State Member pays neighbourly visit

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State Member for Evelyn, Bridget Vallence recently received a first-hand account of how Cire Services is going from strength-to-strength as one of the region’s most significant and dynamic not-for-profit organisations.

Mrs Vallence gained the insight during a neighbourly visit to our new premises in Lilydale, just two doors from her own office. Mrs Vallence was welcomed by Cire CEO, Gus Seremetis who outlined many of Cire’s achievements so far this year as well as the programs and services it continues to introduce and deliver, to best meet the needs of people of all ages across the Yarra Ranges and beyond.

Cire’s Lilydale premises accommodates Cire Training and Corporate Services, providing improved teaching, learning and office space as well as a greater public profile. The move has also freed up much-needed space for the Community School at its Mount Evelyn campus and Yarra Junction Community Hub.

Gus said Cire was committed to providing educational opportunities for people of all ages through its core operations of Cire Training, Cire Community School, Cire Children’s Services and Cire Community Hubs. She said Cire delivered its services across multiple sites at Lilydale, Mount Evelyn, Yarra Junction and Chirnside Park.

In addition to occupying the Lilydale office at 211 Main Street, Gus explained that 2019 has been a year of exciting milestone achievements. These included:

  • At the invitation of Yarra Ranges Council, taking over the management of Chirnside Park Community Hub and revitalising the purpose-built resource through a range of initiatives.
  • Securing registration to commence a 3 and 4-year-old kindergarten program at Chirnside Park Community Hub in 2020.
  • Community Training Provider of the Year in the prestigious Victorian Department of Education and Training’s 65th Anniversary Victorian Training Awards. In addition, in the 2019 Learn Local Awards, Cire was named a Learn Local Legend and a finalist in the Victorian Learn Local Practitioner Award – Nina Bekker, Cire Training’s Business Development Manager; and the Victorian Learn Local Creating Local Solutions Award – Women’s Warehouse Essentials.
  • Finalist in prestigious national business and educational awards in the respective categories of social change-maker and specialist school.
  • Cire Community School’s reputation as a school of choice validated by a waiting list of students.
  • Commencement of the building of a hospitality training facility at Cire Community School
  • Successful launch of Cire initiatives including First Impressions Clothing Exchange for, and operated by, long-term unemployed women; Level Up youth program with a focus on esports (video games) at the Chirnside Park and Yarra Junction community hubs.
  • Securing funding from/partnering with philanthropic organisations such as the RACV Foundation and Helen Macpherson Smith Trust to expand our services and programs.
  • Securing competitive government and philanthropic grants.
  • Relaunch of Cire’s website