Support

Practical help, free, and without a fuss. If you're not sure where to start, ring us on 03 9434 6717 or email [email protected].

Help with forms and paperwork

Get It Sorted runs Thursday mornings, 10:30am – 12:00pm. Free help with everyday forms, paperwork, online applications and simple digital tasks. No booking — just come in.

Help with your tax

Tax Help runs on Mondays and Tuesdays during tax season, for people earning $60,000 or less. Appointments are 30 minutes. Ring 03 9434 6717 to book.

If you're caring for someone

Watsonia Neighbourhood House is an accredited Carer Friendly House. Designed in partnership with Carers Victoria, the Carer Friendly programme makes neighbourhood houses more informed, compassionate and inviting spaces for Victoria's carers.

Carers are ordinary people who attend to the diverse needs of family or friends with disability, terminal illness, long lasting injury or mental health issues. We run programmes and activities designed specifically to support carers — our Carers Support Group meets on the second Thursday of each month.

Gambling harm

Banyule City Council funds us to extend our opening hours and provide alternative spaces for social inclusion activities, as part of a gambling harm minimisation programme.

Social inclusion reduces gambling harm by addressing what drives it: isolation, loneliness and financial stress. Somewhere to go and people to see builds stronger networks and a sense of belonging and purpose — which is good for mental health and lowers the risk of a gambling problem taking hold.

The community garden

The Little Library

Our Little Library is here especially for our community. Take a book, leave a book, and help stories keep travelling through the neighbourhood. Because of that simple swap-and-share, the collection is always changing — you never know what you might find.

Next time you're walking past, stop by, open the little door and have a browse.

Recharge Point

If you use an electric wheelchair or scooter and you're out and about and find yourself low on power, call into the House and ask to RECHARGE. We'll be only too happy to help.

Free WiFi

We've recently updated our WiFi and the coverage is excellent. Bring your own device and use it anywhere in the house or the garden.

Community lunch, and the recipes

Community lunch is free, every Tuesday. If you've eaten something here you liked, the recipes are yours to take home.

• PDF Community lunch recipes The dishes we cook and serve at the House, collected in one book. PDF, 4.3 MB

Local support services

We keep a list of services across Banyule and Melbourne — meals, housing, family violence support, health and aged care — with addresses, phone numbers and opening hours.

See the local support services list

Volunteering

Volunteering is a good way to connect with your community, learn new skills and make friends. It builds confidence when you're job seeking, and our positions satisfy Centrelink's voluntary work requirements. More about volunteering with us.