Finance Officer - Misa Le Vo Expand Misa is responsible for finance-related administrative functions and providing support to the Chief Operating Officer.
Financial Inclusion Associate - Lee Kerr Expand Lee is responsible for creating awareness through neighbourhood houses and assisting low-income community members in accessing Good Shepherd's No Interest Loans program.
First Nations Community Education Liaison - Kathryn Coff Expand Kathryn is responsible for facilitating greater engagement between NHVic and Aboriginal-led neighbourhood houses, and for creating greater understanding across the sector on First Nations worldview, and how neighbourhood houses can make their operations more culturally inclusive.
How are neighbourhood houses governed? Expand The vast majority (86%) of neighbourhood houses are incorporated associations with a committee/board of governance. Otherwise: 7% are council managed 5% are auspiced by another organisation 2% are cooperatives or companies limited by guarantee
Social isolation and loneliness - a neighbourhood house perspective Expand Year released: 2020 Summary: This report focuses on the human, social and economic costs of loneliness and social isolation, the risk factors and barriers to connection, and the impact neighborhood houses have on participants sense of belonging and connection.
Policy and Research Manager - David Perry Expand David is responsible for conducting research and data analysis within the sector and monitoring, analysing and communicating policy developments in areas that impact on neighbourhood houses such as adult community education, skills reform, childcare and mental health.
Digital literacy in neighbourhood houses Expand Year released: 2019 Summary: The aim of this research, funded by Australia Post, was to gain a deeper understanding of the types of digital literacy offered in neighbourhood houses in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. It includes data relating to timing, costs, funding, target groups, barriers and more. Download - full report: Download - Victorian snapshot:
Does the Neighbourhood Houses Victoria have authority over individual neighbourhood houses? Expand The quick and simple answer is no. As a peak body, it is our job to support and promote best practice, provide informed advice and advocate on behalf of the sector, however each neighbourhood house is its own separate entity with its own autonomy.
The inclusion of people with disability in volunteering Expand Year released: 2019 Summary: This literature review was conducted as part of the Victoria Alive project, and is intended to provide an overview of the current state of volunteering for people with disability primarily from an organisational point of view but also taking into account the experiences of people with disability.
Adult Community Education Our advocacy throughout 2018 and 2019 resulted in a Ministerial Summit and Ministerial Statement, strengthening the future of adult community education in Victoria Expand Neighbourhood houses account for two-thirds of all Learn Local providers and 49 are Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). They receive funding by the State Government to deliver subsidised training for Victoria’s most vulnerable learners to set them on the path to further education and employment opportunities. Our advocacy in this space is incredibly important to ensure the ongoing viability for current providers, as well as making it easier for more neighbourhood houses to provide this vital community service. In 2018 we partnered other peak bodies ACEVic, Adult Learning Australia and Community Colleges Australia to develop a sector statement which addressed our concerns regarding the current and future state of the Adult Community Education (ACE) sector. We were very concerned at the number of closures of RTOs and a signficant drop in the number of Learn Local organisations providing pre-accredited training. Read the statement. The statement was submitted to the Minister of Training and Skills Gayle Tierney MP. As a result, the Minister announced her intention to host an ACE Ministerial Summitt. On Wednesday 7 August 2019, our CEO Nicole Battle presented at the ACE Ministerial Summit. The summit was opened by the Minister of Training and Skills Gayle Tierney and brought together government and policy makers, industry peaks and providers, to discuss the issues impacting community education in Victoria. We put forward a series of recommendations, developed in partnership with ACEVic, Adult Learning Australia and Community Colleges Australia, and informed by a consultation process across the Learn Local sector (with responses from 143 providers, representing an impressive response rate of 79 percent). Read the recommendations. Leading up to the summit, Nicole went on her own community education roadshow to get a first hand, on-the-ground perspective of the issues impacting providers. Some of these visits were shared to social media: In November 2019, Minister Tierney launched a Ministerial Statement - the first of its kind in 15 years, outlining her priorities to elevate adult community education in Victoria.
Where are all the men? Expand Year released: 2019 Summary: The report looks at men's participation within neighbourhood houses in Victoria. The aim of the research is to explore and understand how men currently engage with neighbourhood houses, identify potential barriers to participation, and to seek the views from neighbourhood house managers and staff on how to encourage men’s involvement in the sector. It was conducted by two Melbourne University students, Erin Tidswell and Yongyi Lin, on behalf of Sussex Neighbourhood House and in collaboration with Neighbourhood Houses Victoria.
Local government support for neighbourhood houses in Victoria Expand Year released: 2016 Summary: The report looks into the scope and significant variations in the nature of the support and collaboration between local government and the neighbourhood house sectors, based on data provided by 377 Victorian neighbourhood houses.
