New to Mandarin? You're welcome here!

This beginner-friendly class is a relaxed way to start exploring Chinese characters, reading and writing while developing a new language skill and connecting with people in your local community.

With a small class size and friendly atmosphere, you'll have the opportunity to learn step by step, practise your skills and build your confidence as you become familiar with Chinese characters.

No previous knowledge of Mandarin or Chinese characters is required.

Try a class for free Not sure if Mandarin is right for you?

Come along for a free trial class and experience the class before deciding whether you'd like to enrol.

It's a chance to meet the teacher, get a feel for the class and take your first steps in Mandarin — no previous experience required.

What will you learn? Over eight weeks, you'll be introduced to the foundations of Chinese reading and writing.

You'll explore:

Basic Chinese characters

Recognising and reading simple characters

Writing and practising characters

The relationship between pronunciation and characters

Chinese language and culture

The class is designed for beginners, so you'll be introduced to new concepts gradually and have plenty of opportunities to practise.

Learn something new, close to home Learning Chinese characters can be a rewarding way to discover a different writing system and gain a new perspective on language and culture.

And because the class takes place in your local neighbourhood, you can learn a new skill, meet people and become more connected with your community along the way.

Whether you're curious about Chinese language and culture, planning to travel, or simply looking for something new to learn, this is a welcoming place to begin.

Course Details 8-week course Commencing Monday 19 October 2026 North & West Melbourne Neighbourhood Centre, 58 Errol Street 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM $100 concession / $140 full fee

Want to learn more than reading and writing? You can also join our Speaking & Listening class to develop your conversational Mandarin and listening skills.

Book Both Classes: Enrol in both classes and receive 50% off the Reading & Writing class.

Ready to start learning? Take the first step, discover Chinese characters and learn alongside people in your local community.

Book your place today!

NWMNC has now been in operation for over 50 years and is proudly run by a loyal and committed team of volunteers and paid staff. Our programs and activities respond to the needs of communities from North Melbourne and West Melbourne, providing an accessible and inclusive agenda which fosters belonging and community spirit, reduces social dislocation and ultimately improves wellbeing of the people. The centre works closely with its community partners and is supported by funding and goodwill from the community, the City of Melbourne council, and the Victorian Government.

Refunds will be paid in full for programs that are cancelled by The NWMNC. Refunds via EFT to the individual or sponsoring agency are preferred.

Participants who wish to withdraw from a course, workshop, program or activity need to inform NWMNC two working days prior to commencement date to receive a full refund or credit less any non refundable deposit.

Refunds are not available once the program or activity has commenced. However a credit is available on a pro rata basis, less a 20% administration fee, up to half-way through the program, providing NWMNC is advised of the planned absence at least 24 hours prior to the commencement of the class or activity. Fees and charges are non-refundable after that period.

We will however always provide refunds or credits for exceptional circumstances provided that the participant can show a specific medical certificate or details of extreme personal hardship.

If a participant is unhappy with the refund or how it was handled, they may lodge an official complaint.

Policy

NWMNC is committed to handling personal information responsibly and with respect for the principle that people have control over the way information about them is handled.

NWMNC will endeavour to protect confidentiality, and will create an environment of respect and privacy for program participants, service users, staff and volunteers. Confidentiality applies to verbal information, written information and information stored electronically.

Staff may share information with their supervisor for the purposes of supervision and debriefing. Information disclosed will be treated confidentially by the supervisor.

Information about staff, volunteers, program participants and NWMNC users shall remain confidential except where the person gives consent or where it involves:

• serious illegal actions on the part of a person involved with NWMNC
• any issue which could endanger the safety of other people
• any issue which could endanger a person and/or dependent children
• where a staff member is obliged to make a notification to the Department of Health, Department of Human Services or Depatment of Education.

In such a case, the person concerned must be informed directly that any information they give (ie on violent crimes, child abuse) may need to be reported to the relevant authority in accordance with Victorian or Federal laws.

Principles

Personal information is collected for purposes directly related to a service or activity of NWMNC.

When collecting personal information, we will be open about why it is being collected and to whom it might be disclosed. The individual concerned must be aware of the purposes for which information is collected and who has access to the information.

NWMNC endeavours to protect records by reasonable safeguards against loss, unauthorised access, use, modification or disclosure, or against any other use.

A period for which each type of information is kept in hard copy and electronically is established.

Criteria will be developed for obtaining, retaining, destroying or de-identifying personal information.

If at any point confidential personal information is to be handled for purposes not in accordance with why it was collected, the person’s consent will be obtained.

Files created by staff when at work remain the property of NWMNC.