Northside Connect: Nundah Neighbourhood Centre Programs

Northside Connect offers a range of community engagement activities, including ESL classes, a thriving community garden, and food relief services. Volunteers assist with language learning, maintain the garden, and distribute weekly food hampers supported by OzHarvest. The centre also provides a welcoming space for a community lunch every Tuesday.

English as Second Language Classes

Our ESL run 10am - 12pm every Monday and Thursday during school term. Classes cater to all levels of English and are open to anyone who wants to improve their English. Although classroom style, ESL volunteers work with participants at their level with a focus on learning the basics, conversational English and social interaction.

Community Garden

Our community garden has been thriving recently boasting an incredible crop of pumpkins, chillis, limes, cherry tomatoes, zucchinis, lettuce, and spinach varieties. The garden is maintained by an enthusiastic group of volunteers and provides salads and vegetables for our weekly community lunch

Food Relief/ Community Lunch

Northside Connect offer a range of food relief support at our centre. During our office hours we have frozen meals prepared by Community Canteen that are available to community members in need, and pantry items available to people requiring one-off emergency relief.

On Tuesday mornings, from 10am our dedicated volunteers help us to distribute fruit and vegetable food hampers (supported by OzHarvest). Hampers are available to community members in need weekly.

While food hampers are distributed, we also provide a community morning tea and lunch from 10.30am.

The roles

ESL Classes

• Assist the ESL volunteers in providing English Language tutoring in a group setting for non-English speaking clients
• Create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all participants of ESL
• Liaise with other volunteers and staff regarding content planning and delivery

Community Garden

• Watering, harvesting, weeding, planting, garden care and general soil maintenance. This is a winter garden, and we plant and harvest from March/April to October. The summer heat does not allow us to plan and harvest in summer months

Food relief

• Sort food and make up hampers to be distributed.
• Assist with the distribution of food relief as per appt sheet
• Clean up all boxes and leftovers
• Wipe down all tables/chairs/floors where necessary after distribution of food
• Provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for all participants

Community Lunch

• Ensure participant numbers are recorded for data collection requirements
• Coordinate weekly meal plan including purchasing ingredients
• Liaise with Community Garden participants regarding using produce from the garden for lunch
• Coordinate the preparation and cooking each week
• Ensure all participants feel welcome and involved