Neighbourhood House Week, happening across Australia from 9 to 15 May 2022, is a nationwide celebration of over 1,000 Neighbourhood and Community Houses and Centres and their excellent work.
Community centres play an essential role in building resilience by bringing people together. They provide a safe and supportive environment for people to connect with others, share experiences and information, and access services and support.
During Neighbourhood House Week, community members are invited to get involved in the wide range of activities on offer at their local centre.
There will be something for everyone, from art and cooking classes to gardening workshops and movie nights. This is an excellent opportunity to meet your neighbours and make new friends while supporting your local community.
Our community centres are everywhere; it matters
Community centres that matter are more than just halls for hire or places where services are delivered. They’re about people. The people who use them, the staff and volunteers who make them what they are, and the diverse communities they serve.
They’re about bringing people together to have a say in what happens in their neighbourhood; providing a space for creativity, social connection and learning; and
They bring people together in places where people can connect with others and share experiences and information.
They provide a safe and supportive environment through different activities providing access to caseworkers, counsellors and other support services.
They run many social and interest-based activities, which are an excellent opportunity to meet your neighbours and make new friends while supporting your local community.
They provided independent, impartial support to the local community on the most critical issues.
They work with the community to bring about change, doing with rather than for them.
They provide local leadership and advocacy, are solution-focused and community-led and have significant oversight in what matters to local people.
Their integrity, values-driven and principle of being by local people for local people mean they are trusted.
They are a great way to meet new people, build connections, learn, celebrate and make friends.
Community centres build resilience by bringing people together
We can create more robust, more connected communities by bringing people together. Resilience is best built by having strong, well-informed social networks, and community centres play an essential role in facilitating this.
Despite more than 1000 community centres in Australia, governments often undervalued their role in building community, building connection, and resilience. They work with limited resources and overly prescriptive, short term funding models.
It is time the community centre’s work, skills, and achievements are recognised as an essential social infrastructure worthy of greater investment, support, and recognition.
So if you value your local community centre, get involved during Neighbourhood House Week and show your support!
Celebrate their many achievements and highlight their work to decision-makers, and get involved in shaping your local community.
Get involved in your local community centre today!
If you would like to find out more about your local community centre and what they have to offer, please
https://www.anhca.org/neighbourhoodhouseweek
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