Bairnsdale Community Services.

Sometimes, families need some additional support so they can live happily and healthily. Our family support services provide numerous different ways of support, including family reunification and specialised family violence counselling, as well as early childhood development and complex support programs.

Family violence counselling

If you are experiencing family violence, you can access the right support to find safety and stability. Our family violence services work to understand your unique situation and help you work towards a better future, free of violent behaviour. You can access family violence counselling which provides confidential sessions to discuss your experience, discuss safety plans and even be referred to additional support services.

Call our Sale office 5144 7777 and ask for Family Violence Counselling in East Gippsland.

Parenting Skill Development

Being a parent is a wonderful thing, but it can take time and support to fully develop your parenting skills. Our parenting skill development service offers multiple programs which work to help you become the best parent you can be so your family has the opportunity to thrive.

Call our Sale office 5144 7777 and ask to speak with a member of our Family Services team to discuss support options.

Children with complex disability support needs

Caring for a child with complex disabilities puts families under additional stress. Uniting Sale, in partnership with Gippsland Lakes Complete Health, supports children and young people with complex disability needs and their families by helping to ensure necessary supports are in place to help families stay together in the family home.

Contact Sale office 5144 7777 to speak with our Complex Disability Support worker.

Family Preservation and Reunification (FPR)

The Family Preservation and Reunification (FPR) Response Program helps support families to stay together if it’s safe for them to do so. Our FPR Practitioners assist you by educating, coaching and supporting parents in the stages of child development, parenting skills and strategies to keep families together.

Eligibility criteria: This service is specifically for parents of children who are subject to a Family Reunification Order and have a drug and alcohol treatment and assessment as one of their conditions. Referral via Child Protection Services only.

Communities for Children East Gippsland Program

Communities for Children (CfC) supports the early childhood development and wellbeing of families and children aged 0 to 18 years, who are experiencing complex life circumstances in the East Gippsland local government area. We provide a range of innovative and evidence-based services, and our objectives and priority areas are :

• Health & Wellbeing of Families
• Parenting Support
• Early Learning
• School Transitions

What eligibility criteria apply? Children 0 to 18 years, their parents and families that live in the East Gippsland Shire.
Is the program self-referred or referral only? Referred by self or others.

For more information contact us at [email protected] Join the CfCH Facebook Group for community news & updates.

If you can provide a safe, nurturing and stable home for a child in need, then foster caring may be for you. Our foster care service connects vulnerable children and young people with weekend respite, short-term and long-term care, as well as training and supporting suitable foster carers. 

Sometimes, a child or young person is unable to live with their family, but would like to remain with some familiar to them. Our kinship care program helps support relatives and members of a child or young person’s social network who are providing care for a vulnerable child or young person. You can access financial, legal and community support through our programs.  

Support for Carers

If you’re providing regular care and support to a family member, partner or friend, then you are a carer and there is support available to help you.

The Support for Carers Program is a short-term program that provides support for carers of all ages. You may care for a loved one who has a disability, mental health challenge, chronic illness or medical condition, terminal illness or ageing related support needs.

Carer Gateway

Carer Gateway is a program for full-time, part-time and occasional unpaid carers which connects them to various short-term services. These services, such as peer and individual counselling, support planning, and respite, are intended to help manage your carer role and improve your general wellbeing. 

Contact Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 to enquire about receiving support.

Home and Community Care Program for Young People (HACC PYP)

The program provides social support and engagement in community life to provide assistance with daily living through group activities. The coordinator will link and supervise volunteers to deliver strength-based activities that improve independence and foster better health outcomes for all clients. Some of the activities include:

• walking groups
• art and creative groups
• drumming sessions
• cooking class and shared meal opportunities
• youth and LGBTIQA+ specific groups.

To enquire about our groups, please contact our Sale office on 5144 7777 and ask to speak to our HACC PYP community group coordinator.

School Engagement Services

The Orange Door is a free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence, and families who need extra support with the care of children.  You don’t need a referral. Get in touch with us to find out more.

At Uniting Vic.Tas Bairnsdale, we offer family reunification services to parents who are experiencing alcohol and/or drug related issues and help them reunite with their children. We take the time to understand the unique situation and challenges faced by the family to ensure that there is adequate support, such as counselling and care and recovery coordination. This service can only be provided by referral from a child protection worker.