Food and material relief

Food and material relief services in Merri-bek and neighbouring suburbs are provided on our Food Access and security page

Family violence support and prevention

• Services for women

  The following services are available for you if you identify as a woman.

  Berry Street Northern Family and Domestic Violence Service

  This service provides family violence support for women in the northern region. You can find out more about the service on the Berry Street website.

  To contact this service call 9540 4700 between 9am to 5pm on weekdays, except public holidays.

  Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre

  This service provides family violence support for women in Victoria, including outreach and accommodation help. You can find out more about these centres on the Safe Steps website.

  Safe Steps also has a specialist Disability Family Violence Program which you can learn about on the Safe Steps website.

  To contact this service call 1800 015 188 any time or day, or use their online chat tool between 9am and 9pm from Monday to Friday on the Safe Steps website.

  Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA)

  The Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) is a Victorian sexual assault crisis response service that includes counselling. You can find out more about this service on the CASA website.
  To contact this service call 9635 3610 between 9am and 9pm from Monday to Friday, or call 1800 806 292 outside of business hours.

  Djirra Aboriginal Women Support Service

  Djirra Aboriginal Women Support Service provides services to Aboriginal women in Victoria, including those who have experienced family violence. You can find out more about this service on the Djirra website.
  To contact this service call 1800 105 303 between 9am and 5pm on weekdays, except public holidays.

  InTouch (Multicultural Centre against Family Violence)

  InTouch (Multicultural Centre against Family Violence) provides culturally appropriate family violence services throughout Victoria. InTouch also provides immigration support. You can find out more about this service on the InTouch website.
  To contact this service call 1800 755 988 between 9am and 5pm on weekdays, except public holidays.

• Services for men

  The following services are available for you if you identify as a man.

  Mens Line Australia

  Mens Line Australia is a national telephone and online counselling, information and referral service for men with family, mental health or relationship issues. You can find out more about this service on the Men's Line Australia website.
  To contact this service call 1300 78 99 78 or use their online phone and counselling service that is available any time or day on the Men's Line Australia website.

  Men’s Referral Service

  Men’s Referral Service is a men's family violence telephone counselling, information and referral service. You can find out more about this service on the No to Violence website.
  To contact this service call 1300 766 491 between 8am and 9pm on weekdays, or between 9am and 5pm on weekends.

  Dardi Munwurro Strong Spirit Aboriginal Men's Crisis Support

  Dardi Munwurro Strong Spirit Aboriginal Men's Crisis Support provides family violence, healing and behaviour change programs for Aboriginal men. Its aim is to break the cycle of inter-generational trauma in Aboriginal families and communities. You can find out more about this service on the Dardi Minwurro website.
  To contact this service call 1800 435 799 any time or day.

• Services for people of all genders

  The following services are available for people of all genders, as well as those who do not identify within the gender binary.

  Victims Assistance Program

  The Victims Assistance Program provides help for people who have experienced violence, as well as family members and partners of people who have been victim of crime or violence. You can find out more about this service on the Merri Health website.

  To contact this service you can email vsa@justice.vic.gov.au or call 1300 362 739 between 9am and 5pm on weekdays, except public holidays. You can also call their helpline on 1800 819 817 between 8am and 11pm every day.

  With Respect

  With Respect is a family violence and intimate partner violence service for LGBTIQ+ communities and their families. It can respond to both the person impacted by violence and the person perpetrating violence. More information about this service is available on the With Respect website.

  To contact this service you can call 1800 LGBTIQ (1800 542 847) between 9am and 5pm on weekdays.

  Hume Merri-bek Integrated Family Violence Program

  The Hume Merri-bek Integrated Family Violence Program  provides family violence support to all people, including counselling and support programs. You can find out more about this service on the Uniting Victoria and Tasmania website.
  To contact this service call 9302 6100 between 9am and 5pm on weekdays.

  Northern Community Legal Centre

  The Northern Community Legal Centre provides free and confidential legal advice and assistance to people who live, work, or study in Merri-bek, Hume or Mitchell Shire. More information about this service is available on the Northern Community Legal Center website.

  To contact this service call 9310 4376 between 9am and 5pm on weekdays.

• Services for seniors

  The following services are available for seniors.

  Seniors Rights Victoria

  Seniors Rights Victoria provides information, advice and support to prevent and respond to elder abuse. Find out more about this service on the Seniors Rights website.

  To contact this service call 1300 368 821 between 10am and 5pm on weekdays.

  Elder Abuse Prevention Network

  The Elder Abuse Prevention Network for north and west metropolitan regions aims to stop elder abuse through education, resources and campaigns. Find out more about this service on the Merri Health website.

  To contact this service call 1300 637 744.

• Family violence phone counselling support

  The following services are available for family violence phone counselling support.

  1800 RESPECT

  1800 RESPECT is a national telephone and online sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. Find out more about this service on the 1800RESPECT website.

  To contact this service call 1800 737 732 any time or day.

  Kids Helpline

  Kids Helpline is a phone, email and webchat counselling service for 5 to 25 year olds. Find out more about this service on the Kids Helpline website.

  To contact this service call 1800 551 800 any time or day, or use their online WebChat counselling service on the Kids Helpline website.

