About us

Vision

Self reliant people, strong communities.

Mission

Empowering individuals and local communities to learn, connect and grow.

LEARN, CONNECT, GROW

We are a leading not for profit community organisation, providing high quality learning, engagement and employment opportunities for our local communities.

We do this by:

1. Offering lifelong learning, education, training, learning pathways and youth services.
2. Supporting individuals and families to engage with local communities and settle into the broader community.
3. Connecting, responding and adapting to community needs.
4. Continuous improvement and co-designing programs/activities with local communities.
5. Partnering with other organisations.
6. Staff as a community of learners connected to professional networks and best practice.

ALL VISITORS TO DJERRIWARRH SITES NEED TO BE VACCINATED OR HAVE A MEDICAL EXEMPTION

COVID-19 UPDATE FROM OUR CEO, TRISH HEFFERNAN

As we look towards 2022 I want to reassure our community that Djerriwarrh continues to follow government health advice in order to support you and keep our community safe from COVID-19. We are compliant with all Australian government guidelines and restrictions, including those regarding vaccination.

We are gradually returning to face to face program delivery, and working towards most of our programs being available face to face in 2022.

We have all the necessary COVID safe plans in place, and have regular cleaning of all of our sites. Our Emergency Management Group continues to meet regularly and respond to new government advice, as it becomes available.

We are taking enrolments and registrations for our courses and programs including AMEP, SEE, Better Futures, JVEN, ParentsNext, VET Certificates and pre accredited courses. Our new Local Jobs Program is also creating pathways into employment in Health and Building and Construction while our Jobs Victoria Advocates are out and about in Melton and Brimbank connecting people looking for a job with appropriate services that can support them.

Check out our website, our Facebook page or our Instagram account for further information and/or updates about all our programs and services. .

We welcome your visit to any of our sites, but ask you not to visit us in person if you are unwell. If you are unwell please contact us by phone or email:

Phone: 8746 1000 or [email protected]

We are continuing to support our community to learn connect and grow, while keeping our staff, students and participants safe.

Thank you to everyone in our community for your goodwill and cooperation. Most importantly, take care and stay safe.

Trish Heffernan

CEO

Caring
We provide a safe and welcoming environment for all.

Respectful
We treat all people fairly and equally.

Inclusive
We are welcoming and put people first.

Adaptable
We respond to individual and community needs in a creative and flexible way.

Accountable
We take responsibility for our decisions and follow through on our commitments.

Democratic Principles

Djerriwarrh supports and promotes:

• the principles and practice of Australian democracy, including a democratically elected government, and the rule of law
• equal rights for all before the law
• freedom of religion
• freedom of speech and association
• the values of openness and tolerance

Djerriwarrh recognises the importance of keeping children safe:

• Djerriwarrh is committed to child safety and all staff, volunteers and board members have a responsibility to prevent child abuse and respond appropriately to allegations.
• Djerriwarrh is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all children and young people from all cultures and linguistically diverse backgrounds and those with a disability.

How to lodge a complaint or appeal

Djerriwarrh will treat any complaint or appeal seriously and confidentially. We use discussion and conciliation to help find a speedy resolution. To read more about our approach, download the Complaints Policy.

Steps for lodging a complaint:

Informal complaint

1. Where possible, discuss your concerns with a staff member. This may be your Teacher/Trainer, Program Administration Officer, Coordinator, Manager or any other staff member you feel comfortable talking to.

2. The staff member will discuss your concerns and ask you how you would like it resolved. They may take notes and refer it to a Coordinator or Manager in order to reach a satisfactory outcome for yourself and others.

3. You will be advised within five (5) working days of the outcome of your complaint.

4. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the complaint, you may make a formal complaint.

Formal complaint
Download the Complaint Form or request a copy from any Reception site. You may ask someone, a staff member, family member or friend, to help you complete the Complaint Form.

1. Return the Complaint Form in a sealed envelope addressed to the Program Manager or the Compliance Manager and marked ‘Confidential’ to:

• In person: to any Reception site
• By mail: Djerriwarrh Community & Education Services, 241 Station Road, Melton, Vic 3337
• By email: [email protected] (include subject heading of ‘Confidential’)

2. Djerriwarrh will contact you within five (5) working days of receiving the complaint to discuss the complaint and complaints process.

