The EHN Homelessness Assistance Card is designed for people exereincing, or at risk of, homelessness as a quick reference guide. Small enough to fit into a wallet, it has loads of practical information including Entry Point numbers, after hours contacts and phone numbers for a range supports services, helplines and hospitals in the Eastern Metropolitan area.
The State-wide Children’s Resource Program (SCRP) advocates for and assists practitioners in homelessness support and other non-government services to respond more effectively to the needs of children who have experienced homelessness and/or family violence.
CEEP funding supports young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to develop and sustain pathways into Education Employment and Training (EET). Brokerage funds assist young people to purchase uniforms, books and school materials, tools, education fees, work clothes, computers, public transport and other EET related expenses.
Uniting are the administrators for the Eastern Metro.
The experience of homelessness can have a significant impact on a child’s education; physical, emotional and mental health; and their sense of connectedness to their peers and the broader community.
Children issues can be compounded by a lack of access to education, health, and support, social and recreational opportunities within the community. The Homeless Children’s Brokerage Support Project has been established to enhance opportunities for children experiencing homelessness to:
Engage and maintain their education (including early education services such as childcare and kindergarten).
Reduce social isolation by enhancing access to a range of support, social and recreational opportunities within their community.
Provide social and emotional growth opportunities for children and provide opportunities to increase relational bonds between parents/carers and children.
Developed by the Childrens Resource Program for the Inner and Outer East, this is the 2021/22 guide for children and families seeking financial assistance. It outlines what funding/brokearge is available in the region for things such as:
Children/Education
Leaving Care
Housing supports / NIL loans
Medical
Expenses
Flexible Support Packages (FSPs) that target high risk and promote safety were introduced by Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to recognise family violence (FV) and the impacts on the health and wellbeing of women and children.
This guide contains information about discounts and services for eligible households in Victoria. These range from utility discounts, pet registration discounts, dental care concessions and much more. Not all require people to hold a health care card and many services have addtional hardship support for clients with no cards, upon discussion.
Updated June 2024
Developed by the Eastern Regional Coordinators Group the aim of this resource is to assist workers across Inner- and Outer- Eastern Melbourne to navigate the various health and community support sectors, for the benefit of the people (consumers and carers/families) that they work with.
The guide will also assist providers to understand key entry points to the various service sectors.
This suite of Personas was developed by the Eastern Regional Coordinators to bring to life the experiences of clients with complex support needs who may interact with multiple services.
These personas can be used at forums, training and events, as well as for strategic planning, client journey mapping and advocacy.
This guide details referral pathways for Homelessness Emergency Accommodation Response Team (HEART) clients to localised Mental Health and Alcohol & Other Drugs support services in the Eastern Region.
The attachment theory argues that a strong emotional and physical bond to one primary caregiver in our first years of life is critical to our development. If our bonding is strong and we are securely attached, then we feel safe to explore the world. If our bond is weak, we feel insecurely attached.
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, given the limited resources of many public housing tenants, applicants for access to social housing, through the Victorian Housing Register, and for assistance to access private rental, through the RentAssist Bond Loans, the Department of Health and Human Services housing operational policy settings are being amended
Published by the Austrlian Childhood Foundation, Heart Felt is a collection of children’s experiences and stories of abuse, recovery and hope.
Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) offers free legal assistance from offices in Box Hill, Boronia and Healesville during the day, at night and at outreach locations across Melbourne’s east. Serving the local government areas of Boroondara, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Whitehorse and the Yarra Ranges.
This resource sheet provides information to service providers and practitioners working in the child, family and community welfare sector on how to report suspected child abuse and neglect. It defines child abuse and neglect, and provides contact details for the reporting authority in each state and territory.
This is Charlie's Story. Charlie and his mother are thrust into the bewildering world of homelessness when he is six years old. After struggling to adjust to the changes in his life, Charlie finds support, friendship, and eventually, home.
Written and published by the Statewide Childrens Resource Program, this story is a fantastic resource for everyone supporting families and children who are experiencing homelessness.
Emerging Minds have developed this toolkit that draws from the expertise of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consultants, practitioners, non-Aboriginal practitioners and Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organisations. Rather than focusing on why it is difficult to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, their families and communities, it will explore how non-Aboriginal practitioners and services can develop genuine connections with Aboriginal people and communities to create the best conditions for effective service delivery; services based on respect, learning and creating shared understandings.
A guide to engaging with children experiencing homelessness and family violence. Produced by the Statewide Children's Resource Program this guide is a must for all those working with in homeless and family violence services.
The legislative, technical and research landscape that informs online safety best practice is constantly evolving. It is important to stay up-to-date
Regional Fact Sheets - A guide for referral practice used within the Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) in the Eastern metropolitan region.
