For any Cats or Lions fans amongst us – regardless of the result, I do hope you enjoyed the game and related festivities over the long weekend.
It’s been yet another jam-packed month for Community Strengthening, with so much community engagement, connection and celebration. I hope you enjoy reading what our teams have been up to and as always, thank you to everyone involved in making it happen.
This month we have also welcomed our new Manager – Safe, Active and Connected Communities, Shay Ferguson. Shay comes to us with a wealth of experience and even has his own fond memories of playing sport in Greater Dandenong when he was growing up.
I would also like to remind everyone that we are currently undertaking a Safety Culture Review. To ensure outcomes of the review are practical and meaningful, we need your input. This anonymous survey asks how we’re doing, and where we could do better. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes and is run independently by HSE Global. The survey closes on 8 October, so please take the time to make your voice heard.
Have a wonderful week,
Peta
Greater Dandenong Children’s Festival
The Festivals and Events Team coordinated this year’s Children’s Festival calendar, filled with activities for children and their families to engage in during the September school holidays. This year’s theme, “Around the World,” was selected in consultation with the Greater Dandenong Children’s Advisory Group, which aims to celebrate the cultural diversity and global traditions of the community. The calendar showcased a variety of Council and community-led programming, helping connect families with affordable and engaging avenues for social connection.
As part of the Children’s Festival, we're also delivering Deckchair Movies at Harmony Square and Springvale Community Hub. The series of family friendly movie screenings commenced on Monday 22 September and will finish on Saturday 11 October.
View the full list of events and movie screenings.
Noble Park Family Fun Day
Festivals and Events delivered Noble Park Family Fun Day on Sunday 21 September at Ross Reserve. Highlights included a main stage program featuring global music and dance, and an exciting Amplify Youth Committee showcase. Free activities running all day included the Global Grooves music a dance workshop space, themed children’s workshops, a drawing competition tent, interactive reptile display, roving performers and a variety of food, market and community stalls. This event showcased exceptional cross-departmental collaboration with various business units including Horticulture, Libraries, Youth and Family Services, Community Care, Children’s Services, Waste, Sustainability, Compliance and Sport and Recreation.
Seniors Festival
We're hosting a vibrant and diverse program of events throughout October for the Seniors Festival, including engaging education sessions, health and wellbeing activities and the ever-popular day trips. The festival is proudly supported by Community Care and the Libraries teams, with contributions from other Council teams to ensure a diverse and inclusive celebration for older adults in our community.
For a full range of events throughout October, download the Seniors Festival 2025 Event Guide - 2.1MB
MAVlab Innovative Talks: Library Con
Vanessa Gigliotti from Greater Dandenong Libraries was one of three guest speakers at MAVlab Innovation Talks: Library Con on Wednesday 27 August. She shared insights, statistics and learnings from the Dandy-Con program, alongside Kingston and Yarra Plenty Libraries. Well done Vanessa.
Sally Isaac Memorial Scholarship Nomination
Diversity and Literacy Librarian, My Van Nguyen Dang was endorsed by Greater Dandenong City Council as our sole nominee for the 2025 Sally Isaac Memorial Scholarship Fund Award. The award supports emerging female leaders under 35 committed to community improvement.
My Van is recognised for her leadership in multicultural library services, with roles in Public Libraries Victoria Network and Australian Library and Information Association at both state and national levels.
Little Library in Noble Park
Borrowing items from the library is about to get easier for Noble Park residents.
The introduction of a Little Library outside Noble Park Station will allow library members to pick up reservations and return items at their convenience, giving them around the clock access to our libraries.
On Monday 8 September, Metro Trains Melbourne approved site access and preparation works were completed on Friday 19 September. FE Technologies will install the locker soon, expected to be operational in the coming weeks.
HOME 25 – Invisible Cities Exhibition
The exhibition has been a resounding success, drawing audiences into a rich celebration of culture, creativity and community. Over fourteen weeks, the program has offered an impressive suite of public events – from community-led activities, artist workshops and performances to a large-scale forum and market activations – each one amplifying diverse voices and sparking meaningful conversations.
Visitors and participants alike have praised the depth and spirit of the program. One forum panelist reflected: “It was an honour to do the Welcome to Country and to participate… I truly appreciated the opportunity to share culture, connect with everyone, and be part of such an important conversation.” Another participant shared, “It is a fantastic exhibition, and I am very proud of being part of it all. I have received enormous praise for the work and the stories that are celebrated in the project.”
Keysborough Community Hub Welcomes the Community
On Saturday 6 September, the Keysborough Community Hub officially opened with a vibrant celebration that drew over 3000 attendees. The event began with a Welcome to Country and Yidaki performance by Mark Brown and Ganga Giri, and was supported by representatives from Council, State Government and the local community.
The program featured stage performances, roving entertainers, outdoor games, nature activities and a wide range of children’s workshops. Visitors also enjoyed community stalls, food trucks, and arts and crafts sessions, creating a lively and inclusive atmosphere.
Since its opening in early August, the hub has welcomed over 10,000 visitors, nearly 400 new library members have joined and over 7000 items in the collection have been borrowed, reflecting strong early engagement and interest.
Keysborough Community Hub will continue to offer programs such as the Family Fun School Holiday Program, free Calisthenics taster sessions, Tea and Tech (Seniors Festival), Libraries After Dark Henna Workshop, and Baby Bounce and Toddler Time. Community members interested in running groups at Keysborough Community Hub can contact the Hubs team on keysboroughcommunithub@cgd.vic.gov.au
Additionally, residents are invited to join the Community Hubs Reference Group, which will provide valuable feedback to ensure the Hub continues to meet local needs. Community members can express their interest by completing a brief survey, which will soon be accessible via the Council website.
Peta Gillies, Executive Director Community Strengthening