FAQs

What is Ross House?

A community of small community organisations housed in an historic building in the heart of Melbourne. The building has five stories and a basement car park.

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 businesses can become Ross House supporters. 

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 $39.05 per year (including GST). If you are a for-profit group or an individual, you can become a Ross House supporter by making a tax deductible donation.

What does membership involve?

Each member organisation delegates a member to represent itself at Ross House Association general meetings. The Association is managed by a committee 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 organisation can make a contribution to the management of the Ross House Association 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.

How do you get an office at Ross House?

All tenants of Ross House have to first be accepted as Ross House members (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. Applications are considered by a sub-committee and then the committee of the Ross House Association. Both applications can be considered at the same time.

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.

How much will an office cost?

The contributions that tenants make cover 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 Consumer Price Index is considered each October.

How do I book a meeting room?

Ross House has ten meeting rooms of different sizes. Some are equipped with televisions and DVDs. The Ross House Association also has other resources such as an overhead projector, data projector and a PA available for hire.

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 organisations the rooms are available to anyone.

You can make a booking online here.