On Wednesday October 26^th2011 the Northern Community Hub was officially be opened by the Hon Simon Crean MP at a vibrant celebration attracting hundreds. People enjoyed a vast array of different cultural delights including Paella and Spring Rolls by the Spanish & Filipino community and were entertained by the Geelong Media Education Centre Jazz Student Band. The sun shone as people danced and chatted enjoying the amazing buzz from the great sense of achievement and inclusiveness the building and it's grounds demonstrate. Thank you to all who came!

The Northern Community Hub is the first of its kind in Australia in terms of welcoming newly arrived refugee communities to the country and linking them in with older, more established migrant communities. 

Diversitat Project manager Bridgette Carey said:

“We are so proud; we now have a state of the art facility that has the potential to grow in line with emerging multicultural needs of our region.”

This site is of historical significance to Diversitat and its 42 affiliated ethnic groups having been the former site of the Geelong Migrant Hostels. With more than 18,000m2 of land there is plenty of room for future development that will embrace the surrounding ethnic community club houses and preserve the site’s history.

Diversitat CEO Michael Martinez said:

"This has never been just for us, it has always been for everybody... limited only by our imagination"