Building social connection at Torquay’s Community House

TORQUAY Community House is a hive of activity each week as it works with the community to develop programs and initiatives that benefit everyone.

One of those initiatives is its monthly community lunch, a favourite on the program for many residents.

Partnering with Feed Me Surf Coast and the Surf Coast Secondary College, the house hosts the free lunch event every month with the aim of bringing people together.

Torquay Community House manager Prue Challis said the lunches have taken on a life of their own since they were introduced, growing quickly from 30 attendees to about 80.

“The lunch was created to create a space for social connection in the community, especially post-lockdown,” she said. “It’s growing rapidly, it’s hugely successful and over 60 per cent of people that we surveyed said they experienced improved social wellbeing as a result of attending the lunches.”

Social connection is the cornerstone of the house, which also offers an extensive program of events, classes and services.

It’s much-loved Women’s Shed program gives around 30 skilled and multi-talented women a chance to meet, create and learn new skills, all with power tools in hand.

“They’re super handy and I couldn’t imagine the community house without them. It’s so awesome to have a group of strong, empowered, kind women making use of the space,” Ms Challis said. “It really demonstrates the power of getting a group of people together with a shared interest or a desire to meet new people and learn new skills.”

Running for more than 30 years, the house is open for people of all ages and at stages of life.

With social connection playing a big role in people’s overall wellbeing and physical health, the house offers another space where people can find another form of connection.

“Torquay Community House can be thought of as what we’d call a third place,” Ms Challis said

“People have a home, people might have work, but what is important for us is to have those third places, which are places where we can go to socialise with other people, to have our needs met in that way.”

For more information, head to torquaycommunityhouse.org.au