Learning Communities Catalyst

1. Title: What is/was the initiative?

Community Link

2. Where is/was it?

Shire of Yarra Ranges - Victoria

3. When was it?

Building commenced in 2000 with the Community Link opening on August 2000. This is an ongoing program.

4. What is/was it about?

Creating a centre of town - the Hub of the Learning Town -A place where residents and visitors can access services, find out about what's available in their community. An information exchange between individuals and groups in the Mt Evelyn community.

5. What type of initiative is/was it?

This is an ongoing program.

6. Who is/was the 'driver' of the initiative?

Mt Evelyn Township Improvement Committee

Morrison House

7. Which stakeholders are/were involved?

Federal Government (Federation Grant)

Morrison House (Work for the Dole Scheme)

METIC

Shire of Yarra Ranges

8. How is/was the initiative resourced?

Federal Government (Federation Grant)

Morrison House (Work for the Dole Scheme In Kind)

METIC (In Kind)

Shire of Yarra Ranges

9. What did the initiative seek to achieve?

A place where residents could tap into the networks, resources and opportunities offered by the town.

Transform a derelict site into the Hub of the Learning Town

A step towards a revitalised town centre

A place to link people to volunteering opportunities.

10. How is/was it carried out?

METIC received funds from a federation grant for the physical resources and a Morrison House Work for then dole Project provided the human resources required to build the centre. The Shire of Yarra Ranges resourced the internal fit out and Morrison House provided the computers.(one computer for public use and one for Community Link administration)

The Shire of Yarra Ranges' "Vision 2020" envisages a Community link in each township with Mt Evelyn being the first. (And the only one to date)

Morrison House staff and volunteers from the community, many who are looking to re-enter the workface, manage the Community Link.

11. What did it achieve? What could be done differently?

The vision for the Community Link has been realised in the following ways.

People are using the Link to find out what is available in the community.

Visitors to Mt Evelyn are able to access tourist information and brochures of Mt Evelyn and the surrounding Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley.

Sporting groups/community organisations are self-promoting and recruiting new members.

Local Community Centres/Neighbourhood Houses are leaving current course information for people to tap into.

Current issues facing Mt Evelyn are discussed and documented.

Residents are using the Link's computer/Internet access with the friendly help of Link staff/volunteers if needed.

Mt Evelyn's local Ward Councillor is available at the Link for community consultation one Saturday each month.

The Link has created an Across community information exchange.

A monthly report, 1/2 yearly and annual reports that present quantitative and qualitative data are produced.

12. What information supports this experience?

http://www.metic.org.au

http://www.mt-evelyn.net