Forrest & District Neighbourhood House

04/05/2026

Playgroup is on today and each Tuesday during the school term for children and their families who are not yet school age. New and visiting families are warmly welcomed to join us from 10am-12pm.
Today's space has been thoughtly set up by our wonderful volunteer Tash!

28/04/2026

It has come to our attention that there may be people accessing the gym that are not paid members for 2026. If you have been attending the gym and are not paid up, please do the right thing and pay membership ASAP. This is a community asset that we are proud to provide at an affordable price to members.

The code will be changed soon and proof of membership will be required for the new code.

Memberships are to be paid each year, for the calendar year and will operate on a pro rata schedule (in 3 month blocks), commencing on the 1st January each year.
• Memberships must be paid in full - cash or direct transfer.
• Members who cancel their membership will not receive a refund of money paid.
• Memberships are non- transferrable.
If payment is made via electronic transfer, please send a picture of your receipt with your name and membership type to the NH mobile number 0493105502.
BSB: 633 000
ACC: 153 558 804

Membership fee per person, pro rata:

Joined in:
-January-March: Student $70, Adult $140, Concession $100
-April-June $52.50, $105 $75
-July-Sept $35 $70 $50
-October-December $17.50 $35 $25

Send a message to learn more

31/03/2026

The Victorian Government has established the $2 million Household Financial Relief Program to provide immediate assistance to farming families, farm employees and farm-dependent contractors affected by drought conditions. Under the Program, the CWA of Victoria will provide payments of up to $1,000 to eligible farming families to assist with household expenses such as residential rates, food, school expenses, rent, household and medical bills. The Program is open to eligible recipients in the following local government areas: Ararat, Moyne, Colac Otway, Pyrenees, Corangamite, Southern Grampians, Glenelg, Surf Coast, Golden Plains, Warrnambool, Greater Geelong and southern postcodes in West Wimmera (3312, 3317, 3318 and 3319). The Program is open for applications until 30 June 2026 or until funds are expended whichever comes first and applications will be processed in order of receipt.

Household Financial Relief ProgramPosted on 6 August 2025In Latest News To apply for financial assistance, download the digital form or printable form below and send it to us via email or post.Digital Form This form is best used if you want to complete your application online, download and email it....

25/03/2026

Forrest & District Neighbourhood House and Forrest Primary School are looking for a practical, community-minded person to help grow and support our shared kitchen gardens.
This is a hands-on role working across both sites to support the gardens to thrive and bringing people together around growing and sharing food.
About the role: 10 hours per week (school term only), May – December 2026, based at Forrest Primary School and Forrest & District Neighbourhood House. SCHADS Award Level 2 (approx. $34.58/hour)
What you’ll be doing
• Working in the gardens (planting, weeding, maintaining, improving spaces)
• Supporting seasonal growing and harvesting of food
• Encouraging involvement from students, families and community members, and volunteers
• Helping connect the gardens with local food programs
• Setting up simple routines so the gardens can be maintained into the future
About you
You don’t need to be an expert, but you should:
• enjoy gardening, growing food, or working outdoors
• be practical, reliable and able to take initiative
• feel comfortable working with people of all ages
• building partnerships
• have a genuine interest in community and sustainability
A Working With Children Check and an understanding of the Child Safe Standards is required.
Local connections to Forrest and the surrounding community is highly valued.
To request a position description and to apply:
Please send:
• a short CV, and
• a 1-page cover letter outlining your relevant experience and interest in the role
Applications to: [email protected]
Applications close: 8 April 2026
This role has been set up through the Neighbourhood House 2026-27 Food Security Program, funded by the Victorian Government. For questions or a chat about the role, contact Emma Pakula at Forrest & District Neighbourhood House 0493105502.

23/03/2026

23/02/2026

We are on the hunt for some wonderful humans to add to our list of volunteers.
We are looking for the right people who might be available for a number of activities including:

-Youth group support
-Women of the Otways host
-Playgroup champion
-Community lunch support (back up)
-Food pick ups (backup) Monday night, Tuesday morning, Wednesday night
-Office support

If you are interested and have a few hours spare every now and then, please reach out.

All volunteers will need to have current working with children check and police check- both of which we can help with application.

Please contact [email protected] for more information or to apply.

Send a message to learn more

17/02/2026

We are closed on Wednesday, 18 February 2026!

We're supporting the Day of Action at Victorian Parliament House for a secure increase in funding for all Neighbourhood Houses.

Thank you for your support, postcards & understanding. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, 19th!

16/02/2026

With tomorrows extreme fire danger rating declared, the NH office will be closed and activities post poned. Food boxes will not be available but tonights collection will go straight into the pantry and will be available from 8pm.
Please review your fire safety plan and keep informed through Vic emergency app, cfa website and local radio.
All going well, we will be back to business as usual Wednesday 18th Feb.

11/02/2026

We have a limited number of canvases for youth aged 12-25 to participate in this years Colac Otway Shire youth art competition. If your youth would like to participate, please arrange to collect a canvas and drop the finished artwork back to the NH before the 16th of March.

08/01/2026

Friday 9th January has been declared catastrophic fire danger rating. All NH activities and sites will be closed (nh and gym). Aldi collection is post poned to Saturday morning if safe enough to do so.
Please enact your household bushfire survival plans and stay informed with vic emergency and cfa websites.

06/01/2026

With extreme fire danger rating and total fire ban in place for tomorrow- Wednesday 7th Jan, all nh activities are post poned, the office is closed, as is the gym. Aldi collection will take place Thursday morning.
Please check household emergency plans and follow vic emergency advice if an event takes place.