About Us
HISTORY OF PARK ORCHARDS LEARNING CENTRE INC.
In 1978 under the auspices of the Park Orchards School Council a community relation’s sub-committee organised a leisure time program, making use of the school art room. Four courses were presented in term 1, 1979 using local tutors and POLTA (Park Orchards Leisure Time Activities) was born.
Since that time “caring and sharing” has been the keystone of our organisation with one of the aims being to provide an environment in which community members can continue their education, while helping to enrich the life of our community. Park Orchards is an unique community – it has been described as a village in suburbia – and to maintain this situation it was seen as essential to foster the growth of POLTA. This need and the success of POLTA lead to the eventual establishment of a fully supervised Community House in 1983 at 572 Park Road. Park Orchards.
In 1986 incorporation took place and we became Park Orchards Community House Inc. Three extensions have been made to the building due to the growth of our program. A wide range of accredited courses, further education, art/craft, pre-school and after school age activities, health, fitness and self development programs are conducted here, as well as occasional childcare each morning during school term. Other community groups utilise the house from time to time for their meetings.
In 2007 the name of the organisation was changed to Park Orchards Learning Centre Inc. to keep in line with a professional profile.
Park Orchards Learning Centre Inc. is a Registered Training Organisation and in an average year we offer approximately 3000 course hours and 26000 student contact hours. These hours are for courses only and do not account for the other operations of the house, which include childcare, referrals, outreach, community support and development.
The Committee of Management are volunteers with various skills and they are the employer who employ six permanent part-time staff, a Manager, Education Program Co-ordinator, Assistant Education Co-ordinator, Administration Officer, Receptionist, and Childcare Co-ordinator. Childcare workers, are employed on a casual basis, tutors and a cleaner are employed as sub-contractors.
Manningham City Council owns the building and we are situated behind the local Primary School and next door to the Kindergarten and Infant Welfare Centre. This area is the hub of Park Orchards so the Learning Centre is a real focal point.
PARK ORCHARDS LEARNING CENTRE INC.
MISSION STATEMENT
Park Orchards Learning Centre Incorporated is a professional organisation that provides access for the wider community to affordable, quality vocational and adult education and training in a welcoming environment.
The Centre is built around a flexible program, which adapts to community needs, and is overseen by a skills based board (committee) of volunteers and managed by professional dedicated staff.