Borderlands Cooperative, A Space for Community, Reflection and Connection

The Volunteer West team had the pleasure of visiting Borderlands Cooperative, located within a warm and welcoming old church building in Melbourne’s west.

More than simply a shared space, Borderlands reflects the power of community, ideas and connection coming together with purpose.

We were warmly welcomed by Jacques Boulet, founder of Borderlands Cooperative and a long-time contributor to community development and critical social work both in Australia and internationally.

Originally from Tongeren, the oldest town in Belgium, Jacques has spent much of his life working across social work, community development, education and academia throughout Europe, the United States and Australia. After more than 30 years of teaching and community work, he founded Borderlands in 1997 with a vision of creating a space grounded in ecological, social and cultural justice.

During our visit, we were reminded of the importance of spaces where people can gather to reflect, share ideas, build relationships and engage in meaningful conversations about community and social change.

Borderlands carries a calm and thoughtful atmosphere, filled with books, stories, creativity and decades of community knowledge and lived experience.

For those looking for a welcoming and reflective community space, Borderlands Cooperative is well worth a visit. Jacques is often in the office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, always happy to share stories and conversations with visitors interested in learning more about the cooperative and its history.