Tara Murray
A new homework club will be established at the Duke Street Community House to help fill a void in the community.
The house is among 10 neighbourhood or community houses to receive $10,500 grants through Melbourne Airport’s 2021 community grants program.
The grant will go towards the centre’s Learning Beyond the Classroom Project with the launch of homework and social clubs aimed at helping migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
Duke Street community development officer Kat Day said the grant would allow the house to cater for younger people.
“A lot of our cohorts are in that older age bracket,” she said.
“We’ve been focusing on the younger cohort and looking at the programs and needs of that age group.
“We have a partnership with Braybrook Secondary College. We’ve talked about barriers and pathways for study during COVID-19 and they’ve said the spaces they used to study in are now non-existent.
“Libraries are shut down and the home structure is different from what it is for many of their peers.
“They were very interested in a homework club and if it could be here as it’s a quiet space, a learning space.”
St Albans Community Youth Club, Fraser Rise Children’s and Community Centre, and Hillside Community Centre and Neighbourhood House also received grants.
Melbourne Airport chief executive Lyell Strambi said the program enables community centres and Neighbourhood Houses to continue their important work.
“Each centre not only offers tailored education and training sessions but also plays a significant role in helping migrants and youth build new social groups within the community,” he said.
“A large portion of the airport’s workforce live in the surrounding local government areas, so we understand and truly care about investing in local skills growth.”