Violence against women and gender inequality exists across all Australian communities. Assumptions about ‘cultural’ attitudes toward women or violence can lead to harmful stereotypes and stigma. Prevention is not about changing ‘migrant cultures’: it is about changing the culture of violence across all Australian communities. Challenging ‘cultural’ explanations for violence is just one aspect of this new tip sheet developed for workers by Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health with support from DVRCV.
The State-wide Homelessness Networks were established in 1996. They operate across Victoria in every Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), (formerly Department of Health and Human Services) region and are funded DFFH to bring services together to share information, and identify common needs and gaps in homelessness service provision.
Free hepatitis A vaccine campaign in response to a widespread outbreak of hepatitis A that is now affecting rough sleepers in Victoria.
In 2012, the Victorian Government initiated an inquiry into the handling of child abuse allegations within religious and other non-government organisations. The Betrayal of Trust Report, which detailed the inquiry findings, made a range of recommendations, including the need to better protect children from child abuse when they access services provided by organisations.
Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme are part of the Victorian Government’s commitment to implementing these recommendations.
Family Access Network in conjunction with Anchor coordinate the Private Rental Brokerage Program, assisting young people who are ready to live independently in a share-house or private tenancy.
With the National Disability Insurance Scheme already rolling out in the Inner and Outer East, we have been gathering information that will be useful to those practitioners working within the homelessness sector.
Family Access network (FAN) has SSATI HEF available for young people (15-25) who identify as sexual or gender diverse who are at risk of or are experiencing homelessness.
Mind works with people 16 - 64 years of age whose ability to manage their daily activities and to live in the community is impacted by mental health issues.
People who use our services come from many cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Domestic Violence Resource Centre (DVRC) Referral Options booklet has been developed as a resource for workers in the domestic and family violence sector. It includes contact details and further information on services in the family violence and related sectors around Victoria.
The Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) is the peak body representing organisations and individuals in Victoria with a commitment to ending homelessness.
Information and tip sheets to help workers navigate the Access and Eligibility for Financial Support for New Zealand migrants living in Australia.
The Disability and Family Violence Crisis Response initiative aims to assist Victorian women (and their children) with a disability who are experiencing family violence.
The phenomena of fatal distraction occurs where a parent or carer inadvertently leaves their child in their car due to short-term memory failure caused by extreme exhaustion, stress or a change in routine. This can possibly lead to severe injury or in extreme cases the death of a child.
Starlady from Zoe Belle Youth Project spoke to our EHN Practitioners forum in August about the free trans and gender diverse inclusive practice training. Below are some fantastic resources to assist you and your organisation develop inclusive practice.
This resource has been created by the Statewide Children's Resource Program to support the Specialist Homelessness Services of Victoria to ensure children are being recorded correctly.
Published by Our Watch, this free, downloadable poster aims to harness the power of bystanders by providing 26 practical actions to challenge gender stereotypes and promote respect.
The safety and wellbeing of children is a shared responsibility. Homelessness services are often in contact with the most vulnerable children and families in our community, and can help enhance their safety and wellbeing.
A core function of the Statewide Children’s Resource Program is to develop resources for children who are experiencing homelessness and family violence.
Alcohol use during pregnancy is linked to a spectrum of adverse fetal outcomes. This spectrum of abnormalities is collectively termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), and can include physical, cognitive and developmental symptoms.
Choosing Positive Paths is a resource kit offering information to mothers, other protective parents and/or carers on what to expect from and how to respond to children, at all ages and stages, who have experienced family violence.
Children are different and each develops at their own rate. For some children and adolescents the trauma and stress of being homeless or experiencing family violence can affect their development.
Being a parent is hard work and becomes even more difficult when your family experiences stressful times.
Information on back to school costs and financial assistance available to families.
Australian Human Rights Commission Poster.
This resource regarding family violence has been developed for adults (including early childhood educators) who work with children and young people.
The Nursery Equipment Program has been established to provide safe nursery equipment for vulnerable Victorian families where a safety concern has been identified by a maternal and child health nurse on the MCH Safe Sleeping Checklist.
Maternal and Child Health Service Safe Sleeping Checklist for Infants
This booklet, produced by the Statewide Children's Resource Program, may assist you to help a child through their experiences of family violence and/or homelessness. It contains children's stories in their own words and pcitures.
The Victorian Commission for Children and Young People is an independent statutory body established to promote improvement and innovation in policies and practices affecting the safety and wellbeing of Victorian children and young people. We have a particular focus on vulnerable children and young people as defined in the Commission for Children and Young People Act (2012).
