Cire Services Inc

CIRE SERVICES INCORPORATED is one of the largest not-for-profit organisations serving the diverse population of the Yarra Ranges near Melbourne, and also the City of Casey.

We provide flexible education and training and a depth and breadth of community programs and services to help meet the needs of our residents, particularly in some of our local communities where there is much socio-economic disadvantage and associated issues. 

We are driven by our commitment to connecting people and providing lifelong learning to all age groups and interests, and supporting the community to identify and address its own needs.

We operate across sites in Lilydale, Yarra Junction, Mount Evelyn, Chirnside Park, Mooroolbark, Badger Creek, Woori Yallock and Berwick as well as through outreach. Our core services are: Cire Community School for disengaged students; Cire Early Learning  which includes long day care with integrated kindergartens and out of school hours care;  Cire Training, our award-winning Registered Training Organisation (RTO) which delivers VET and accredited and pre-accredited courses; and Cire Community Hubs which offer a diverse range of programs and services.

We have earned a sound reputation as a credible advocate for many of those in our community who experience social and economic disadvantage including homelessness, isolation, loneliness, unemployment, mental health challenges and associated issues.

Nationally recognised as a charity and as a not-for-profit organisation, we rely on the ongoing generosity of the wider community and government and philanthropic funding to help bring about change and make a positive difference to the lives of others.

Cire’s operations are underpinned by the following:

VISION

To enhance the lives, capabilities and opportunities in our community.

MISSION

To deliver our vision by working towards sound and sustainable outcomes through flexible education, training and support. 

Cire is committed to the following values and goals:

VALUES

• Integrity – We do what we say and we stay true to our values and commitments.
• Respect – We respect those in our community, and we actively seek to engage all stakeholders.
• Quality – The quality of our services will not be compromised.

Cire provides flexible education and training and a depth and breadth of community programs and services to help meet the needs of our residents, particularly in the Upper Yarra catchment where there is much socio-economic disadvantage and associated issues. 

We are driven by our commitment to connecting people and providing lifelong learning to all age groups and interests, and supporting the community to identify and address its own needs.

We operate across sites in Lilydale, Yarra Junction, Mount Evelyn, Chirnside Park, Mooroolbark and Berwick as well as through outreach.

Our core services are:

Cire Community School which has a leading reputation for pioneering programs to engage  students who require a positive alternative to mainstream education. We have become a school of choice for students from years 5 to 12 and our pedagogy aligns with that of Berry Street, based on trauma-informed practices.  We have campuses at Yarra Junction, Mount Evelyn and Berwick.

Cire Early Learning  which includes long day care with integrated kindergartens and out of school hours care, vacation and occasional care and playgroups. Our centres are at Yarra Junction, Mount Evelyn and Chirnside Park. 

Cire Training, our Registered Training Organisation (RTO) which delivers VET and accredited and pre accredited short courses. Cire Training was named the Department of Education and Training’s Community Training Provider of the year in 2019 and was on the final short list in 2020 and 2021. Cire Training delivers courses in the Yarra Ranges and City of Casey.

Cire Community Hubs at Yarra Junction and Chirnside Park, offering a diverse range of programs and services.

We have earned a sound reputation as a credible advocate for many of those in our community who experience social and economic disadvantage including homelessness, isolation, loneliness, unemployment, mental health challenges and associated issues.

CIRE SERVICES INCORPORATED serves the diverse community of the Yarra Ranges in the following core areas:

Cire Community School. Our co-educational independent secondary school caters for young people who have experienced difficulty with mainstream schooling.  We have pioneered successful and flexible programs to meet the needs of our students and work tirelessly to make our school one of choice. We provide quality education and personal development opportunities that are hands-on, and relevant in order to engage our students in their secondary education and life beyond school.

The school’s program is framed within the emerging understandings of childhood development, including the impacts of childhood trauma and student learning. We believe that all young people should be able to positively engage in their education regardless of their life circumstances and any barriers to learning. Education should not just focus on academic attributes but on the whole person, providing active support for social and emotional development while further enriching the depth of knowledge and skills needed for a rapidly changing world.

 Cire Family and Children’s Services (FACS). FACS operates across multiple sites and focuses on the needs of families within our community. We provide long day care (with an integrated kindergarten program) for children aged six weeks to six years; outside school hours care, vacation care and occasional care. We also have a supported playgroup, Gumboots, which is led by a qualified early childhood educator.

Cire Training, our Registered Training Organisation (RTO) based at Lilydale. Cire Training offers nationally recognsied and accredited qualifications and short courses, delivering a breadth of training services to help meet the diverse and changing needs of our community and facilitate greater inclusion. From short courses, work skills accredited units of competency to accredited training, our programs are both non accredited and accredited and have helped many people to upskill and achieve their aspirations and career goals.

Cire Community House. Our House at Yarra Junction aims to empower people to learn, connect and belong. It is a friendly, vibrant and inclusive community hub which offers an extensive range of services, education and leisure programs and community development activities that reflect community needs and interests.  Programs include parenting education, environment education, health and wellbeing support activities, and craft and hobby tuition.

In addition, Cire Community House facilitates a range of supports and services on a daily basis such as public internet access, Centrelink access, and free bread and meals.

We are an active member of Neighbourhood Houses Victoria (NHV) and the Community Houses Association of the Outer Eastern Suburbs (CHAOS).

Chief Executive Officer – Gus Seremetis

Chief Operating Officer – Erin Weinberg

Executive Principal, Cire Community School – Paul van Breugel

Executive Manager, Family and Children’s Services – Diletta Lanciana

Executive Manager, Cire Training and Community Hubs – Laura Shortis

Chair –  Julian Carle

Secretary – Robyn Dew

Treasurer  – Janet Xi 

Board member – Aspasia Papalitsas

Board member – Dr John Christopher Doyle

Board member – Graeme William Mawson

Nationally recognised as a charity and as a not- for-profit organisation, we rely on the ongoing generosity of the wider community and government and philanthropic funding to help bring about change and make a positive difference to the lives of others.

Please click here if you would like to bequest a donation to Cire Services in your will.

Nationally recognised as a charity and as a not- for-profit organisation, we rely on the ongoing generosity of the wider community and government and philanthropic funding to help bring about change and make a positive difference to the lives of others.

Please click here if you would like to make a donation to Cire Services. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Cire Services welcomes donations of goods, materials or products from businesses.

Such donations contribute to, and sustain our programs and services and include:

• learning toys and games
• books
• arts and crafts
• educational materials
• sports equipment
• building materials and paint
• exterior signage and promotional materials.

We recently received a donation of work boots from the Workwear Group. The boots are used by students at Cire Community School when undertaking valuable work placements/experience/community work on sites requiring personal protective equipment. The boots were an oversupply and have helped the disengaged youth at our school take a huge step forward in help carve an employment pathway and  positive future for themselves.

For more information, please call 1300 835 235 or email info@cire.org.au

We are an extremely diverse not-for-profit organisation serving people of all ages across the Yarra Ranges. From specialists in early years education through to working with disengaged youth, to training, administration and maintenance, we welcome expressions of interest from people interested in joining our team to help make a positive difference to the lives of others.

For current vacancies, please click here.

At Cire Services we value the wonderful contributions made by volunteers across our community and welcomes expressions of interest from those who would like to donate some of their time to assist us in making a positive difference to the lives of others.

For further information, please click here.