3. Djerriwarrh will take any necessary steps or action required to resolve the problem in a timely manner.

4. You may be assisted or accompanied by a support person throughout the process regardless of the nature of the issue or complaint.

5. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the complaint process, you can appeal the decision. To request an appeal, complete the Appeal Form or ask for a copy from any Reception site or email [email protected]

At any time throughout the complaints and/or appeals process, you may take your complaint to an appropriate external body.

External complaint avenues

Complaints about Vocational Education and Training

National Training Complaints Hotline

The National Training Complaints Hotline is a national service for consumers to register complaints concerning vocational education and training.

The National Training Complaints Hotline uses the services of the Translating and Interpreting Service and National Relay Service.

Online: Visit the National Training and Complaints Hotline page.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 13 38 73

Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA)

The VRQA investigates complaints about breaches of standards and guidelines by Victorian Registered Training Organisations.

Online: Visit the VRQA Make a Complaint page
Mail: Manager Complaints Unit, VRQA, GPO Box 2317, Melbourne, VIC, 3001
Phone: 03 9637 2806

Complaints about other programs

For external complaints about any other funded program delivered by Djerriwarrh Community & Education Services, please speak to the Program Manager or email the Compliance Manager at [email protected]

Djerriwarrh Community & Education Services is a not for profit organisation which has been delivering a range of services for  people of the outer western suburbs since 1989.

Djerriwarrh was born from the ashes of the CYSS (Community Youth Services Scheme) program in 1989 with the support of the Melton City Council and since its inception has provided effective education, employment and support services to many thousands of people.

Djerriwarrh’s first home was 7 McKenzie Street, Melton and in 1991 the organisation moved to the ‘White House’ at 239 Station Rd, Melton where to this day it is still located. In 1995 an office was built next door at 241 Station Rd to accommodate an expanding work force and in 1998 a suite of 4 training rooms was built on the same site.

SkillShare was the starting point program in 1989. This program was designed to provide training to those displaced from the labour force so that with up to date skills their employment opportunities were enhanced.

When the CES  was disbanded in 1998 and replaced by the privatised Job Network, Djerriwarrh through membership with Job Futures became a provider of Job Network Services in Melton, Sunbury, St Albans and in later years Craigieburn. In 2009, Djerriwarrh ceased delivering Job Network and since 2012  is no longer a member of Job Futures.

Youth support programs have been a feature of Djerriwarrh since 1991 when it began the Pathways Program for young unemployed people who needed extra assistance to make the transition into employment and education. Youth programs that Djerriwarrh has delivered successfully include  Job Placement Employment and Training (JPET), Youth Pathways Program (YPP), Youth Transition Support Initiative (YTSI), School Focussed Youth Services and Youth Connections. Many of these programs have been delivered in both Melton City Council and Brimbank City Council.

Djerriwarrh became a registered Adult Community and Further Education Provider in 1996, now known as a Learn Local Provider, and continues to deliver pre accredited training in Melton.

Djerriwarrh became a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) also in 1996 and now delivers accredited training courses from a range of training packages and curriculum.

Policies

Djerriwarrh has policies in place to explain how we will deal with issues when they arise and to show that we operate in a fair and consistent manner towards all students, clients and staff.

Registration details

As a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), Djerriwarrh Community & Education Services, provides students with training that results in qualifications and statements of attainment that are recognised and accepted by industry and other educational institutions throughout Australia.

Type:  Community Based Adult Education Provider

Status: Current

TOID: 3771

Audit Reports

Please click on the following links to read a PDF copy of the reports.

• VRQA RTO Certificate of Registration
• VRQA Rectifiction Acknowledgement
• Audit Report

Djerriwarrh Community & Education Services (Djerriwarrh) is a not-for-profit charitable organisation which has been operating in the western suburbs of Melbourne since 1989. Djerriwarrh is a registered with the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission (ACNC).

Any donations made to Djerriwarrh go to supporting our participants and programs. All donors will receive a receipt which is tax deductible in Australia if their donation is $2.00 or more.