Community support and Family Services in Sale.

Housing and support services at Uniting Vic.Tas Sale provide homelessness case management and support services, crisis support, transitional support, counselling, crisis resolution, personal care, life skills training, information and advocacy, assistance with accessing appropriate long-term housing, training, and employment opportunities.   

Children’s Resource Program 

Funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, the Children’s Resource Program assists, supports, and resources homelessness and other non-government services to respond more effectively to the needs of children who have experienced homelessness and/or family violence. 

If you are experiencing financial hardship, we’re here to help.  With a dedicated and compassionate team of staff and volunteers at our Raymond Street location, we provide a safe, welcoming environment where you will be heard and respected. 

Our emergency relief services in Sale offer practical resources and a listening ear from someone who cares. You can receive:  

• Food 
• Personal care items 
• Household items 
• Financial support 
• Links to other services.  

Bookings essential. Please contact us on (03) 5144 7777 to book.

Am I eligible?

Emergency Relief recipients must be unable to afford to pay a bill or an imminent risk of being unable to pay a bill, to be eligible for this service. There are exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

What to bring to your first visit: 

• Your ID 
• Health care or concession card 
• Shopping bags.

Bookings essential. Please contact us on (03) 5144 7777 to book.

Community meals

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.

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.

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.

Our playgroup program enables you to connect with other families and social support workers so you can learn and build confidence in parenting skills. For more personalised assistance, our one-on-one support program provides a more tailored approach enhancing parenting skills and builds on your unique family’s strengths.

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.

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.

Best Start

The Best Start program provides early intervention and prevention for children’s health and development from birth to school transition, with a focus on families experiencing vulnerability and Aboriginal children.

Home and Community Care Program for Young People

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.

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

Being a full-time, part-time or occasional carer can be challenging at the best of times. The carer gateway program is to help make your life a little easier with short-term services are available to help lighten the load and protect your wellbeing. You can access services such as carer counselling, peer support groups and respite assistance. 

Call Carer Gateway at 1800 422 737.

Uniting helps to support vulnerable children in need by connecting them to safe and stable homes with our foster care service. If you are interested in assisting children and young  people grow in a safe and caring environment; you can be a foster carer and provide emergency, weekend, short-term and long-term care. Uniting can also provide you with  specialised training and support so you can provide the best possible care. 

Sometimes a child cannot live with their parents, so care is provided through a family member or a person connected to the social network of a child, this is referred to as kinship care. 

Being a carer can come with some new responsibilities and challenges, so we provide a kinship care service to help support those needing financial and legal assistance as well as additional support. You can participate in cooking groups, support sessions and other social activities. 

Navigator

Sometimes there are challenges that make it hard to go to school every day. Through the Navigator program, Uniting Vic.Tas Sale provide education support services to young people, their families, and schools, to enable them to achieve their educational goals. 

LGBTQIA+ social group

Across Victoria and Tasmania, we offer a free Energy Bills Support program. Uniting Vic.Tas can help you if you’re getting behind on your energy bills and require assistance to contact your retailer, stop a disconnection notice or set up a payment plan. We can also help you learn more about how you can save money on your energy bills. Call us on 1800 313 126 or email [email protected]. This is a free over the phone service, that anybody can access.