Increasing community pride and participation

Community Contact Service
This service for residents of the high-rise towers is fully staffed by public housing tenants. The Community Contact Officers participate in community governance groups and attend a variety of community events. They help residents access the full range of services that operate in the Collingwood area.

Welcome kit designed for new residents
The kit introduces new arrivals to the facilities and services available in the Neighbourhood Renewal area.

Community gardens
Collingwood now has three community gardens run by residents of the estate.

WIRED
The WIRED project seeks to address the digital divide that is experienced by some communities. It provides all residents in the Neighbourhood Renewal project with a free computer, IT training and reasonably priced internet.

Festivals and Events
Neighbourhood Renewal supports a number of community festivals and events in Collingwood including the annual Harvest Festival and end of year Gala Ball.

Improving employment, learning and local economic activity

Employment programs
Neighbourhood Renewal's Employment Support Initiative and the Workforce Participation Program are linking residents with jobs, particularly in skill shortage areas. The Public Tenant Employment Program is helping residents find work with contractors who have tendered to deliver housing maintenance and upgrade works.

Social enterprises
Neighbourhood Renewal is supporting social enterprises that create jobs and training opportunities for Neighbourhood Renewal residents. The enterprises generally employ people as trainees for 12 months or less and then help them into work or further training. In Collingwood, enterprises include the Cleaning Service, Food Cooperative, Cultural Catering, Community Contact Service and WIRED.

Job Club and Training
A Job Club operates two days a week and provides residents with support and assistance in gaining employment. A wide range of courses in IT, literacy and English as an additional language are being made available to local residents.

Learning opportunities for older residents
In 2005 a University of the Third Age was introduced onto the Collingwood Estate.

Enhancing housing and the environment

Housing upgrades
Neighbourhood Renewal has spent more than $36 million on over 200 upgrades to units on the estate. 

Long term improvements
Neighbourhood Renewal is developing long-term strategies to address issues like security, graffiti, pathways, landscaping, safer design guidelines and artwork.

Kids' activities
The Livewires Project provides after-school play services for 5-12 year olds who live on the estate. The Youth Space operates three days a week during term-time and also delivers a full holiday activity program.

Occassional Child Care
The Neighbourhood House was refurbished in 2008 to create a space for occassional child care. Care is provided for up to 20 children from Tuesdays to Thursdays each week.

Improving personal safety and reducing crime

Security upgrades in the low rise
Upgrades are being implemented across the 350 Collingwood low rise units to make the area a safer place to live. This has included additional lighting and restricting access to residents' personal spaces.

Increasing safety awareness
Communication with residents is fostering community awareness and is reducing fear and apprehension among residents. It is addressing falsely informed, negative perceptions of the estate.

Promoting health and wellbeing

Recycling household waste
A community-based recycling project to deal with household waste is currently being piloted in the high-rise blocks of the estate.

Increasing access to healthy food
A fresh fruit and vegetable market selling quality, low-price produce operates on the estate. Residents can also access free daily meals in the local area through the Neighbourhood Renewal "Low Cost and Free Food in Collingwood" booklet.

Health and fitness at Collingwood community gym
The gym, which has been established for over 30 years, has been amalgamated into the City of Yarra's Leisure Services. Mainstream funding has secured the longer-term future of the facility and provided employment to five local residents. It is open four nights a week and on Saturdays.

Sporting activities
Regular sporting activities available for young people living in the Neighbourhood Renewal area include soccer, tennis, swimming, AFL and basketball. Weekly training is offered on the Collingwood Housing Estate, as well as connecting young people to sporting clubs in the local area.

Increasing access to services and improving government responsiveness

Advocacy
Collingwood Neighbourhood Renewal is working to ensure its plans are reflected in the Primary Care Partnership Strategic Plan and Municipal Public Health Plans.

School affordability
The Neighbourhood Renewal team is working with the local schools network and residents to identify issues relating to affordability of schooling.