Whitehorse City Council

It’s been an exciting third quarter for Council, with strong community participation and progress across key priorities. More than 27,000 people engaged in major events including the Whitehorse Twilight Markets, Australia Day Concert and Chinese New Year celebrations, between January and March.

Council advanced key infrastructure projects, including transforming Mont Albert Station into a community hub, and secured funding to revitalise local business precincts. Support for businesses and community organisations continued through targeted engagement and grant initiatives.

We also strengthened our focus on community safety, sustainability, and the arts, delivering new initiatives and programs that supported residents while showcasing local talent.

Our Performance Report for Quarter 3, January to March 2026, was endorsed during the Council Meeting last night.

View more highlights and download the report: https://www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/performance-reports

Askolds Petersons: A Way of Seeing is now showing at Whitehorse Artspace!

In this collection of raw studio portraits, locally based artist Askolds Petersons paints with unflinching realism to evoke the essence of his many subjects.

📅 When: 30 May - 18 July
🎨Where: Whitehorse Artspace, Box Hill Town Hall
💵Cost: Free
Find out more: creativewhitehorse.vic.gov.au/whats-on/askolds-petersons-way-seeing

Artist credits:
1. Seventeen, 2025, oil on canvas, 61 x 51 cm
2. Self portrait with brushes, 2021, oil on canvas 122 x 160cm
3. Angelika, 2022, oil on canvas, 81 x 66 cm

Join the conversation at the Walk in Her Shoes Forum: an important evening exploring homelessness, housing insecurity and the experiences of women in our community.

Hosted by Whitehorse City Council in partnership with the Council to Homeless Persons, the forum will bring together lived experience advocates, service providers and local leaders to discuss the realities of homelessness and practical ways to create change locally.

📅 Wednesday 1 July 2026
⏰ 6:30pm – 8:30pm (catering is provided)
📍 Box Hill Community Arts Centre

Forum speakers include Aiv Puglielli MP (Member for North Eastern Metro), Sally Houguet (Liberal Candidate for Box Hill), John Cullen (Salvation Army), Michelle Thompson (Family Access Network) and Annerliegh Pappos (Lived Experience Advocate).

🎟️ Register now to attend the forum: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/walk-in-her-shoes-exhibition-and-forum-whitehorse-tickets-1988737177433

Meet one of our featured speakers for the upcoming webinar ‘Community Conversation: Nutritious and Sustainable Local Food Access Solutions’ 🌱

🎤 Mel Chisholm
Senior Manager, Population Health, North Eastern Public Health Unit (NEPHU), Austin Health.

With more than 20 years' experience across the health sector in Australia and the UK, Mel is a passionate health leader, advocate and community wellbeing expert.

Mel will be 1 of 3 expert speakers sharing insights on how we can strengthen local food access and build healthier, more sustainable communities in Whitehorse.

📅 Thursday 25 June 2026
🕑 2pm - 3.30pm
💻 Free online webinar

As nutritious food becomes more challenging for many households to access, this is an important community conversation you won’t want to miss.

👉 Register now via https://yoursay.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/community-conversation

Presented by Whitehorse City Council in partnership with the North-Eastern Public Health Unit, healthAbility, Deakin University Student Association and Whitehorse Community Houses.

LAST CHANCE to win*

Sign up to receive your rate notices by email by 31 May and you could WIN* 1 of 3 Visa gift cards worth $500 each.

Join us in our effort to promote sustainability. Go paperless to win.

Fast, secure and convenient.

www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/sign-win

*T&Cs apply

National Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our National Sorry Day event on Tuesday 26 May. The event began with Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Colin Jnr Jnr and Mayor Cr Kirsten Langford raising the Aboriginal flag, followed by a moving Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony. Cr Prue Cutts and Cr Jason Martin also attended the ceremony.

Earlier in the day, community members were invited to a special screening of Journey Home, David Gulpilil at The Round. The documentary follows David Gulpilil’s family as they undertake the journey to return him to his birthplace in Arnhem Land following his death in 2021.

National Sorry Day marks the beginning of National Reconciliation Week, held annually from 27 May to 3 June. It is a time to acknowledge the impact of past government policies and practices on First Peoples and to reflect on the ongoing journey toward reconciliation.

📣 Our next Council Meeting is Monday 1 June, 7pm, at the Whitehorse Civic Centre, 379 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading.

It will be live-streamed, so you can join us online from the comfort of your home.

View the agenda ahead of the meeting here: www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/about-council/council-meetings

📅 Monday 1 June starting at 7pm

📍 Council Chambers, Whitehorse Civic Centre, Nunawading

💻 Watch live online: https://bit.ly/WCCwebcast

Council Meetings | Whitehorse City Council Council meetings are open to the public and commence at 7.00pm in the Council Chamber, Whitehorse Civic Centre, 379 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading.

Finding the courage to roar 🦁

For Emma and the team at Roar Psychology, mental health care starts with one simple idea: being brave enough to be yourself.

The name “Roar” was inspired by Emma’s daughter, who loves lions. It also reflects the courage it takes for families, parents and children to ask for support when life feels overwhelming.

After running a practice in Croydon for 3 years, Emma opened Roar Psychology in Mitcham in late 2025, drawn to the accessibility of the area and the opportunity to support more local families. Together with Jess and a team of four staff, Roar focuses on helping parents, neurodivergent children and individuals navigate life in a way that feels supportive, affirming and personal.

Emma says the conversation around mental health, especially how we understand children’s brains, has changed enormously in the past five years. At Roar, the focus is on helping people thrive, not just survive.

Outside the clinic, Emma’s passions are a little more prehistoric: dinosaurs, LEGO, Harry Potter and camping along the Murray River.

And her advice for anyone thinking about starting a business?
💬 “You are so much more capable than you realise, just do it.”

📍Roar Psychology, 2/593 Whitehorse Rd, Mitcham

Are you passionate about the parks and reserves in your community?

We have a number of environmental volunteer groups that work to protect and maintain our beautiful natural spaces.

It's the perfect opportunity for anyone who:
🌳Is looking for something meaningful to do in their spare time
🐝Wants to learn more about our local biodiversity
👫Wants to share their skills and passion with likeminded individuals

Parkland Advisory Committees and Friends Groups run local working bees and work with Council to improve local parkland.

Whether you’re a seasoned nature lover or just getting started, there’s a place for you 💚

Find out more and how to get involved: https://www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/about-council/jobs/volunteers/parkland-advisory-committees/apply-volunteer

Is it a slam dunk? 🏀 We want your feedback on plans to transform the 55-year-old, 5-court Nunawading Basketball Stadium into a modern, 10-court indoor sports destination.

Today Mayor Kirsten Langford was joined by John Mullahy MP, Matt Fregon MP, Councillor Jason Martin, Nunawading Basketball CEO Mark Hallett, Basketball Victoria’s Jake Keogh and members of the Nunawading Basketball and Melbourne Eastern Basketball Association communities to launch concept designs and community consultation on the new stadium.

Have your say until Sunday June 28: https://yoursay.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/nisc or head to the Your Say link in our bio