Time is running out to save our Docklands community centre

Docklands is a great place to live, but there are particular challenges in creating Docklands as a genuine neighbourhood. City of Melbourne research shows that Docklands residents desire more community connection. In particular, newly arrived migrants and multicultural communities struggle with a sense of belonging.

One vital way locals have been striving to achieve this community connection priority is through Docklands Neighbourhood House.

Located in a shopfront in District Docklands, Docklands Neighbourhood House started in late 2019, and after two COVID-affected years, commenced its community building activities across Docklands in earnest in late 2021. In the last 18 months, the programs of Docklands Neighbourhood House have reached thousands of local people. The community development approach allows residents to identify needs, opportunities and aspirations, and then staff and volunteers work with community to design and deliver programs with impact.

Some examples include:

• Four Indian celebration public events (eg. Holi '22​ / Vasant '23)
• Community Sports Day and BBQ  
• A picnic for international students
• A showcase of local multicultural cooks
• A weekly social fishing program  
• Regular health and wellbeing classes
• Weekly playgroup sessions
• School holiday visual art programs
• Repair Cafes
• An Event Management course
• Weekly Homework Club, and a
• Multicultural Womens Advocacy Network

Additionally Docklands Neighbourhood House has been an open access community drop in centre, operating 18 hours per week. Each week, we provide support for vulnerable community members including:

- people fleeing intimate partner violence and coercion
- people seeking to navigate and access government services
- tenants going through rental or landlord issues
- visa holders suffering stress, anxiety, and delay over their current status and their applications for permanent residency and citizenship

Now, the very existence of Docklands Neighbourhood House is at risk and the people that enjoy its programs and rely on it to feel a sense of belonging in their community will have no place to go.

The Docklands community has far too few resources that it can truly call its own.

We, the undersigned, petition City of Melbourne Councillors to fund Docklands Neighbourhood House through its Community Grants and Partnerships Framework, starting from 1 July, 2023.

We, the undersigned, petition State Government of Victoria to fund Docklands Neighbourhood House through the Neighbourhood Houses Community Partnerships program, or an alternative source, starting from 1 July, 2023.