🗓️OVAN Community Meeting: Sun 20th July💡

3pm, Exodus Community Centre, 273 Liberty Pde, Heidelberg West

Author

Olympic Village Action Network
July 18, 2025

Dear OLC users, Heidelberg West community members, and allies,

We would like to invite you to OVAN’s next community meeting this Sunday 20th July from 3pm-5pm at Exodus Community Centre, 273 Liberty Pde, Heidelberg West VIC 3081. Bring your ideas and passion!

Meeting Agenda:

Duration: 2 hours
Date & Time: Sunday 20th July 2025, 3-5pm
Location: Exodus Community Centre, 273 Liberty Pde, Heidelberg West, VIC 3081

This meeting aims to formalise and elaborate on OVAN’s three strategic priorities with community engagement, identify implementable strategies and actions in each domain, and identify community leaders to help guide ongoing working group actions.

[1] Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country (5 min)

[2] Introductions and Meeting Ground Rules (10 min)

[3] OVAN Committee Updates and New Member Confirmations (10 min)

[4] Breakout discussions by working group themes (45 min)

Participants divide into breakout groups according to interest, with markers and butchers paper to strategise within each of OVAN’s strategic priorities. Each group nominates a note-taker and spokesperson to report back.

WG1: Future of OLC

Focus: How can we help activate the OLC/Olympic Village Green over the next 6 months?

Why? Demonstrated community activation is a key leverage point in advocating for enhanced funding for a comprehensive redevelopment.

WG2: Capture the Stories

Focus: How do we capture and share the stories of OLC users before/during/after aquatic decommissioning?

Why? These stories will help celebrate and build solidarity in our community, and provide an asset for impact evaluation and future advocacy surrounding the OLC.

WG3: Serve the Vulnerable

Focus: How can we partner with local organisations to identify and support those most at risk after the aquatic decommissioning at OLC?

Why? Council has committed to receiving a report by December 2026 covering “The impact on the local community, the progress made in relation to case management and assisting current users of the closure of the OLC pool (who has transitioned to using another facility, who has fallen through the gaps).”. We need to make sure those most affected, including those attending the women’s only nights at OLC, are supported and have their voices heard.

[5] Group report-back and open discussion (30 min)

[6] Strategy and next steps (15 min)

[7] Closing remarks and planning for next meeting

We look forward to seeing you then! ❤️

Dr. Aiden Varan, MD, MPH, BSc(Hons)
Paediatric registrar &
President, Olympic Village Action Network
On behalf of the Olympic Village Action Network Incorporated Association Committee
[email protected]
https://ovan.org.au
https://ovan.beehiiv.com

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands upon which the Olympic Village is situated, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin nations, and pay our respects to elders past, present, and emerging. Soverignty over these lands was never ceded; always was, and always will be, Aboriginal country. We aim to work in collaboration with our First Nations partners to create a better future for our community.