Increasing community pride and participation

Civic Participation project
The project is supporting the participation of community members with disabilities in Neighbourhood Renewal governance structures and activities.

Wendouree West Open Day
Over 30 residents from the East Reservoir and Heidelberg West Neighbourhood Renewal areas enjoyed a visit to the Open Day. The visitors heard about the new sites' successes and the challenges they face in the future.

Connecting young people
Neighbourhood Renewal is consulting young people to identify issues and priorities relevant to their needs. Initial community development or capacity building projects will be developed in response to key proposals generated through the consultation.

Community gatherings
The community came together in December 2006 for an afternoon of food, fun and information exchange. The event provided an opportunity for local residents to find out more about Neighbourhood Renewal and about how to be involved in working groups and other activities.

Improving employment, learning and local economic activity

Employment Support Initiatives
Neighbourhood Renewal's Employment Support Initiative is linking residents with jobs, particularly in areas of skill shortage. In 2006/07 the initiative will help six East Reservoir residents find employment.

Training Opportunities
Preston and Reservoir Community Education (PRACE) is providing the residents of East Reservoir with leadership development training. For further details please contact Christine Lamb on 0401 401 108.

A New Social Enterprise
The Brotherhood of St Laurence is helping to develop a social enterprise that will create employment and local economic activity. For further details please contact Sue Silk on 0408 440 341.

Home Improvements Enterprise
Mission Australia is establishing an enterprise to provide Heath Care Card holders with free home improvements designed to cut water and energy bills. For information on possible training or employment opportunities or information on having these devices installed to your home, please call Mission Australia on 8615 2210.

IT Drop-in Hub
In partnership with Infoxchange, Neighbourhood Renewal will host a drop-in Jobs Hub that will provide the community with computer, Internet and training facilities.

Enhancing housing and the environment

Upgrading public housing
In 2006-07, Neighbourhood Renewal has allocated more than $1.1 million to deliver upgrade and immediate improvement works to approximately 76 public housing properties.

Energy retrofit improvements
Approximately 300 homes are being made more energy efficient through the sealing of draughts around windows and doors and the installation of low-flow shower roses and fluorescent lights.

Capital works
Darebin City Council has been delivering a range of capital works. These include the Reservoir Leisure Centre upgrade, the Darebin Creek bike-path upgrade (bike-path near McMahon/Beenak) and the Parks Improvement Program to plant trees.

Improving personal safety and reducing crime

Council report
Darebin City Council's Profiles Report is due for release in early 2007. The report will provide information about health and well-being, crime and injury and alcohol and drug related harms within the local community.

Promoting health and wellbeing

Healthy schools program
The program is in its planning phase and will include schools in the Neighbourhood Renewal area. The schools will be contacted shortly and invited to express interest in being involved.

Darebin Health steering committee has offered to host the Health and Wellbeing Working Group.

Increasing access to services and improving government responsiveness

New neighbourhood house and community hub
Neighbourhood Renewal is working with residents, Darebin City Council and Preston Reservoir Adult Community Education to make sure the developments are strategically linked. The proposed Hub will be built on Council land at an estimated project cost of $1.26 million.

Whole of Government Agreements
Narrowing the gap between disadvantaged communities and the rest of the State takes a committed effort from a number of areas of government. Victorian Government departments and agencies are entering into formal "Whole of Government Agreements" that indicate the resources that they are allocating to Neighbourhood Renewal communities.