Community Houses call for help

November 4, 2025 BY Abby Pardew

Surf Coast Shire CEO Robyn Seymour, Winchelsea Community House manager Wendy Greaves, Anglesea Community House manager Julie Martin, Torquay Community House manager Prue Challis and volunteer Chris Smith attended the monthly lunch and launch pf the campaign. Photo: ABBY PARDEW

NEIGHBOURHOOD Houses across Victoria have launched a statewide campaign to keep their doors open.

Torquay Community House launched its campaign at its monthly lunch – attended by more than 60 people – on Tuesday this week.

The call from the group leads into next year’s state election and is seeking a 25 per cent increase in funding for houses.

Torquay Community House’s Erin Krusic-Golub said funding had not been increased over time, with the value of community houses important for the region.

“Neighbourhood Houses are absolutely at the heart of everything community, particularly here in Torquay.

“I estimate about 300 people through the door each week, and that’s a mixture of people participating in our programs, people coming to the community building, other small businesses getting started and other groups visiting.”

Presently, Torquay Community House relies on its venue hire program to be able to top up its income and afford to pay its minimal staff.

If the funding does not come through, Neighbourhood Houses face the risk of having to close their doors, with some acrossnd the state already facing that reality.

“The other asks of the funding are to open five new houses a year and support the establishment of houses in communities that aren’t serviced,” Ms Krusic-Golub said. “You’ve got all sorts of new neighbourhoods and growth areas popping up that have no services whatsoever.”

The event was attended by more than 60 people and catered by Common Ground.

Volunteers are also a big part of community houses, helping out where they can in keeping different events and activities running.

“All of the houses do an amazing job with whatever fundraising they can do, but it’s all based on what limited volunteers we have and the face of volunteering is changing as well,” Ms Krusic-Golub said.

“We’re really fortunate to be supported by so many volunteers with our events and they contribute in so many different ways to the house, but they can’t do everything, and they can only go so far when you’re seeking funding.”

For more information on the campaign, head to nhvic.org.au