Community

12 ways to expand your mind in Melbourne

20 January 2023

Become a pro at basket-weaving, car maintenance and business skills in your neighbourhood, in a city where learning opportunities abound.

Here are 12 ways to learn in the City of Melbourne.

1. For all Melburnians

Deepen your understanding of Aboriginal culture and attend events that promote truth-telling, healing and change. Here are six ways to be an ally in Aboriginal Melbourne.

2. For babies and children

Give your little ones a great start to life with our services for children and families, including early childhood education in state-of-the-art facilities. Meet some of our early childhood educators.

3. For international students

Supercharge your startup, learn business skills to prepare for an amazing career, and practice languages from around the world. We run a vibrant program of events and support for international students.

4. For bookworms, makers and innovators

Connect, code, co-work, join a conversation club, design a game, 3D-print a lizard skeleton, prototype a lizard skeleton and much more at our libraries and makerspaces.

5. For people from multicultural backgrounds

Browse your neighbourhood portal to discover ways to learn and engage in your suburb, including education for refugee and asylum seeker women in North Melbourne and traditional Ethiopian basket weaving workshops in Carlton.

6. For the LGBTIQ+ community

Learn about money management, car maintenance (pictured), unicorn cupcake making and much more at Queer Social. These fun and inclusive events are led by Laneway Learning, a Melbourne Awards finalist.

7. For gender equity crusaders

Help prevent violence against women by attending upcoming community training. We’ve funded AMES Australia to provide this empowering training, in partnership with the Drill Hall Residents Association.

8. For older people

Nurture a lifelong love of learning through events for older people. Get tech support from a young whiz, learn how to meditate and unravel advance care planning. Then visit your local neighbourhood centre.

9. For young artists

Spark your imagination – a true sign of intelligence – through creative activities for babies, children and families at ArtPlay and for young people at Signal. Activities are led by professional artists.

10. For active Melburnians

Challenge your mental and physical agility by learning a new skill or team sport. Visit Active Melbourne to browse fun ways to keep fit like bike polo, blind cricket, swordcraft, quidditch and skate lessons.

11. For business owners

Get top tips start or grow a successful business from our Business Concierge Service. We serve all industries, from hospitality to biomedicine and everything in between. Reach out on 03 9658 9658.

12. For nature lovers

Boost your brain (and urban biodiversity) through our citizen forester and nature steward programs. Then book time with an expert to grow your own wildlife garden, even if you only have a balcony.

Learn more

These are just a few of the ways you can learn and connect in your community. To be first in the know about what’s going on in your neighbourhood, subscribe to our newsletter to receive local news direct to your inbox.

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