Diamond Valley Community Support (DVCS)
Shop 378a, Level 3, Greensborough Plaza
Ph: 9435 8282
10am – 4.00pm Monday to Friday
https://www.dvsupport.org.au/emergencydirectory
Eligibility: Proof of residence, Health Care or Pension card
Support offered includes: DVCS currently offer material aid and food relief, education assistance, providing food parcels & free tax help.
Drop in Service – Drop in service is currently available, no appointment necessary.
Areas covered: Briar Hill, Lower Plenty, Montmorency, St Helena, Watsonia and part of Greensborough, Eltham North. Some services require residency others are open. Ring to discuss.
Banyule Community Health Service
Eligibility: Proof of residence, Health Care or Pension card
Support offered: Food Vouchers and Limited Financial Aid, Advocacy, Bill Negotiations, Referrals to other services
If you need urgent financial assistance or other practical social support in a time of crisis, BCHS can help. Community social workers can provide food vouchers and other financial assistance, as well as support with housing and homelessness issues, family violence support and referral, Centrelink issues, and other basic social needs.
Greensborough site Monday to Thursday: 8:30am – 5:00pm, Friday: 8:30am – 4:00pm.
Phone to make an appointment: 03 9540 2000
Heidelberg West site Monday to Thursday: 8:00am – 5:00pm, Friday: 8:00am – 4:00pm.
Phone to make an appointment: 03 9540 2000
Appointments: Call after 8am for same day appointment. Appointments for emergency relief assessments are Monday to Friday 10am to 12:15pm.
Greenhills Neighbourhood House
Currently providing some emergency relief. Fresh and non perishables from Secondbite along with some additional pantry items and some frozen meals. Pick up between 9am-12.30pm on Thursdays in the Greenroom.
Address: Community Dr, Greensborough VIC 3088
Phone: contact Janelle Johnston 03 9435 9287 or 0423 452 922
Empower Australia – Food Relief Centres
Modelled on ‘The Pantry’ at Southbank site, stocked shelves of both non-perishables and fresh produce, recipients can choose their own items and create their own food parcel. (Items are donated by FoodBank, local businesses eg. bakeries, butchers, and frozen meals through FareShare). Open to anyone in need who is facing serious food insecurity. Empower Australia are also providing contactless food deliveries.
Food Relief Centre: Planet Shakers Church 360 Main Rd, Lower Plenty. Open Sundays 9am-10am.
Contact BJ Pridham bj@planetshakers.com or by calling 1300 883 321
https://ww2.empoweraustralia.com.au/
Banyule Support and Information Centre (BANSIC)
By appointment only. Please phone ahead
Eligibility: Proof of residence, Health Care or Pension card
Support offered: Food Vouchers, Myki day pass cards, Telstra vouchers and phone cards, Material Aid for prescriptions, school uniforms and books, Referrals to other services and information.
Areas covered: Heidelberg, Heidelberg West, Ivanhoe, Viewbank, Rosanna, Macleod, Yallambie
Address: Shop 48, The Harmony Centre
The Mall, Heidelberg West VIC 3081
(corner Bell Street and Oriel Road)
Ph: 03 9459 5959
www.bansic.org.au
Opening hours:
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 12pm – 3pm
Thursdays: 10:30am – 1:30pm
Halal Foodbank Melbourne
The Halal Food Bank in Melbourne is run entirely by volunteers and purely with donations, and aims to provide halal, nutritionally sound food to needy families, those who require crisis support, and asylum seekers on a monthly basis.
Enable
Enable is currently partnering with many other non-for-profits around the State of Victoria to ensure affordable technology gets into the hands of those in need to help remain connected and accessible to family, support workers, teachers and community services during this difficult time. You can contact Enable to enquire about getting access to affordable tech including laptops & computers.
St Vincent de Paul
Support offered: Advocacy, food or food vouchers, clothing, furniture, budget support, assistance with utility bills or back to school costs. Home visits also available.
Eligibility: All clients are assessed on an individual basis for their eligibility for each service as services available may vary depending on area. Call 1300 305 330 for appointments.
