About Burrinja Cultural Centre
 Burrinja is a vibrant community cultural centre in the Dandenong Ranges with a clear, creative and community-based vision for the region: Building Community through Arts. Open Wednesday to Sunday, Burrinja is a fabulous place to experience great art and culture. Burrinja is the operational name for the Dandenong Ranges Community Cultural Centre Inc. The cultural centre is a not-for-profit arts organisation and registered charity, incorporated in 1999. Burrinja is governed by an independent Board, which includes Yarra Ranges Council representation. |
|
Strategic Plans, Creative Vision & Annual Reports
|
Burrinja Vision
“Building Community through Arts”
Burrinja Mission Statement
Burrinja is a living, vibrant and welcoming community cultural centre providing opportunities for artistic, cultural and environmental experiences
Aims
Burrinja’s function, purpose and programming are built on a multi-element vision that seeks to enable and develop experiential and extended arts practice and programs across diverse art forms and cultural activities within the region.
Burrinja supports existing and enables the development of emerging and distinctive cultural practices, promoting engaging community-connected outcomes that contribute to the vibrancy, diversity and resilience of the region.
The valuing and appreciation of Indigenous culture is embedded across the organisation’s practices and programming. Burrinja values the reciprocal cultural learning offered to the region’s community through Indigenous cross-cultural engagement including its collection management and curatorial practices.
Burrinja’s capacity to contribute positively to the region’s cultural ecology is empowered through working in partnership across a diverse range of cross-sector organisations.
Purposes
a) To promote, develop and present arts and culture in the region
b) To be a public art gallery, public museum and collecting institution
c) To support and develop the cultural identity of the Dandenong Ranges
d) To provide opportunities for the development and facilitation of creative arts practice and enterprise including cultural development
To achieve these purposes Burrinja shall work to achieve its vision – Building Community through Arts; be open and accessible to the public; provide cultural services and programs in visual, performing and community arts, education and environmental programs and cultural development; and, develop its own Collection to best museum practice standards.
Strategic Goals
1. Making great arts and culture
2. Embedding Indigenous culture and cultural heritage
3. Community connections – audience engagement
4. Good governance
In partnership with Yarra Ranges Council
Yarra Ranges Council and Burrinja will work together to encourage opportunities for cultural development and expression, encourage a sense of local identity and community, participation in cultural activities through a range of strategies from project development to training and advocacy. The Shire and Burrinja agree to work to recognise the diverse and unique character of the Shire, and to deliver services in a manner that is sensitive to both indigenous and environmental issues.
Burrinja Awarded Best Small Museum – Victoria 2010, 2013 & 2017
Burrinja is delighted to have been awarded the 2017 Award for Best Small Museum at the Victorian Museums Awards (Museums Australia - VIC).
The Archival Survival Award for Small Museums was awarded for the exhibition, public programming and community engagement developed by Burrinja for its national touring exhibition Black Mist Burnt Country.
This Award comes on top of the 'Highly Commended' award for the exhibition at this year's Museums' and Galleries National Awards - 'Temporary or Travelling Exhibition'.
Remarkably, this is the third time in seven years that Burrinja has taken out this prestigious Award!
• 2010 - for Public Programming
• 2014 - Fashion meets Fiction - the Darnell Collection: exhibition, programs and partnerships
• 2017 - Black Mist Burnt Country; exhibition, public programs, community and partnerships
Burrinja Executive Director, Dr Ross Farnell says: “This is a remarkable achievement for a small independent arts organisation that does so much, and one of which everyone at Burrinja and in the region can be rightly proud. These outcomes can only be achieved when an organisation has a clear goals and a fabulous team of people from Board to Staff and Volunteers all working to make our vision of ‘building community through arts’ become reality.”
Dr Farnell also noted that the active partnerships forged by Burrinja, not only with Yarra Ranges Council and other key funding partners, but also at a grass-roots level within the region and its creative communities, are what makes such rewarding outcomes possible.
Museums Australia (Victoria) noted: Burrinja, a public gallery and community Arts Centre in the Dandenong Ranges has demonstrated commitment to excellence and best practice involving people and communities across all areas of public programming. Encouraging the widest access for audiences from all socio-economic, geographic and ability backgrounds is foremost in the planning of a wide diversity of events and activities across key areas of community engagement; arts, performance, education and community.
Burrinja Gains Museums Australia (Victoria) Accreditation
Burrinja Cultural Centre is proud to announce it has been granted Accreditation by Museums Australia (Victoria). Burrinja has worked hard to meet set criteria from the National Standards of best museum practice. To become accredited, museums spend 2–3 years developing procedures, policies and practice to meet recognised museum standards. Burrinja staff and board are delighted to be recognised for their diligent work in developing and maintaining these procedures.
