Support
Banksia Gardens
Community Services
Banksia Gardens Community Services works with a community where heavy pockets of disadvantage still exist.
Broadmeadows and its surrounding suburbs often bear the dubious honour of featuring in the lists of Australia’s most disadvantaged postcodes. Some of the chronic issues affecting these areas include extremely high unemployment, very low levels of education and income, and health issues such as type II diabetes, obesity and smoking. Yet beyond all these statistics is a community brimming with ingenuity, cultural diversity and a huge range of skills, experiences, hopes and aspirations. Few places encapsulate the energy and creativity of our local community like Banksia Gardens Community Services.
Why are we collecting funds?
Everyone, particularly children and young people, should have opportunities to maximise their potential and make a positive change to their future.
We believe that the best way to do this is by giving our clients the tools to support themselves, learn and prosper. We work to give everyone access not just to opportunity, but to civic engagement, to meaningful participation and to greater justice.
In order to continue this work, we need to rely less on short-term government grants and more on support from the Australian community.
How will the funds be used?
Project REAL
A tailored primary school based at BGCS, which works with 13 local schools and assists children aged 10-12 years who display behaviours of concern.
Environment & sustainability
Some of our work in this space include providing community gardens and volunteer opportunities, creating a food forrest and a heat haven, facilitating community workshops and advocacy.
Broadmeadows Community Youth Justice Alliance (BCYJA)
A highly effective initiative working with multiple agencies to support young people on court orders or at risk of offending.
Banksia Gardens Study Group
Providing free academic support, sports and recreation to over 200 young people every week.
Aiming High VCE Support Program
Weekly tutition for year 11 and 12 students. Nearly 200 participants have been involved in the program and the majority have gone on to achieve places in tertiary institutions.
NCESE
The Northern Centre for Excellence in School Engagement is a collective of BGCS and 16 local schools, supporting 775 teachers and 8,500 students in the region.
The Common Bean social enterprise cafe
Providing employment and training to local young people, and the best coffee in Broadmeadows!
Good People Act Now (GPAN)
Youth-led prevention of violence against women project working to make positive change in the Broadmeadows Community.
Climate adaptation requires youth action (CARYA)
