Who we are
We are a not-for-profit organization
The Nambour Community Centre NCC was established in 1980 with a vision and dream to provide a space where all people of the community could come together and build meaningful connections.
Over the years, there has been a sustained commitment to change, action and care that is embedded in the Centre, staff and programs offered. The Centre’s purposeful action is to reduce the structural disadvantage that too often limits the well-being of many within the community, providing a way up and forward for the most socially, culturally, economically disadvantaged and discriminated groups within the community.
OUR VISION
A community commited to social justice and collective wellbeing
The centre offers a vast range of services, groups and spaces for people to connect. You will find a mix of skilled individuals that help coordinate the centre and individuals who volunteer their time and energy to bring a safe accepting place for people.
OUR PURPOSE
Empower people to flourish by working together to foster a healthy, connected and inclusive community.
NCC strives to offer an array of services, groups and spaces for people to connect, grow and flourish together. We employ caring and professional staff members, and are grateful for volunteers and community members who give their time and energy to create a warm, safe and welcoming space for all people.
OUR VALUES
Our shared values provide a firm foundation for our way of being and collective work together.
Connection
Connect to ourselves, each other, to place ‘Naamba’ on the Sunshine Coast and the broader community to build relationships, strengthen social cohesion and to reduce isolation.
Respect
Value respect for people, place and property.
Empowerment
Value individual and collective empowerment and do so by supporting people to develop ideas, goals, and projects.
Social Justice
Committed to working for a just society for all its members. Working for social justice encompasses: the satisfaction of basic human needs; the equitable distribution of resources to meet these needs; fair access to public services and benefits to achieve human potential; recognition of individuals and community rights and duties; equal treatment and protection under the law; social development and environmental management in the interests of human welfare and earth care.
Inclusion
Include all people and welcome them to NCC spaces and activities where possible.
OUR IMPACT
Working with the community
Nambour Community Centre provided so much in community value in 2023 These values are produced by Neighbourhood Centres Queensland based on data provided by Nambour Community Centre Inc in the 2023 Neighbourhood Centre Survey. Only a limited range of activities where a determinable valuation method exists are included. Data was collected from the Second Quarter of 2023.
$573K+
Community Value in 2023
$118K+
Services Provided
$214K+
Volunteer Contributions
Committee/board members
Briar Willard
President
Briar is dedicated to bringing about unity and harmony among people of differing backgrounds. Briar has lived in 5 different…
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Briar is dedicated to bringing about unity and harmony among people of differing backgrounds. Briar has lived in 5 different countries around the world and sees the beauty and richness that diversity brings to community. She grew up in Geneva, Switzerland with French as her first language.
Briar has been volunteering for over 40 years in a variety of roles and settings in the communities in which she lives with the emphasis on the oneness of humanity and collaboration across cultures and belief systems.
Briar has a Bachelor of Economics from University of Colorado, USA and Master of Social Work from Flinders University. She has qualifications and training in a number of different therapies. She was a research assistant at the International Labour Office in Geneva Switzerland in her 20s and was a senior researcher at University of Queensland. Briar worked for over 25 years in counselling, therapy and social work.
Briar is currently an elected member of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the Sunshine Coast, a worldwide faith whose primary purpose is to bring about unity through working together free of prejudice.
She moved to Rosemount with her husband in 2019 to be closer to family. She loves the serenity, the open space and the gardens.
She joined the committee in order to be of service to her local community.
Sharon Lenord
Committee Member
Sharon is nominating as a general committee member of the management committee and has the skills and experience to make a valuable…
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Sharon is nominating as a general committee member of the management committee and has the skills and experience to make a valuable contribution. She has qualifications in Education, Library and Information Science and Counselling and a strong interest in community services. She retired in 2018 following a career as a Librarian in special, public and academic libraries and has worked at the University of the Sunshine Coast for 19 years, the last 10 years as Library Manager.
Sharon held the role of Volunteer Coordinator at NCC for around 3 years and has a good understanding of the way NCC operates and the vital role it plays in supporting the community.
Michelle Scott
Treasurer
Over my working career I have been blessed with countless opportunities, experiences and training that have given me a strong and diverse skill base…
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Over my working career I have been blessed with countless opportunities, experiences and training that have given me a strong and diverse skill base. I am excited to share that experience and skill with others. Though I have worked in the public and corporate sectors, and NFP (not for profit) organisations, my passion has always been small business. My Business Hub Queensland is an idea that I nurtured for many years. With the opportunities provided by modern technology, cloud-based services, AI and social media there has never been a better time for small businesses to grow and succeed. My aim is to provide simple and practical solutions to empower business owners and assist them to leverage themselves into a balanced life/work situation. We offer services, support and training that give people the opportunity to focus their valuable time into areas that are of the most benefit in creating successful business.
Lisa Fry
Secretary
Lisa has been involved in Nambour in various ways for many years and has developed many professional and personal connections throughout the community.
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She is honoured to once again serve on the board of the Nambour Community Centre, which plays a vital role in providing a range of services to our most vulnerable residents.
Lisa brings extensive experience in business development and management, specialising in systems design, quality and human resources expertise. She is currently undertaking a Master of Counselling to further develop her skills in supporting people to be their best selves.
Martine Dickson
Committee Member
Martine immigrated from France 35 years ago. She has been living in Nambour more than 10 years and on the Sunshine coast 23 years. She is a mother of 3 adult children who are all adults and living independently.
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Martine has retired, after serving as a community development worker for 13 years in the Disability Sector. She enjoyed making a difference in her client’s life by supporting them to live what they were passionate about, she helped them to develop their skills and achieve their goals.
Martine was originally in the fashion Industry. She was trained as a technician in France where she worked in production management. Her knowledge and skills in clothing construction have equipped her well to teach sewing classes, as a volunteer, at Nambour Community Centre for the last 5 years.
Martine values community developments. She joined the Nambour Community Centre Committee to contribute to the centre’s very important work with the community. Martine is passionate about the values in community work that she holds, closely matching those of the Nambour Community Centre.
Partnerships
Our community partnerships form an essential part of our service. We would like to thank the generous individuals, groups and organisations that support the work we do.
Funding Partners
Nambour Community Centre would like to thank our major funding partners: Qld Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy; Qld Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs; Qld Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning; Australian Government Department of Social Services; Australian Government Department of Home Affairs; Sunshine Coast Council and University of the Sunshine Coast.
Services
We would like to acknowledge the services that co-locate at our centre and provide essential support to our community: Kyabra KEIHS; Anglicare Drug Diversion program; uLaunch Disability Employment Services, Suncoast Community Legal Service; Max employment; Sarina Russo; Queensland Health; St Vincent De Paul Homelessness Support; IFYS; QSTARS and Services Australia (Centrelink).
Community Partnerships
A special thanks to Everyday Foundation (previously Suncoast Christian Care); Oz Harvest; Thai Community of Sunshine Coast Association; Sundale Aged Care; Amrita; Act for Kids; Coast2Bay Housing Group; Thread Together; Blackall Range Lions Club; Nambour and District Lions Club; GIVIT; Share the Dignity and anonymous donors.
Nambour Community Centre is guided by the Child Safe Organisations National Principles.