General News
25 November, 2025
Ararat Neighbourhood House named Small Learn Local Provider of the Year
ARARAT Neighbourhood House has been recognised for its outstanding contribution to community learning, taking out the Small Learn Local Provider of the Year award at the 2025 Learn Local Awards.
The Award Gala Lunch was held at Zinc, Federation Square in Melbourne on October 9, where the local organisation was celebrated among Victoria’s top adult education providers.
Manager Teli Kaur said she was both “humbled and honoured” to accept the award on behalf of the Ararat Neighbourhood House team.
For Ararat Neighbourhood House, the recognition highlights the success of its English as a Second Language (ESL) program, a cornerstone of its community education offerings.
In 2024, 25 locals participated in the program, which helps newly arrived migrants develop practical English, digital literacy, and job readiness skills through a hands-on, learner-centred approach.
“This is a really great thing for the community, to be able to learn at any age.”
The program’s impact has been tangible, with over 80 per cent of participants reporting increased confidence using English in everyday life.
“We have a diverse community growing every day and they come to us,” she said.
“They are finding someone who can teach them, we are very lucky here, we’ve got a great English teacher.”
Ms Kaur said the award reflected the dedication of her small team and their commitment to inclusive education.
“We are happy to help our community, to help them grow and learn,” she said.
“It’s a great testament to the hard work and dedication, being a small provider.”
Looking ahead, Ms Kaur said she hoped to expand the program to meet growing demand.
“We are working hard to get more hours next year, I have already applied for the extension, so hopefully that will be approved very soon. That means we can run more programs next year and take on more students.”
The award marks an important milestone for the local learning centre, reinforcing its role in building connection, confidence and opportunity within Ararat’s diverse community.
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