Boroondara Toastmasters Club

Overview

Boroondara Toastmasters Club is a long-running community speaking club chartered in June 1998, with over 400 meetings held since its founding. Based at Burwood Neighbourhood House in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, the club offers a supportive, fun, and relaxed environment where members of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels develop their public speaking, communication, and leadership skills. Visitors are warmly welcomed at no cost and with no preparation required.

Best For

• Beginners who want to build confidence in public speaking from scratch
• Professionals and career-focused individuals seeking to sharpen communication and leadership skills
• Residents of Melbourne's eastern suburbs (Camberwell, Glen Iris, Hartwell, Surrey Hills, Ashburton, Blackburn South, and surrounds) looking for a local, community-oriented club

Meeting Format

• Mode: Offline (in-person)
• Frequency: Fortnightly — 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month (February to November)
• Duration: Approximately 2 hours (7:30 PM arrival for a 7:45 PM start, concluding around 9:30 PM)
• Group size: Not publicly specified; typical community Toastmasters clubs range from 10–25 participants per meeting

Typical Session Flow

1. Arrival & check-in — Doors open from around 7:20–7:30 PM; guests are greeted and introduced to an experienced member who helps them feel comfortable
2. Table Topics (impromptu speaking) — Participants deliver short one-to-two-minute impromptu speeches on surprise topics; open to all attendees including guests
3. Prepared speeches — Two to three members deliver structured speeches based on projects from the Toastmasters Pathways education program, typically five to seven minutes each
4. Evaluations & general feedback — Each prepared speech receives a verbal and written evaluation from a designated member; a General Evaluator reviews the overall meeting; awards and recognitions are given
5. Networking & wrap-up — Informal conversation and networking after the formal agenda closes

Language And Speaking Level

• Languages used: English
• Recommended level: All levels welcome — from complete beginners to advanced speakers
• Beginner friendly: Yes — no preparation or prior experience is required to attend as a guest; new members start with an Ice Breaker speech to introduce themselves and progress at their own pace through the Pathways program

Membership And Costs

• Trial policy: Visitors may attend meetings for free with no obligation to join and no preparation required; there is no pressure to participate until you feel ready
• Membership fee: Toastmasters International semiannual dues are USD $60 (approximately USD $10 per month), paid twice yearly in April and October; additional club-level dues may apply — confirm with the club's Vice President of Membership
• Extra costs: A one-time new member fee of USD $25 applies upon joining (effective October 2025), which covers administrative processing, Base Camp system access, and the first Pathways learning path; no additional costs for books or venue hire for members

Venue And Accessibility

• Address context: Burwood Neighbourhood House, 1 Church Street, Burwood VIC 3125 — a community hub in the City of Boroondara, Melbourne's eastern suburbs
• Transit/parking: The venue is accessible by public transport, including the 903 Bus and the 75 Tram; restricted on-site parking is also available nearby
• Accessibility: The venue is wheelchair friendly and has accessible toilets; the building is a community resource designed to be welcoming to all

Joining Steps

1. Make contact — Reach out to the club via its contact form or social media page to let them know you plan to attend; alternatively, simply turn up on a meeting night — no registration is required for a first visit
2. Prepare nothing — Guests are not required to prepare a speech or any materials; just arrive from 7:20–7:30 PM before the 7:45 PM start
3. First visit experience — On arrival, an experienced club member will be assigned to welcome you and guide you through the evening; you may observe or participate in Table Topics at your own comfort level; at the end of the meeting, club officers can answer questions about membership

Community Notes

• The club prides itself on a friendly, encouraging, and not-too-formal atmosphere; members range from beginners to advanced speakers across a wide variety of ages and professional backgrounds
• Feedback is constructive and supportive — every prepared speech receives both verbal and written evaluations using standard Toastmasters criteria, with the goal of helping speakers grow rather than criticise
• The club participates in Toastmasters speech contests at area, division, and district level (District 73, Area E18), offering members competitive speaking opportunities beyond regular meetings
• Meetings run from February to November only; the club does not meet in December and January
• The club is also listed on the easy-Speak meeting management platform (club ID 2318), which members may use for role sign-ups and agenda management

Last Verified

• Date: 2026-05-24