Healthy Communities
Our Healthy Communities team works to create healthy environments for our clients, community members, volunteers and staff by creating programs together with those who will benefit from them.
Health Promotion
Our Health Promotion team runs projects that encourage people to make healthy lifestyle choices.
Our focus areas are:
- Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Physical Wellbeing
- Reconciliation
Programs and activities we run:
Aboriginal Health
Our Aboriginal Health team supports the community through:
- Highlighting and promoting National Health Campaigns (e.g. NAIDOC week, Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week and Closing the Gap)
- Community inspired programs, dance classes and events
- Hosting film nights at Belgium Avenue Neighbourhood House
To find out what we have planned in the near future, visit our Groups and Events page.
Gym Memberships
We sell discounted gym memberships for concession card holders. You can purchase a 3 or 12 month membership for Collingwood Leisure Centre, Richmond Leisure Centre and Fitzroy Swimming Pool. For more info contact Lan: lann@nrch.com.au on Monday or Thursdays or call our reception 03 9418 9800
Homework Club
Homework Club happens every Tuesday during the school term from 5.30pm-6.30pm for primary and secondary students. Contact Maryan: maryanm@nrch.com.au if you or you child would like to join.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) uses a practical, skills-based action plan, helping participants to learn the skills to recognise and respond to someone experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis, until professional help is received, or the crisis resolves.
Courses are available, please contact yasira@nrch.com.au for more information.
Quit partnership
This program seeks to reduce harms caused by cigarettes and e-cigarettes in Victorian public housing. The program was informed by a process of co-design between Quit Victoria, VicHealth, Homes Victoria and a panel of public housing residents from within the City of Yarra, who sought to answer the question: “How can we make it easier to be safe from tobacco-related harm in our community?.” The public housing residents’ panel worked together to develop solutions in response to this question and implement them.
United Cooking Group
The United Cooking group is a resident led project on the Richmond housing estate. The group encourages intercultural connection and sharing of cultural food, spices, and recipes. The group gathers every Thursday 12pm to 2pm at 106 Elizabeth Street, community hub kitchen. People come together to cook and learn about ingredients and spices that are essential in different cultural cuisines.
Vic Kids Eat Well
Vic Kids Eat Well is an exciting Victoria-wide movement to transform food and drink options in schools and community organisations. Our team in partnership with your school can make a big difference to the health and wellbeing of our kids by creating a nutritious food and drink environment. We can improve kids’ mental health, focus, and school performance. We can help to make changes during some of the most important years of kids’ lives.
To find out more and register your school to this free initiative, please visit: www.vickidseatwell.health.vic.gov.au
Café and Catering Enterprises
The Meeting Place Café
The Meeting Place Café focuses on health and cultural diversity through the food and drinks we provide. We offer halal, vegan and healthy options from local suppliers who share our values and support the community.
Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm.
For more information, contact thecafe@nrch.com.au
Cultural Catering
Cultural Catering is a social enterprise that provides job and training opportunities for people living in the Yarra Housing Estates who have a passion for sharing their cultural cuisine.
To order catering or more information visit our website, Facebook or Instagram pages.
The ATM Café
The ATM Café is a social enterprise café supporting local people into jobs and training in hospitality.
We are located in the old Commonwealth Bank ATM at 124 Victoria St Richmond alongside the City of Yarra Learning Bank, a new community space for residents and businesses to connect, create and learn.
Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 1 pm.
For more information contact Sophie at sophieda@nrch.com.au
Volunteer Services
Volunteers are important to our work and our community.
Volunteers provide services, groups and activities that keep our community healthy and connected to friends.
Contact us
Monday to Friday | 9 am to 5 pm
Yasir Arfat (Manager Healthy Communities)
Phone: 9418 9925
Email: yasira@nrch.com.au
Jean Gillespie (Health Promotion Coordinator)
Phone: 9418 9925
Email: jeang@nrch.com.au
Steve Lim (Café and Catering Social Enterprise Coordinator)
Phone:
Email: thecafe@nrch.com.au
Kathriye Strassnick (Volunteer Coordinator)
Phone: 9418 9893
Email: volunteer@nrch.com.au
Publications
Our Health Promotion Plan
Our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)
Yarra Housing Estate Mental Health Project Report
Yarra Housing Estate Mental Health Project Report August 2023