• Partnerships

  As part of our gender equality commitment, we partner with organisations across Victoria, the north and Merri-bek to prevent family violence. These organisations include:

  • the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV)
  • Women's Health in the North (WHIN)
  • Inner NorthWest Primary Care Partnership - Prevention of Violence Against Women
• Policies

  Our commitment to gender equality means that we will always work to prevent family violence. Our Gender Equality Commitment is guided by the following policies, from all levels of government:

  • The Australian Government Department of Social Service'sNational Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010‑20
  • The Victorian Government'sFree from Violence - Victoria’s strategy to prevent family violence (PDF)
  • The Victorian Government's Ending Family Violence: Victoria’s Plan for Change
  • The Victorian Government'sSafe and Strong, A Victorian Gender Equality Strategy
  • Our Human Rights Policy (PDF 5KB)
• Resources for parents

  The following resources are available for parents:

  • Choosing Positive Paths gives mothers, other protective parents and caregivers information on how to help children affected by family violence. Find out more about this program on the Berry Street website.
  • Koori parenting resources from the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service include booklets, posters and postcards with messages and strategies to help break intergenerational cycles of trauma within their families. Find out more about these resources on the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service website.
• Resources for young people

  The following resources are available for young people:

  • Rosie is an online space for young women to find digital resources to help navigate life. Find out more about this onlien space on the Rosie website.
  • What’s OK at Home (WOAH) is a website for young people their adult allies about family violence, why it happens, how to recognise it, and how to help others experiencing it. Find otu more about this resource on the WOAH website.
• Resources for migrant/refugee and faith communities

  The following resources are available for migrants, refugees and faith communities:

  • Family Safety Pack containing fact sheets in 46 community languages. This resource has information about Australia’s domestic and family violence, sexual assault and forced marriage laws. You can find out more about this resource on the Department of Social Services website.
  • The Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights have many resources available in different langauges. Their resources include a Islam and Muslims oppose violence against women guide (PDF) for Muslim women who have experienced family violence and for Muslims to inform themselves and their community about family violence. You can find out more about these resourceson the Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights website.
  • The Multicultural Centre for Women's Health (MCWH) have a Multilingual Library Catalogue for resources, including about family violence. You can find out more about this resource on the MCWH website.
  • Family Violence Help Card provides Help Cards in English, Vietnamese and Chinese. You can access this resource on the Buddhist Council of Victoria website.
  • Multi-language family violence posters available in different langauges inform community members about support services that are available in the northern metropolitan region. These posters are available in English, Arabic, Farsi, Chinese, Hindi, Turkish and Vietnamese. You can find this resource on the Northern Integrated Family Violence Services Partnership website.
  • Family violence: what police do - multi-lingual fact sheets explain Victoria Police's response to family violence in a range of langauges. You can access this resource on the Victoria Police website.
• Resources for Aboriginal communities

  The following resources are available for Aboriginal communities:

  • Djirra organisation's Family Violence Fact Sheets (PDF)
  • The Elizabeth Morgan House Aboriginal Women's Service'sFacts on Family Violence in Aboriginal Communities 2019 (PDF)
• Resources for people with disability

  The following resources are available for people with disability:

  • Our Right to Safety and Respect is a video resource and video guide, developed by and for women with disabilities about violence, abuse, safety and respect. You can access this vieo resource on the Women with disabilities Victoria website.
  • Speak up and be safe from abuse is a toolkit to assist people with communication difficulties to identify and report abuse. You can access this toolkit on the Speak up and be safe website.

Emergency housing relief during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Emergency housing and homelessness support

  If you are experiencing homelessness or are in immediate crisis there are a number of services that can assist you to find safe housing.

  For assistance, contact:

  • VincentCare Victoria Northern Community Hub in Glenroy by calling 9304 0100
  • You can speak to a housing support worker by calling 1800 825 955 any time. This number directs your call to a service closest to you, or if the call is outside business hours, it is directed to Salvation Army Crisis Services.
  • Download the Emergency Relief Information Guide (350 PDF)

Financial support 

Help with utility bills and finances:

Trouble paying a bill | EWOV

Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria

If you're having trouble paying your bill, you may be able to access a Utility Relief Grant (URG) from the Victorian Government.

Uniting Energy Assist - Jemena

To help support Victorian customers who may be struggling with electricity bills.

Financial Counselling - Uniting | Uniting Vic.Tas (unitingvictas.org.au)

Uniting Victoria – Financial Counselling service

• CIS (Community Information and Support Victoria) Merri-bek

  CIS (Community Information and Support Victoria) Merri-bek provide information, referral, emergency relief for those in crisis, No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS).

  For more information call 9350 3737 or find out more on the CIS Victoria website.

• Coronavirus Victoria

  If you have had to isolate because of COVID-19, there are a variety of financial support packages available to you including financial, job and business support.

  More information about the financial support available for people affected by COVID-19 are on the Victorian Governmnet's Coronavirus website.

• Services Australia (Centrelink)

  Services Australia (Centrelink) can provide payments and supports if you have been affected by COVID-19. You can find more information about these COVID-19 supports on the Service Australia website.

  If you have experienced a family or domestic violence incident, you may be able to get a Crisis Payment from Services Australia. You can contact Service Australia about this payment by calling 1800 015 188. You can find out more about the crisis payments on offer on the Services Australia website.

• Salvation Army

  You can speak to the Salvation Army's emergency relief team by calling 1300 371 288. You can find out more about the support they provide on the Salvation Army Australia website.