The Readings Foundation assists Victorian organisations that support the development of literacy, community integration and the arts. Grants Officer Leanne Hall visited Banksia Gardens Community Services recently – one of the eleven projects being supported by the Foundation in 2017.

Banksia Gardens Community Services is an easy landmark to find in Broadmeadows because it is such an important and bustling community hub for so many people in the area. At the time of my visit, I just missed out on meeting the regular Friday Turkish women’s lunch group (and their delicious cooking), but did manage to see the first excited arrivals for after-school study groups. The centre has a community hall, an early learning centre and extensive facilities for education, study and vocational training.

Rising out of social housing advocacy and tiny offices in the nearby housing estate, Banksia Gardens has grown into a broad non-profit organisation that has been firmly embedded in the Broadmeadows community for 38 years and operates out of the Banksia Gardens centre, two neighbourhood houses and in local schools. They continue their social housing advocacy and have extended into many areas, at times creating new and innovative solutions. One such innovation is their alternative primary school program, Project REAL, Victoria’s first trauma informed education for primary school students who have been excluded from local schools.

The Readings Foundation is delighted to provide a grant specifically for another innovative program – the Aiming High VCE Support Program, a program for aspirational City of Hume students in Years 11 and 12. Aiming High was developed in response to a desire to lift ATAR scores, increase engagement with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects and careers, and help students overcome barriers to reach their potential, including gaining entry into tertiary education. Students attend weekly academic support sessions with tutors, and also receive the benefit of guest speakers, workshops and industry excursions.

I find it really interesting that Banksia Gardens works with students that are struggling to be engaged with schooling, or have in fact been excluded from it, as well as students who have the desire and capability to be challenged and stretched. Their work is strongly aligned with the aims of the Readings Foundation – to respond to the needs of disadvantaged groups in the community.

If you are interested in social justice, voluntary work, direct donations or alternative education, I highly recommend you look at Banksia Garden’s website to find out more about the good work they do in areas as far-ranging as domestic violence, disability, community justice and unemployment. You’ll be impressed with the valuable and important work they do for the Broadmeadows community.

Readings donates 10% of its overall profit to The Readings Foundation each year, and crucial funds are also raised from donations by Readings customers. Find out more here.