Birchip Business & Learning Centre

 

Birchip Business & Learning Centre

77 Cumming Ave. Birchip 3483 Ph 54922 735  Fax:5492 2863

birchipblc@bigpond.com.au

CURRENT COURSES

Sports Trainers Course Sat June 26th & Sun June 27th 2010

Telstra Computer and Internet Classes for Seniors on Mondays

Exercise Classes

Bookings essential

Birchip Business and Learning Centre

Ph: 54922 735  FAx: 5492 2863

email birchipblc@bigpond.com

The Birchip Business and Learning Centre is a non-profit organisation funded by the DPCD neighbourhood house coordination program and other fee for service activities. It is managed by Simone Christie and overseen by a committee of management with representatives from local service groups, businesses, sporting organisations and the community. 

This is a centre where people of all age groups, backgrounds and abilities can come to meet and talk, develop and share knowledge, join a class or support group, gain skills and confidence, hire technology and facilities, use the internet,  learn about services in the area and be involved in the community.

The Birchip Business and Learning Centre is a Neighbourhood House where ...

• Children and families, youth, adults and seniors, people with disabilities, newcomers to the community and the country ...

...attend, participate, belong, lead and learn!

Neighbourhood houses

• Identify and work with residents of the community on issues of common concern.
• Offer programs and services that address the specific needs of children and their parents, youth, adults and seniors, culturally and linguistically diverse people and  people with disabilities.
• Provide volunteers new skills and a place to share their abilities and talents.
• Offer places where the local community can come together to celebrate community and cultural events throughout th year.
•  promote community participation and inclusion,
• facilitate community development and capacity building to support  individuals and groups within communities,
• support life-long learning opportunities for people to improve their training and employment pathways with classes in accredited training and specifically designed programs
• improve the well being of community members by providing a range of opportunities for particiaption in general interst classes, personal development  and exercise programs
• support planning and linkages to address locally identified priorities and needs.

FROM THEN TO NOW...

The Birchip Business and Learning Centre was established in 1993 with funding from the Telecentre program. It was operated from the Resource Centre building in Sherwood Street with the Birchip Cropping Group.  Over time it evolved into a neighborhood house and adult education centre and the expansion resulted in a move to Cumming Avenue (in the main street).

The Old Shamrock Hotel, which had been delicensed in 1969 and was marked for demolition, was purchased and a committee of interested community members sought funding from the State Governments Partnerships for Growth Fund,  the Buloke Shire, ACFE and the Birchip Community to restore the building. The building now occupies a prominent space in the main street, has a computer training room, office, large dining room for community use and a bar area ideal for meetings and functions.