A NEW multi-use community hub has opened at the Nairm Marr Djambana gathering place.
The new building will be used to deliver health, wellbeing, education, and cultural connection programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It was funded with $850,000 from the federal government, promised in 2022.
Nairm Marr Djambana is based at Jubilee Park, and has operated from two demountables since 2016. The new facility houses a community workshop space with a multipurpose room, kitchenette, and storerooms. The workshop space will be used by Nairm Marr Djambana’s men’s group.
Nairm Marr Djambana CEO Aunty Deb Mellett said “this space has been shaped by our community – by what people have told us they need to feel safe, supported and connected.”
“For many years we’ve delivered programs from temporary facilities, but this hub gives us the beginning of what Nairm Marr Djambana can become – to grow, to strengthen culture, and to support our people in new ways,” she said.
Dunkley MP Jodie Belyea attended the opening of the new facility. She said “the Australian Government is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of First Nations communities, and ensuring people have access to culturally safe spaces where they feel connected and supported.”
“Nairm Marr Djambana plays a vital role in strengthening community, culture and wellbeing, and this new facility will help expand the programs and support available to local families. We’re proud to be investing in a space that will continue to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” she said.
Further funding will be required to complete the next steps in Nairm Marr Djambana’s master plan, which include expanded gathering spaces, a dedicated children’s and ceremonial area, and a commercial kitchen and café.
First published in the Frankston Times – 28 April 2026