our background

Duke Street Community House is a not for profit, incorporated community organisation that has been delivering local, low cost and quality programs and services to our community since 1975. The house was then known as the Tottenham Technical School Community House. It was used by the school as a place to teach local disadvantaged, at risk students social and vocational skills.

In 1984 the property was handed over to the then City of Sunshine (now Brimbank City Council). The council supported the formation of a local Committee of Management so it could be managed by the local community. One of the first things the committee of management did was to establish it as local neighbourhood house. The house provided a place for the local community to meet and provide support for each other. In this environment many activities and services naturally evolved such as playgroups, social activities, support groups and educational programs. This gave people a chance to explore what was possible in the house and more importantly what their social and educational needs were.

In the late 1980 funding became available for the establishment of numerous Adult Education Co-ordination positions. This coincided with funding for the establishment of Neighbourhood Houses and some house co-ordination across Victoria. The first funded positions at Duke St Community House were established in 1988. This was the beginning of a more organized and formalized approach to community development and adult education. It is now a Registered Training Organisation and conducts a range of accredited English as a Second Language and Computer courses. Accreditation has allowed many people to return to formal, recognized education and continue on to higher studies.

Since its humble beginnings Duke St Community House is now one of the most popular and progressive community organisations in Victoria and is renowned for its work in and with the community. It has also established a fine reputation for delivering high quality and innovative adult education programs. Its Information Communications Technology program has gained a worldwide reputation through its involvement in the Stockholm Challenge where it was runner up in the Innovations category in 1998 and 1999. Our strength comes from remaining staunchly local our vision. A local committee of management is one way that we ensure that all programs and services are relevant and reflect and meet our community needs. The Committee of Management, together with staff, have been successful in gaining resources through Federal, State and Local Government funding bodies and has significantly added to the social capital of our community.

We provide a range of services to the local and surrounding communities. We conduct a range of educational courses as well as a broad range of exciting leisure programs at a low cost. We believe that the services and courses we conduct, contribute to the well being and collective wealth and health of our community. In these times of uncertainty and upheaval, developing a strong sense of community will help us tackle the challenges that affect us all.

Duke St is also a Neighbourhood House and is part of a statewide network (The Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres) with over 350 Neighbourhood Houses in Victoria. The house provided a place for the local community to meet and provide support for each other. In this environment many activities and services naturally evolved such as playgroups, social activities, support groups and educational programs. This gave people a chance to explore what was possible in the house and more importantly what their social and educational needs were. In the late 1980?s funding became available for the establishment of numerous Adult Education Co-ordination positions. This coincided with funding for the establishment of Neighbourhood Houses and some house co-ordination across Victoria. The first funded positions at Duke St Community House were established in 1988.

This was the beginning of a more organized and formalized approach to community development and adult education. It is now a Registered Training Organisation and conducts a range of accredited English as a second Language and Computer courses. Accreditation has allowed many people to return to formal, recognized education and continue on to higher studies. Since its humble beginnings Duke St Community House is now one of the most popular and progressive community organisations in Victoria and is renowned for its work in and with the community. It has also established a fine reputation for delivering high quality and innovative adult education programs.

Its Information Communications Technology program has gained a worldwide reputation through its involvement in the Stockholm Challenge where it was runner up in the Innovations category in 1998 and 1999. Our strength comes from remaining staunchly local in our vision. A local committee of management is one way that we ensure that all programs and services are relevant and reflect and meet our community needs.

The Committee of Management, together with staff, have been successful in gaining resources through Federal, State and Local Government funding bodies and has significantly added to the social capital of our community. We provide a range of services to the local and surrounding communities. We conduct a range of educational courses as well as a broad range of exciting leisure programs at a low cost. We believe that the services and courses we conduct, contribute to the well being and collective wealth and health of our community. In these times of uncertainty and upheaval, developing a strong sense of community will help us tackle the challenges that affect us all.