What is ANHLC

ANHLC is the Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres. It was established in the early 1970’s as the peak body for Victorian Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres. ANHLC currently has a membership of over 370 organisations, which includes just about all the Houses and Centres in the state.

Achievements 2011-2012

• Continued the campaign for increased investment in the NHCP, including raising the minimum funding threshold for all NHs to 20 hours. While we were not successful in seeing an increase in 2012-13, it is a positive sign that the NHCP was not affected in a tight fiscal climate that has seen many organisations experience funding cuts.

• Participated in the successful Pay Equity campaign for community sector wage increases. ANHLC continues to provide information to members on the implications of the pay equity claim and translation to the modern award. In 2012-13, we will be negotiating a new Collective Agreement for the sector.

• Coordinated a high-profile campaign to demonstrate the negative impact of the withdrawal of federal and state government funding for occasional child care. While we did not succeed in having state government funding restored, our advocacy contributed to the Federal government’s decision to provide 250 new Commonwealth funded occasional child care places in Victoria for the first time in over a decade. ANHLC’s policy research and campaign efforts were cited in both Federal and State Parliament and our media profile was at an all-time high.

• Coordinated members’ input into the review of VET Fees and Charges. The joint ANHLC / ACEVic submission to the Essential Services Commission was cited more extensively than any other in the Expert Panel Review and several of our advocacy efforts met with success, including:

o 5% loading for rural ACE provision, not including online delivery

o Change in eligibility criteria to enable VCAL students to access subsided training at Cert II level and above

o Higher student contact hour funding for Foundation Skills

o Better quality protections in addition to price monitoring

o Protection of funding for pre-accredited training.

• Facilitated development of the Neighbourhood House Good Practice Guide by a voluntary working party and the Neighbourhood House Networks Good Practice Guide by the Combined Networks group to strengthen quality standards in the sector

The Vision of ANHLC
The vision of the Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres is of just and empowered local communities in which our member organisations provide opportunities for people’s participation and learning.

The Mission of ANHLC
The mission of the Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres is to support and develop the movement of Neighbourhood Houses and Community Learning Centres as individual organisations and as a collective.

Funding
ANHLC is funded by membership fees, donations and the Department of Human Services.