Families, retirees, migrants, job-seekers: Yarraville Community Centre is a school for all, and there's a lesson to interest everyone.

The centre, established in 1975, has had a significant growth in recent years, according to manager Christine McCall.

She says more than 1000 people come to the centre each week.

"They come from all walks of life - from people who are quite educated to people at that entry level who need to increase their skills."

The curriculum includes computer training, yoga, dance, art, music, gardening and cooking.

The centre also runs a language, literacy and numeracy program for people referred from Centrelink.

It also helps hundreds of migrants learn English and about Australian society.

Ms McCall says the centre also acts as a pathway to further education and employment.

Programs are run with federal and state government funding and by student fees.

"One thing subsidises another thing. The more programs you get up and running, the more you have the ability to have programs that are affordable to people."

Staff and students are excitedly

getting ready for their move back into the renovated historic Francis Street building next month. The centre operates over two sites, on Blackwood Street and Francis Street, but the latter has been closed for two years while it undergoes a rebuild.

The renovation process has not come without its obstacles, with residents having to campaign for federal, state and local government funding.

"It was in dire need of restoration," Ms McCall said. "It looked like it was going to be handed back to the State Government, [but] the local community fought to save the building."

In the past two years the centre has managed to fit its programs into transportable buildings at

Blackwood Street but is looking forward to operating from a bigger and better space. While the Blackwood Street building will continue to run programs, the new centre will feature an art room, information technology rooms, a commercial kitchen and a hall with a dance floor.

It will also offer a much-needed 30-place child-care centre, in addition to activity groups for three-year-olds at Blackwood Street.

Ms McCall said it was more important than ever for communities to have a hub to converge on.

"Being born, growing up, living in the same area and having your family down the road is now gone," she said.

"Being able to have a central point where people can come and make friends and feel less isolated is essential."