The Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre (DNC) is one of over 400 Neighbourhood Houses across Victoria.

We are all facing a serious threat to our sustainability and ongoing effectiveness  We are not receiving adequate funding from the government.

We receive our core funding, known as the Neighbourhood Houses Coordination Program (NHCP) through the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

The NHCP has suffered from over a decade of indexation well below the actual cost increases incurred.  Rapidly growing community demand for support has placed an unsustainable cost burden on our operations.  We are likely to soon have to cut programs.

The NHCP has failed to maintain a sustainable rate through indexation.  The erosion of this funding rate across neighbourhood houses risks:

  • A calculable value to the Victorian community of $746 million in addition to the outcomes that cannot be monetised;
  • Employment of over 5,500 employees;
  • Support for 6,900 volunteers;
  • Over 400,000 group activity sessions,
  • Over 2,200 tons of food relief; and
  • Support for over 3,500 other community groups.

DNC and all neighbourhood houses have significant impact on so many areas that determine the quality of life for our community members including combatting loneliness and social isolation, mental and physical health and wellbeing, and poverty and disadvantage.  We support people from a diverse range of backgrounds including disability, migrant and refugee communities, people experiencing family violence and we help people gain core skills for employment.  Importantly, we help strengthen community pride and belonging.

DNC has written to our local Member of Parliament seeking support for an upgrade to funding levels for the NHCP so we can continue to support the Daylesford community.  We encourage community members to support our campaign.

 

DNC Joke of the Week

A man takes his sick Chihuahua to the veterinarian. They’re immediately taken back to a room. Soon, a Labrador walks in, sniffs the Chihuahua for 10 minutes and leaves. Then a cat comes in, stares at the Chihuahua for 10 minutes and leaves. Finally, the doctor comes in, prescribes some medicine and hands the man a $250 bill.

“This must be a mistake,” the man says. “I’ve been here only 20 minutes!”

“No mistake,” the doctor says. “It’s $100 for the lab test, $100 for the cat scan and $50 for the medicine.”

 

[If you’ve got a better joke, (and doesn’t everyone??) send it to  admin@dncentre.org.au  and we’ll publish it. (Remember, this is a family publication! ?).  We’ll even include your name if you wish – or you can protect your anonymity!]