Community careers counselling Expand Year released: 2015 Summary: What are the enablers of effective career guidance and learning choice for people with a disability? Which enablers are the most effective for educators? This report examines challenges and enablers and provides practical guidance for practitioners. This Adult and Community Further Education (ACFE) funded research was conducted as partnership between Neighbourhood Houses Victoria and the ACE DisAbility Network. Download - full report Download - guidelines for adult educators
How do I raise a concern or make a complaint? Expand Members of the public who have a complaint about a neighbourhood house should use the organisation’s complaint process. Each neighbourhood house is required to have one of these which may be an online or a paper based form. Members of the organisation who have a complaint about the governance should use the process outlined in the organisation’s constitution. Employees who have a complaint about their manager/committee should use the process outlined in the relevant industrial award or agreement as per their employment contract.
We Deliver! Will You? - 2018 State Budget This campaign secured an investment of $21.8 million in additional sector funding across four years. Expand In November 2017 we launched the ‘We Deliver! Will You?’ campaign to ensure neighbourhood houses received priority funding in the final State Budget prior to the 2018 State Election. A Campaign Manager, Tania Phillips, was contracted to produce and implement a strategic advocacy campaign. This included the distribution of 2,000 posters and 80,000 postcards across the sector for signing and delivering to local MPs, as well as a social media campaign. A range of campaign resources were produced to assist the sector in supporting and promoting the campaign: Campaign Overview Key Messages Background to our Key Messages Election Campaign Postcards Information Sheet Election Campaign Lobbying Guide Frequently Asked Questions State Budget Submission The famous postcard: ‘We Deliver! Will You?’ was a massive success in terms of mobilising the sector, and resulted in the State Government pledging $21.8 million across four years – the biggest investment in coordination hours by any Victorian Government. Since announcing the pledge, the State Government has funded 189 houses to deliver at least 25 coordination hours per week, including the establishment of 16 brand new houses and funding for 11 previously unfunded houses. See the following State Government media releases: Supporting and expanding our neighbourhood houses (17 May 2018) Delivering more neighbourhood houses across Victoria (12 October 2018)
Project Manager - Melinda Spiteri Expand Melinda is responsible for the Safe Seats, Safe Kids program and other project management and business support functions.
Victoria's mental health system Expand In response to: Royal Commission into Victoria's mental health system Submitted: July 2019 Summary: As places where people with mental health issues participate equally alongside other community members in a range of activities and capacities over time, neighbourhood houses undoubtedly contribute to improved attitudes to people with mental illness.
Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan (2019–2023) Expand In response to: Department of Health and Human Services' Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Draft Plan Submitted: June 2019 Summary: While the plan’s priorities are targeted at a limited number of contributors to the Sate’s burden of disease; other factors, including social isolation, often contribute to adoption and maintenance of unhealthy lifestyle choices. Improving people’s self reported social connection, and sense of health and wellbeing are documented outcomes of the neighbourhood house program. The mobilisation of local community resources in response to local needs and contexts is a key strength of the neighbourhood house sector. Where local activity supports the broader plan goals, the activity should be actively supported.
The social and economic benefits of improving mental health Expand In response to: Productivity Commission Inquiry Submitted: April 2019 Summary: The neighbourhood house sector in Victoria has a track record of achieving strong social inclusion outcomes but operates with significant capacity constraints. With 90 per cent of Victoria’s neighbourhood houses funded at less than full time with the majority funded for just 25 hours per week of coordination, there is significant potential to increase activities that strengthen mental health and wellbeing with relatively modest investment.
Future opportunities for adult learners in Victoria Expand In response to: Department of Education and Training's 'Future Opportunities for Adult Learners in Victoria Pathways to Participation and Jobs' Discussion Paper Submitted: August 2018 Summary: Investing in outreach and engagement in the ACE sector is possibly the single most effective strategy that can lead to increased participation by learners with high needs and low language, literacy and numeracy.
Wimmera West Grampians Neighbourhood House Network Collective Local Government areas: Ararat, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera, Yarriambiack Expand Network Manager: Christine Zubrinich Phone: 0488 913 001 Email: [email protected]
Upper Murray Regional Neighbourhood House Network Local Government areas: Alpine, Indigo, Moira, Towong, Wangaratta, Wodonga Expand Network Manager: Trish CurtisPhone: 0488 572 225 Email: [email protected] Website Facebook
South West Neighbourhood House Network Local Government areas: Corangamite, Glenelg, Moyne, Southern Grampians, Warrnambool Expand Network Manager: Debra King Phone: (03) 5571 9780 Email: [email protected]
Regional Association of Neighbourhood and Community Houses Local Government areas: Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Greater Bendigo, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Mount Alexander Expand Network Manager: Kristen Proud and Kevin VivianPhone: 0439 215 553 Email: [email protected] Website