Want to help residents feel more connected in your building?
The City of Melbourne’s ‘Chat in the Foyer’ project helps residents get to know their neighbours, connect with local services and build a greater sense of belonging. Owners Corporation committees can partner with City of Melbourne to deliver this free, welcoming program in their building.
Ready to bring residents together? Register your interest by 30 November 2026.
How the program works
Introduction meeting
A nominated Owners Corporation committee member and, where possible, the Owners Corporation manager, meet with a City of Melbourne Neighbourhood Partner to:
Learn about the program, which includes an initial event in the foyer, plus a follow-up social activity.
Plan the foyer event
Learn about City of Melbourne services and community resources.
Foyer display and Chat in the Foyer event
One week before the event in the foyer, we will provide a professional display including a pull up banner for your building foyer. This display helps promote the upcoming event to residents and includes a ‘Vote with a Dot’ activity.
The nominated Owners Corporation committee member will:
set up the foyer display with the ‘Vote with a Dot’ activity
host the foyer event with a Neighbourhood Partner.
Residents can vote with a dot (sticker) for a social activity they would like to attend, which would be arranged after the Chat in the Foyer event. This allows people to vote for their preferred social activity even if they cannot attend the foyer event.
The Chat in the Foyer event is a casual networking session where residents can:
meet their neighbours
learn about local services and community opportunities
meet City of Melbourne staff and community partners
discuss the social activities nominated through the Vote with a Dot display
enjoy light refreshments in an informal setting.
Residents may have the opportunity to meet staff from areas such as neighbourhoods, resilience, community development and community safety.
All residents including owners and tenants are welcome to attend the foyer event and participate in the vote with a dot activity, and social activity.
Social activity
The nominated committee member hosts a social activity that receives the most votes from the ‘vote with a dot’ activity.
This social activity gives residents another opportunity to meet their neighbours, build relationships and strengthen the sense of community within the building.
Who can participate?
This program is available to apartment buildings that:
have an Owners Corporation committee member willing to champion the program
contain more than 100 residential apartments
have a foyer large enough to accommodate two trestle tables and informal mingling
are located in Melbourne CBD, Docklands or Southbank.
What you will receive
Participating apartment buildings receive:
Practical support to strengthen neighbourly connections and reduce social isolation
A professionally prepared foyer display to help promote the program
A ‘Vote with a Dot’ activity that helps identify the types of social activities residents want to attend
A $150 EFTPOS card to support refreshments for the foyer event and/or social activity
Opportunities for residents to learn about City of Melbourne local services, safety, and resilience initiatives.
What we need from you
The nominated committee member will:
Attend the introduction meeting with your Owners Corporation manager and City of Melbourne Neighbourhood Partner
Help promote the program to residents
Co-host the Chat in the Foyer event
Arrange refreshments using the provided funding
Welcome residents and encourage participation on the day of the foyer event
Host and coordinate the social activity chosen by residents
Complete a brief evaluation survey
The following are desirable but not essential:
Access to 2 or 3 trestle tables
Visitor parking for City of Melbourne staff.
Express your interest
Discuss the opportunity with your Owners Corporation committee.
Nominate a committee member to lead the program.
Complete the expression of interest form by 30 November 2026.
