UNOH Melbourne
UNOH Chapters: Where we live and serve Christ UNOH Melbourne began in 1993. The chapter lives and serves Jesus in three neighbourhoods in the South Eastern industrial belt of Melbourne. These are Springvale, Noble Park and Dandenong. Lindy Croucher is the Melbourne chapter leader. UNOH workers in Melbourne are:
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Sharm and Peter Blair |
Pete Murray Taylor |
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 Peter Dekker and family |
UNOH workers in Melbourne partner with many groups including:
Asylum-Seeker Assistance Project (ASAP)
Asylum Seeker Assistance Project was started in 2001 by Keith Briant, a volunteer with UNOH. He learned that asylum seekers were living without any income and facing isolation, homelessness, no access to English classes, and incredible settlement stress facing separation from family and an uncertain future. ASAP was formed to provide material aid, settlement support and also friendship and community to asylum seekers living in the Springvale, Noble Park and Dandenong areas. ASAP volunteers currently:
- Develop friendships with asylum seeker families and individuals
- Drive asylum seekers to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) in West Melbourne on Thursday mornings in order to access help for medical, legal, food and other needs
- Advocate through letter writing and accompanying to meetings with lawyers and migration agents
- Run fundraisers to build up emergency relief funds
- Facilitate free family day outings to experience a chance to relax and see the sights of Victoria
- Offer English support through the ASRC.
We are looking for committed volunteers willing to be involved in either the Thursday morning city trips and/or any of the other areas. Alternatively, you may have ideas for hosting a group of asylum seekers for a one-off day outing or other entertainment opportunity. ASAP’s vision: to be a community pursuing the well-being of asylum seekers in the Greater Dandenong area. Sharmila Blair currently leads the ASAP team. For more information, contact Sharmila on: sblair@unoh.org or 0401 338 905.
Boys club
The Noble Park Boys Club seeks to respond to the needs of 7- to 14-yr-old boys in the local area. Each Saturday, boys from diverse cultural backgrounds meet in Catherine and Gabriel Hingley’s home to have fun and engage in many memorable and often wacky activities. Catherine co-ordinates a team of volunteers that aims to create enjoyable and meaningful experiences and opportunities that many of us have taken for granted as part of childhood. Boys Club also aims to provide positive mentors and male role models for boys beginning to seek their identity. We also seek to provide connection and support for whole families, particularly those with only one parent at home. Support the Boys Club
The Burmese Project Team
Since helping to found the Burma-Hope Foundation in 1998, UNOH workers have been joining with Burmese refugees in our neighbourhoods in:
- Tackling the issues of poverty and injustice facing their community both locally and overseas
- Raising awareness in the broader Australian community of Burmese issues through creative political engagement, advocacy and preaching
- Developing lasting relationships with Burmese who are isolated.
In all things UNOH workers aim to extend the love and compassion of Christ. Currently the Springvale-based Burmese Project team is involved with:
- Visiting Burmese in their homes
- Helping with the settlement process
- Free Burma Appeal – advocating for democracy in Burma
- Burmese Homework Club
- Womens craft and English conversation group
- Girls club
- Soccer
- Family day outings
- Tutoring through AMES
If you would like more information on how to be involved, contact Peter Dekker – peterd@unoh.org
Rainbow Church
The Rainbow Church began in the Barkers’ home in 1995, with a few neighbours sharing a meal and praying for each other. It is now a community of 40-50 neighbours who have become like family. They:
- Share day-to-day life
- Run a food bank and drop-in space
- Gather on Sunday afternoons for a highly participatory time of worship.
Many Rainbowers face issues of mental illness, addiction, recurring homelessness, unemployment and isolation, but together they have formed a close Jesus-centred community that brings some stability and hope in the midst of life’s chaos. Rainbow Church is based in Noble Park and is affiliated with Churches of Christ.
The Rainbow Vision Statement: ‘Rainbow is a Jesus-centred community. Together we create a seriously light-hearted environment in which to experience God’s love, particularly as people struggling with life’s issues. Rainbow accepts all people regardless of habits, clothes, race, or creed, and invites all to participate. We aim to pass on the hope that we share through the blessing of the Holy Spirit.’ For more information contact Ileana Noble on 9547 7089 or ileananoble@optusnet.com
Rainbow Church Food Bank and Drop-In
Rainbow Church Food Bank and Drop-In is an outreach of our Rainbow community that seeks to meet the needs of the wider community in Noble Park, Springvale and Dandenong. We open every Tuesday from 9:30 till midday at Noble Park Uniting Church, corner Joy Parade and Frank Street. We aim to offer a safe, welcoming environment for people to have a cuppa and chat, a sausage sizzle and a free food parcel. Contributions of UHT milk, cereal, rice and food cans are welcome. For more information, contact Gabriel Hingley – gchingley@unoh.org Support Food Bank
‘Your Space’ Drop-In
In August 2008, there was much excitement in UNOH’s Springvale community over acquiring a 3-year lease for a centrally located shop. We now have a place for people to come grab a cuppa, meet new people and feel welcome. ‘Your Space’, at 3 Sandown Ave, is also used for a range of activities including:
- After school drop-ins
- Murray’s music
- Creative prayer nights
- Community dinners
- A communal veggie garden
- Burmese homework club
- Burmese womens group
- Burmese girls club.
Your Space is also available for other community groups to use for activities such as play groups or other clubs. For more details, contact Naomi Dekker – naomi@unoh.org
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