New face to lead East’s Neighbourhood House

SARAH Greenwood-Smith has been appointed the permanent manager of the Ballarat East Neighbourhood House.

Bringing a background of paid and volunteer work for community organisations, this sector is something new for her, but she is keen to become more familiar with Ballarat East and its residents.

“I’m excited and will enjoy getting to know that community and how best the Neighbourhood House can connect people together, support and engage them,” she said.

“There’s a lot to learn, but there’s lots of fabulous people to learn from, including Vicki, Manya and Alison who run the other three Houses in Ballarat. I’m looking forward to getting to know the committee of management.”

On the ground in communities to engage them, Ms Greenwood-Smith values the opportunities Neighbourhood Houses offer, with a space where people of all ages can participate in programs and learn.

“We’re there for people to come and talk to, to connect people with each other within their own local area. We’re on the ground to get a feel for what they need and want,” she said.

“We’re funded by DHHS, so one of our many roles is to find appropriate grants and funding to then support programs that will help to support the community.”

With a “natural instinct to get to know everyone,” Ms Greenwood-Smith has been active in the Brown Hill Progress Association.

“My family and I have been living there for the last eight years. We have two primary school-aged children, so they’ve been my main focus, but during that time I worked with BHPA to set up the Brown Hill Community Newsletter and the Brown Hill Community Festival,” she said.

“I have an urge to know my neighbours and connect people together. Moving to Ballarat, we didn’t know a lot of people, and now I know quite a lot in Brown Hill and I’m proud of that.

“Prior, I was the state coordinator for the Waterwatch Victoria community citizen science program, and my other role before that was as ride director for Bicycle Network Victoria.”

Growing up with volunteer parents, Ms Greenwood-Smith has always valued the chance to put time into her communities and make them a better place.

“I am an enthusiastic person, I love people and volunteering has so many elements; you give a lot, but you get a lot, make connections and learn new skills.”

BENH, and Ballarat and Wendouree Neighbourhood Centres’ committee of management chair, Glen Crompton said it was a “wild ride” recruiting a permanent manager for the city’s newest and fourth facility of its kind.

“The house was launched in 2019, with the amazing Kate Owen being seconded as acting manager from her duties with the Ballarat and Wendouree Neighbourhood Centres,” he said.

“The community engagement and participation rate were fantastic from the very beginning, but we knew we had to give Kate back, so we began to recruit for a permanent manager early in 2020.

“After some stops and starts, and more stops and more starts, we finally got there. We were incredibly lucky to have been presented with an outstanding array of candidates for this role and now welcome aboard Sarah.”

Aside from her experience and credentials, Mr Crompton said her passion and verve are “infectious,” and these traits are needed for BENH in the current COVID climate.

Kate Owen returns to her community development officer position at the Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre in Sebastopol, finding the establishment of the new House rewarding.

“The support has been overwhelming, from interested community members participating in our activities, to the Eureka Stockade Memorial Park Committee who manage the Eureka Hall where we hold the community activities, and the principal and school council at Woodman’s Hill Secondary College, where we have based our office,” Ms Owen said.

“Like many, our budding organisation has been hard hit by COVID-19, but I look forward to a bright future with Sarah at the helm, and I wish the new House every success in the future.”

Visit ballarateastnh.org.au.