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Meeting Venues: pointers for support group co-ordinators

Michelle Howson, November 2007

Library meeting rooms

Most public libraries have meeting rooms available for hire. Some may be available free to community groups, otherwise booking costs vary from $10-20 per hour or less. For example, Yarra-Melbourne Regional Library has rooms for $7.70 per three hours. Some rooms are only available during library opening hours; facilities available vary from venue to venue.

Find your local public library online here. Many libraries have information about their meeting room facilities on their website. Alternatively contact your local council office by phone for information.

Neighbourhood Houses

Facilities and prices vary between locations. For example, Flemington Neighbourhood House can be hired on weeknights for $5 per meeting, or Port Melbourne Neighbourhood House hires out rooms for $17 per hour.

More information and comprehensive listing of Neighbourhood Houses in Victoria is available from the Association of Neighbourhood Houses & Learning Centres at www.anhlc.asn.au or call 9654 1104.

Council and Town Halls

Contact your local council and asking about other facilities available in the area such as council or town halls, which may be available for free to eligible community groups. Find your council details here. (Councils may also offer free photocopying – great for preparing your meeting flyer, agenda or minutes!)

Ross House

Ross House located in Melbourne's central business district and offers resources to a diverse range of self-help and small community and environment groups. Room hire information is available on the Ross House website small roundtable rooms from $7.60.

Other people who may be able to help:

Your local doctor or specialist.
Your local member of parliament.
Local business owners, and ask around within your Support Group members for people who think their employers might help out.
Other groups, especially those who have a fixed office.

A printable version of this information sheet, with embedded links, can be downloaded here.