Q: Who can join the Ross House Association?

Membership is only open to organisations which are:

1. community and self-help groups: these are organisations where decisions are made by members. Some of these groups have members who share the same medical or social condition (self-help) or have the same concern (community groups).

2. small groups: with under 380hrs per week of paid staff and needing less than 135m2 of space.

3. groups collaborating for social justice and/or environmental sustainability.

(Individuals and small businesses who are undertaking activities in keeping with the values of the Ross House Association can become 'friends' rather than members.)

Q: How much does it cost to join?

Non profit organisations working towards environmental sustainability and/or social justice goals can become a member of Ross House for $38.50 per year (including GST). If you are a for-profit group working towards the same aims, or an individual, you can become an Associate Member or Supporter of Ross House for $38.50 a year.

Q: What does membership involve?

Each member organisation delegates a member to represent itself at Ross House Association general meetings. The Assocation is managed by a Committee of Management elected from these representatives at the Annual General Meeting, usually held in October or November each year. A series of sub-committees deal with specific areas of responsibility. Any members of a Ross House Association member organisations can make a contribution through these sub-committees.

There are also ad hoc opportunities to contribute and influence the Ross House Association through member's consultations and short term task groups.

Q: What is Ross House?

A community of small organisations housed in an historic building in Melbourne's Central Business District. It has five stories and a basement car park.

Q: How do you get an office at Ross House?

All tenants of Ross House have to first be accepted as members or friends of the Ross House Association (see who can join above). The activities of your organisation will then be assessed to see if they are appropriate for the building. The layout of the building makes confidentiality very difficult and noisy activities too disruptive.

The first step to becoming a tenant is to make an application for membership and then tenancy. Application are considered by a sub-committee and then the Committee of Management of the Ross House Association. Both applications can be considered at the same time.

Q: What space is available?

Vacancies vary as tenants come and go. If there is not a suitable space new members of the Ross House Association are put on a waiting list and are contacted when one becomes available. The smallest area tenanted is 8.5m2 and the largest is 120m2.

Q: How much will an office cost?

The contributions that tenants make covers all out-goings (electricity, gas, cleaning, security etc). Tenants only need to organise their own telephone and computer connections.

There are nine different levels of contributions that vary according to the tenant organisation's ability to pay.

Contributions increase and decrease as the capacity of each tenant organisation increases and decreases. A rise in line with the CPI is considered each October.

Q: How do I book a meeting room?

Ross House has ten meeting rooms of different sizes. Some are equipped with televisions and VCRs. The Ross House Association also has overhead projectors, screens, data projectors and a PA available.

There are five different rates for meeting room hire. They vary depending on the type of organization making the booking and the size of the specific room.

Ross House Association members and tenants have priority for meeting room bookings but when they are not required by these organizations the rooms are available to all hirers. Telephone 9650 1599 to make a booking.


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