A professional panel of museum experts made a final assessment and compiled a positive report on museum operations.
“We are delighted to recognise the hard work and commitment shown by the team at the Burrinja Cultural Centre. Caring for our shared heritage is an important task and by becoming Accredited Burrinja has proven to be a leading museum in Victoria”. Elizabeth Marsden, Manager, Museum Accreditation Program, Museums Australia (Victoria).
“We are incredibly proud to receive the Museums Australia Accreditation; it supports our hard work and gives us confidence as we move forward into the future….”
“JD Mittman, the Burrinja Team and the local community have lots to be proud of through this important recognition” Ross Farnell, Former Executive Officer, Burrinja
Burrinja Privacy Policy
Purpose
To provide guidelines regarding the collection, storage and use of personal information of customers and users of Burrinja Community Cultural Centre.
Policy
Burrinja will ensure:
• that data collection adheres to the Australian Privacy Principles 2014 which amends the Privacy Act 1988
• establish clear guidelines in the collection and use of personal data ensure that the privacy of all is safeguarded
Responsibilities
The policy can only be altered by the Board
The procedures can only be altered by the Executive Director
The Venue Manager is responsible for implementing the procedures and ensuring that all staff, volunteers and participants are aware of the policy and procedures.
Procedures
How is personal information collected and stored?
Customers are able to purchase tickets by telephone, on-line or in person at the Box Office. Collection of personal data will take place at the time of purchase, if you request marketing material to be sent to you or when you join our email mailing list through our website or in the venue.
We will make every attempt to inform you that we are collecting your personal details, why we are collecting and how it will be used.
What information will be collected and why?
When you purchase tickets or make a booking at Burrinja we need to collect personal information about you. The information that we will collect includes your name, address, telephone number and where applicable your credit card details.
For children attending workshops organised by Burrinja their parent/guardian will be asked to provide date of birth details, emergency contact details, details of any allergies medical conditions that may impact the child whilst in the class. These details are destroyed at the end of the session or term.
We collect this information so that we can charge you for your tickets, trace your booking should you lose your tickets or have a query about your booking, inform you of any changes or cancellations to the program. Credit Card details will not be kept by Burrinja, once they have been used for the agreed transaction. All credit card details will be destroyed responsibly.
Who will use your personal information?
Burrinja will not sell, rent or trade personal information about you to or with any third parties. When you make a transaction with Burrinja you will be asked if you would like to receive marketing material from us in the future. You will also be asked if you consent to have your name and address passed onto the promoter or performer you have booked tickets for. Occasionally promoters request the details of people that have come to see their performances/exhibitions so that they may provide you with promotional material about their future events. Information will only be passed on to the promoters if assurances are made in writing that information will only be used for the purpose specified and will be protected under privacy standards similar to those set down in the State of Victoria.
Personal information may be used to inform you of any selected special offers made to Burrinja’s customers by our sponsors. Any such promotions will always come via Burrinja.
As a registered charity, Burrinja is exempt from the SPAM Act 2003. Any commercial electronic messages it sends are exempt from the Act’s consent and unsubscribe conditions if, and only if, the messages relate to goods or services supplied by Burrinja. Burrinja must however comply with the identity condition of the Act.
You can at any time unsubscribe from receiving marketing communications from Burrinja by following the unsubscribe link on emails or notifying Burrinja in person or in writing.
Security of Personal Information
As a condition of their employment all staff and volunteers are required to maintain confidentiality of all personal information. All staff are given training on the safe collection and storage of personal data.
All personal data collected by Burrinja is protected and stored in a secure environment, both electronically and physically. Data is not accessible to public or third parties. All reasonable and best practice precautions are taken to protect data storage. Written and electronic data is destroyed securely.
All documents containing personal information will be password protected in line with internal procedures.
Anonymous Transactions
Only when booking in person at the box office can you request that no personal information is collected. This will mean that in the event of any changes or cancellations of the program Burrinja will not be able to notify you.
Access and Correction
Burrinja strives to ensure that all personal information stored is accurate. Under the Privacy Act you have the right to request access to information that Burrinja holds about you and to request that any inaccuracies are corrected.
Burrinja will publish its Privacy Policy and Procedures on its website. Burrinja’s Privacy Policy and Procedures is available on request.
If you wish to access the personal information Burrinja holds about you a written request will need to be made. We cannot provide this information over the telephone or electronically. We will need to verify your identity so please enclose a copy of your identification i.e a driver’s license or passport. This will be returned to you once your identity has been verified. It is impracticable for Burrinja to deal with individual requests for information to persons who have not identified themselves or have used a pseudonym.
Burrinja reserves the right to refuse access for reasons set out in the Privacy Act sub clause 12.3. Burrinja will notify you in writing its reason for refusal.