Address: Vinnies West Heidelberg
40-44 Bell Street, The Mall
West Heidelberg 3081
Mon-Fri: 9:30am-5pm; Sat: 9:30am-5pm
All referrals to be made on the welfare assistance line 1300 305 330 (Mon – Fri, 10am-3pm)
www.vinnies.org.au
Livingstone Community Centre
Support offered: Food Bank – monthly food hampers of non-perishable food items and fresh fruit and vegetables.
Eligibility: Centrelink or Pension Card
Appointments: Every Tuesday during the school term between 12pm and 2pm.
Bookings are essential – if outside of these hours please call to book an alternate appointment.
Address: Ivanhoe Baptist Church
1 Livingstone Street
Ivanhoe 3079
Ph: 03 9497 2014
www.livingstone.org.au/food-bank
3081 Angels
Support offered: Clothes (new born to size five), books and toys, cloth nappies, bedding for cots, baby carriers, slings, prams and strollers, change tables, baby baths, wipes and nappy bags
Areas covered: Preston, Reservoir and all suburbs in Banyule.
Eligibility: Request must come from support agency, social worker or maternal health centre or equivalent.
www.bchs.org.au/Services/3081-angels
The Good Shepherd – No Interest Loans (NILs)
0% interest and no fees or charges, EVER
The Good Shepherd can assist in NIL to support household purchases. They will pay the invoice for you (NO CASH).
With NILs, you only pay back what you borrow, nothing more.
Submit your invoice with your application and NILs will pay it straight to the supplier / vendor. Loans cannot be used for cash, bills or debts.
You can borrow up to $2000 for essentials such as appliances or furniture, car repairs or rego, a new phone or laptop, or medical, dental or vet expenses.
https://goodshep.org.au/services/nils/
State school relief committee
SSR provides footwear and clothing to students attending Victorian Government Schools.
Eligibility: Make an appointment with your schools headmaster, principal or student welfare co-ordinator
www.ssr.ne
Family Reconciliation and Mediation Program
Family Reconciliation Mediation Program (FRMP) is a state-wide program established in 2005 through the Youth Homelessness Action Plan (YHAP) for young people aged 16 – 25 years experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Eligibility: Individual and Group Brokerage is available to support agencies via application found online at Family Reconciliation Mediation Program (FRMP)t.au
Utility Relief Grant Concession
The Utility Relief Grant is for eligible cardholders who are unable to pay their mains electricity, gas or water bill due to temporary financial crisis. The amount of the grant is based on the balance owing at the time of the application and is capped at six months’ worth of usage up to a maximum of $650. This grant does not have to be paid back and is available to both private renters and home owners. A grant can only be given once every two years per utility type.
Eligibility: Must hold a Pension Concession, Health Care or DVA Gold Card and meet one of the following criteria:
Application forms can be obtained from gas and electricity retailers and water corporations.
www.dhs.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/financial-support/concessions/hardship/utility-relief-and-non-mains-utility-grant-scheme
Concession Eligibility calculator
Concessions are available to low income Victorians experiencing difficulty in paying their council rates, water, gas and electricity bills. Discounts are available on essential services to ease the financial burden for low income Victorians. For each concession and/or benefit, there is an eligibility criterion. Concessions programs are designed to ensure eligible cardholders have access to essential services.
https://services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/concessions-eligibility-calculator
Creating Connections Education Employment Pathways
Creating Connections Education Employment Pathways (CEEP) provides young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Melbourne’s North and West with brokerage funding to assist in sustaining education, employment and training.
Support offered: Brokerage packages of up to $1,200 are available to purchase computers, school fees, books, Myki passes, uniforms and other education, employment and training related expenses.
Eligibility: Support Agency submission – Aged between 16-25 years, homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, receiving homelessness support in the North or West areas of Melbourne, a willingness to access employment, education and training opportunities
Areas Covered: Banyule, Darebin and Nillumbik
Email: ceep@mcm.org.au
Ph: 03 9611 2416
www.melbournecitymission.org.au/services/program-detail/creating-connections-education-employment-pathways-(ceep)
Big Group Hug
Big Group Hug works with local communities to respond to the immediate material needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged children and their families. Can assist with baby and children’s furniture and clothing, toys, nappies and formula to give to families in need. https://biggrouphug.org/request-help/