighbourhood House Coordination Program. Other sources of income may include the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Local Government, Federal Government, grants, and funds generated by neighbourhood houses themselves (e.g. room hire fees).
Communications Manager - Petro Tsalikis Expand Petro is responsible for NHVic's strategic communications and marketing, including the development and implementation of marketing campaigns, maintenance of our social media channels and website, member communications, and event management.