Burrinja does not make a charge to access your records. However if any third party charges are to be made you will be notified of these prior to us providing you with access. If you wish to discuss our method of providing you with access please contact our Privacy Officer with your query.
If you wish to change personal information about you that is incorrect or out of date, please contact our Privacy Officer on the address below with your request. All requests will for access or correction will be considered within 21 days
Contact details for the Privacy Officer:
Privacy Officer
Burrinja
351 Glenfern Road
Upwey 3158
Telephone: 9754 1509
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
In person: At Burrinja, Cnr. of Glenfern Road and Matson Drive, Upwey, 3158
If you believe that we have not dealt with your personal information in a manner that complies with the Privacy Act you can direct your concerns in writing to:
Executive Director
Burrinja
351 Glenfern Road
Upwey 3158
The Executive Director will review your concerns/complaint and issue a formal response to you with 21 days of receiving your correspondence. Should you be unsatisfied with the response you can request in writing that your concerns/complaint is forwarded for consideration at the next scheduled meeting of the Board. The President of the Board will respond in writing within 21 days of this meeting.
Review of Privacy Policy
The Privacy Policy will be reviewed and updated annually by the Privacy Officer.
This policy was last updated in April 2019.
Join Our Team
About Burrinja
Burrinja is at the heart of the creative community of the Dandenong Ranges.
Burrinja is a not-for-profit organisation that thrives thanks to the support of Yarra Ranges Council, artists, visitors and our community. We deliver a wide array of cultural experiences to the Dandenong Ranges region and beyond. The 400 seat theatre and 130 studio theatre combines professional performers, community and school productions with a range of commercial and other hire events, while three exhibition spaces, artist’s studios and cultural development events ensures a vibrant visual and community arts program.
Annually, Burrinja supports around 300 activities both inside the facility and out in the community, reaching around 80,000 people annually.
Burrinja is: Obsessed with art. Focussed on community. Steered in partnership. Interested in tomorrow.
Aware of history. Seeking Impact. Continuously learning. Driven by ethics.
We look for people who can instil these values.
Current Vacancies
Burrinja Cultural Centre is recruiting a Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Reporting to the Creative Director & CEO, this key role is responsible for leading the development and implementation of Burrinja’s business and operational strategies, including Finance, Human Resource Management and Governance. We are seeking a leader in robust and transparent organisational frameworks.
We encourage people from a diverse background to apply. This might include identifying as First Nations peoples, people with a disability, culturally and linguistically diverse people, and LGBTQIA+ people.
This is offered as a full-time role, with minimum three days per week at Burrinja Cultural Centre in Upwey. We are willing to negotiate engagement at 0.9 or 0.8 FTE.
For more information about the role, please refer to the Position Description here.
Applications should be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in the following format:
• Curriculum vitae of no more than 2 pages, plus
• Cover letter addressing the Selection Criteria of no more than 3 pages
To discuss the role in more detail after reading the Position Description, please call 0467 193 893 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Burrinja will be closed for the Christmas/New Year break from Saturday 21 December, with staff returning on Monday 13 January. If you call or email during this time, we will get respond once Burrinja re-opens.
Applications close at 11:59pm on Wednesday 22 January. Interviews will be scheduled during the week commencing 3 February.
Burrinja is committed to child safety and wellbeing and is a Child Safe organisation, all staff require a Working with Children check.
Volunteer opportunities
If you are interested in volunteering please click here.
If you wish to be notified of any future vacancies please sign up to our E-Newsletter.
The Burrinja Team
Creative Director & CEO: Melanie Burge
General Manager & Deputy CEO: Samantha Dunn
Curator & Collections Manager: JD Mittmann
Marketing Manager: Kinnear Miller
Venue & Experience Manager: Nada Čordašić
Community Visual Arts Producer: CJ Baxter
Visitor Experience & Customer Service Assistant: Sally Young
Facilities Coordinator: Anne Burnett-Cooper
Finance Manager: Bronwyn Millen
Music Producer: Ben Langdon
Venue Technician
Volunteer
Be part of the creative heart of the Dandenong Ranges
Volunteers are at the heart of Burrinja. The organisation was founded by volunteers and has continued to thrive because of the valuable time, energy and commitment they give. The staff team are also supported by a voluntary Board of Management who commit their time to the strategic management of the organisation.
The volunteer team is vital to ensuring that visitors have a positive and enjoyable experience, that the venue runs smoothly and that it remains an affordable resource for the local community.
We are currently recruiting for our Visitor Experience Volunteer
APPLICATION PROCESS
For more information about the role please download the position description here
To apply fill in the online Visitor Experience Volunteer Application Form
If you require adjustments to the application and selection process, or have any questions about volunteering at Burrinja, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 03 9754 8723.
*Please note, you must be 16 years or older to volunteer at Burrinja.
