About the BSV

Founded in 1953, the BSV is the oldest Buddhist Institution in Victoria.

The Society aims to make available the Buddha’s teachings to the community, with special emphasis in the Theravada Tradition (The Way of the Elders) and to provide suitable facilities and support for monks and nuns.

Monks, nuns and lay teachers provide an invaluable service to the community by conducting meditation classes and talks free of charge at the BSV City Centre. Day retreats are conducted ‘in-house’ at no charge. Residential retreats are conducted in other locations (usually rural) on a non-profit basis.

In 2014 the BSV established a forest monastery for bhikkhus and bhikkhunis at Newbury, Victoria, and on May 24th, 2015, Newbury Buddhist Monastery was officially opened by Ajahn Brahm, the spiritual adviser of the BSV. The Monastery is going from strength to strength.  In June 2017,  Stage 1 of the Master Plan for the NBM Building Project was launched.

The activities of the BSV are organised by a Management Committee, which is comprised entirely of volunteers. Our free teaching programme is made possible by the support of the community through donations of time and expertise as well as funds raised from membership fees and other financial donations.