Waste-free social program up for state nod

AN initiative originally about exploring waste-free options has placed the Ballarat East Neighbourhood House in the running in this year’s Tidy Towns and Cities Sustainability Awards.

Delivered through Keep Australia Beautiful VIC, the community group has been shortlisted in the wellbeing category for their Let’s Talk Rubbish social group.

“It’s great to be nominated because it helps to raise awareness of the group,” said Ballarat East Neighbourhood House manager Sarah Greenwood-Smith.

“The project came about in 2023 when we had a sustainability grant to run a waste-free lifestyle course around Ballarat to help people minimise their personal waste.

“It was delivered here at Barkly Square three times, at the Ballarat North Neighbourhood House, and the Sebastopol Library.

“What came from that was the group that had participated had this momentum, and made these social connections and wanted to keep talking about these topics.”

Currently meeting fortnightly on Thursday from 1pm during school terms, the group is headed by project manager Jane Griffin, who said the initiative has grown and developed since its establishment.

“At the moment, we’re sort of a touch base for lots of other Ballarat spaces because we know there are other bigger environmental groups that already exist,” she said.

“People either don’t know what they’re about and can be a bit standoffish because it’s a political conversation for some.

“Giving them the opportunity to come to this, test the waters, see what others think, we can then refer them if they’re ready for action and not just conversation.

“It’s also providing that social connection where they know people who are like-minded.”

Award winners will be announced on 28 October at the Showtime Events Centre in Melbourne.

To register to take part in the Let’s Talk Rubbish group sessions, visit the Ballarat East Neighbourhood House website.