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Now located in a beautiful Victorian house in tree-lined Farnham Street, the Flemington Neighbourhood House was started in 1979 by a group of women who were looking for activities and social support networks in their local community. The first venue for these activities (which included craft, cooking, sewing and childcare) was a shopfront in Racecourse Road. The House ran as a co-operative with everyone involved volunteering time and resources. The next venue was an old church building and then a house in Waltham Street. In 1982, the Melbourne City Council bought the current venue at 28 Farnham Street, and the Neighbourhood House became an incorporated association. Over the years, the House has shared its premises with two other programmes -- the Flemington Reading and Writing Programme and St Brendan's After School Programme. An enormous variety of courses have been run, including Adult VCE, Return to Study, Diploma of Further Education, English as a Second Language, Adult Literacy, Computer Studies, Internet Training, Cooking classes, Folk Art, Craft, the Flemington/Kensington Mentor Group, Women's Groups, Men's Groups, University of the Third Age classes, Yoga, Relaxation and Meditation, the Horn of Africa Senior Women's Group, Sewing for Somali Women, Nature Walks, Monthly Bus Trips, Life Skills for People with Disabilities, Gentle Exercise, Music Therapy, Aromatherapy, Hairdressing, Community Lunches, Typing and Keyboard Skills, Breadmaking, Book Group and Playgroups. [Click here for current courses and activities at the House.]The House has also been a popular location for children's birthday parties, meetings, seminars and family gatherings. Call us about hiring the House for your gathering!  The Flemington Neighbourhood House works in conjunction with numerous other community agencies in an effort to identify needs, provide relevant courses and activities and refer clients to other appropriate organisations. Such organisations include Moonee Valley Council, Doutta Galla Community Health Services, Women's Health West, Centrelink, Red Cross, Newmarket Baptist Church, Hotham Parish Mission and other neighbourhood houses and community centres in ther City of Moonee Valley.Centre Co-ordinator: Cathy Connop Further Education Co-ordinator: Pip Mackey
 Flemington Neighbourhood House is one of seven neighbourhood houses in the City of Moonee Valley. The success of a neighbourhood house lies in its closeness to the community it services and its friendly, supportive approach to promoting wellness and independence. A houyse is mananaged by a committee of participants and local residents. Everyone works as a team to decide policies, programmes and processes. While volunteers are vital to the running of houses, most houses have a paid co-ordinator and other part-time paid staff. In Victoria, the Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres (ANHLC) represents the interests and issues important to neighbourhood houses in their dealings with the community and state and local governments. IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSES
Neighbourhood Houses are the first places to reflect the needs of the community. The people in Neighbourhood Houses would know first what will be the future directions needed in any society. A Neighbourhood House empowers people toward dealing with their social circumstances and social change.
A Neighbourhood House grows from the expressed needs of the community. It must service and continue to reflect those needs as they change.
A Neighbourhood House injects creativity -- with ideas, questions and invitations to interact without disturbing the central thread of the community.
A Neighbourhood House provides a space where the giver and receiver in the neighbourhood can find the extent and mutuality of this relationship |
© 2006 Flemington Neighbourhood House ABN 86 768 811 410 |
A Neighbourhood House allows people to take responsibility for their own welfare. It must provide opportunity for the development of self-reliance and personal growth.