Let's play!

We are open for after school drop in play sessions. All programs are FREE to attend. Children aged 5 and up can attend without adult supervision. Under 5's must be with an adult.

Drop in Play Sessions @ Kensington:
Tuesday-Friday: 3.30pm-5.30pm
Saturday: 1.00pm-5.00pm

Hip Hop Classes with L2R @ Kensington
Wednesdays 5:30-6:30pm

Girls Group+ @ Kensington: Tuesdays during school term 5.30pm-8.00pm
Boys Group+ @ Kensington: Fridays during school term 5.30pm-8.00pm

The Venny To You:
Wednesdays 3.30pm-5.15pm @ North Melbourne

What is The Venny?

At The Venny, kids can crawl through tunnels, play with animals, walk on stilts, hide in castles in the air, jump on trampolines, dig the veggie patch, cook a nutritious meal, climb trees and sing at the tops of their voices. It’s fun, it’s creative, it’s messy and it’s a little bit chaotic, but it’s exactly what childhood should be.
In close proximity to the Kensington high-rise public housing estate, it provides a supervised ‘backyard’ and safe haven for local 5-15 year olds.
It delivers a diverse range of early intervention and prevention programs that build children’s resilience. With this support, children are able to maintain their engagement in education, form stable relationships and develop positive community connections.

A BIG THANKS TO OUR DONORS!

The Venny staff and community extend a heartfelt thanks to all our donors who support our work. The Venny is celebrating 40 Years as the backyard of public housing in Kensington and we would not be here without the generous support of our donors. Your kindness had a real impact so thank you to all of you!

THE VENNY VOTES YES!

The Venny board and staff are proud to publicly announce our support for the YES campaign to constitutionally enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. We have listened to the voices of First Nations communities through the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
We recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were the first sovereign Nations of Australia and its adjacent islands, and Sovereignty has never been ceded.
First Nations peoples are proportionally the most incarcerated people on the planet, overrepresented in the youth justice system, and have higher mortality rates than any other Australian population. Here in Victoria, we have the highest rate of First Nations children in out-of-home care in the world. As an organisation that protects the right of the child, The Venny is committed to doing better. We do not claim to speak for First Nations peoples, but First Nations peoples are best placed to shape the solutions that will help their communities. Saying YES to the Voice will allow First Nations peoples to be heard.
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The YES campaign is about constitutionally incorporating a right for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to have a dialogue with parliament about decisions that will impact their lives. We believe the Voice will improve the agency and self-determination of First Nations peoples. This referendum will mean that future Governments will not be able to undo the principle of the Voice.
In 2008 we said ‘Sorry’ to Stolen Generations, in 2012 we committed to ‘Closing The Gap’ on health, wealth, education, and employment. Noel Pearson described the reality in bleak but honest terms – "we are a much unloved people. We are perhaps the ethnic group Australians feel least connected to. We are not popular, and we are not personally known to many Australians. Few have met us, and a small minority count us as friends."
Now is the time to make the first step towards reconciliation with First Nations communities.
We are in support of, and believe that, we must vote YES.