Anglicare Victoria works with children, young people and families to prevent harm and empower people to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential. AV believe in families and know that with access to the right support every family can grow and achieve their goals. AV are Victoria’s largest provider of Out of Home Care and Family Services, and one of Australia’s most innovative agencies in working with vulnerable children youth and families.

AV work with families towards positive change. Whether it be a helping hand in a time of crisis, or providing longer-term support and care. They partner with local communities, the private and public sectors and our donors to deliver better results. Supporting tens of thousands of Victorians every year, their 1700+ staff and volunteers operate from more than 45 sites across the state, as well as delivering assistance online, at home and in the community

Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative (BDAC) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) established in 2001 providing culturally appropriate, safe and accessible services and programs within the Dja Dja Wurrung catchment. BDAC’s services have been researched and developed to reflect the ever changing social, economic and legislative environment leading the community towards change, acceptance and self-determination.

BDAC currently provides a broad range of services in a culturally safe environment in the following areas:

• Family and Community Services: client intake (assessment and referral), family support, stronger families, Koori pre-school assistance, Aboriginal early years access, children’s resource program, Aboriginal women’s and children’s case management, Aboriginal child first, Koori youth justice, youth support, family supported playgroup, kinship case contracting, leaving care, targeted care packages, cultural support planning and monitoring, Aboriginal tenants at risk, home and community care including social inclusion, foster care project, placement and support, Aboriginal family led decision making, Mutjang Bupuwingarrak mukman, family safety, family preservation and reunification and more.
• Medical and Wellbeing Services including a comprehensive and integrated model of primary health care.

Njernda is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) established in 1974. Njernda provides culturally appropriate, safe and accessible services and programs to Echuca and surrounding areas. Njernda delivers a range of programs including in the areas of health, housing, childcare and family services and employs around 65 aboriginal people across the organisation which includes:

• Family Services Unit: Stronger Families, Family Services, Family Violence Placement support for OOHC, Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making Program, Targeted Care Packages, Senior Advisor Cultural Planning officer, Kinship Care and case contracting and Foster Care.
• Yakapna Healing Centre and Baroona Youth Healing
• Medical and Wellbeing Services
• Community Engagement Unit
• Berrimba Child Care Centre

Take Two is a partnership between Berry Street, La Trobe University, Mindful Centre for Training and Research in Developmental Health (University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry) and VACCA. Take Two provides trauma informed mental health services  to children and their families involved with statutory Child Protection services in all DFFH Areas, including Loddon, since inception. Take Two also delivers therapeutic services in partnership with residential care, foster care and Stronger Families as well as Therapeutic Family Violence Services. Take Two provides therapeutic specialists for young people in residential care and foster care in several areas throughout Victoria. Overall, Take Two has approximately 95 FTE; employing psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, and other mental health professionals.

The Salvation Army Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) services provide a broad range of national and state-wide Residential, Supported Accommodation and Non-Residential programs to support adults and families with alcohol and drug concerns. The Salvation Army’s Alcohol and other Drug services are underpinned by a modern, evidence-based, and holistic Model of Care and work within a Harm Reduction framework with the purpose of preventing and reducing AOD related harm. AOD services are designed to respond to a range of need and promote full and healthy lives for program participants, their families and communities. In the Loddon region the Salvation Army provide Overdose Prevention Case Management Services; Intensive Family Support (Family Reunification); Building Bridges Therapeutic Day Rehab Program, Residential Rehabilitation and counselling, care and recovery services. The Salvation Army have staff located across the Loddon Area including Bendigo, Inglewood, Kyneton and Maryborough and with their services, expertise and networks will enhance the operations of the Care Hub.

More information about the Salvation Army’s AOD National model can be viewed here.

Bendigo Community Health Services (BCHS) is an independent Community Health Centre providing services in the Bendigo catchment and to smaller centres beyond. BCHS works with families involved in the child protection system with a range of complexities and high-risk factors. BCHS is one of the region’s largest provider of mental health services. The service includes Primary mental health, HeadtoHelp Hub, Headspace, a LGBTQIA+ program and Enhanced Mental Health Support in Schools.

The organisation delivers a range of Family Services and is convenor of the North Central Victoria Family Services Alliance (NCVFSA).  BCHS currently delivers services across five sites in and around Bendigo and employ over 200 staff. BCHS provides a range of child youth and family services through their Kidzspace children and families hub.

Youth Support & Advocacy Service (YSAS) is Australia’s largest, youth-specific community service organisation. YSAS provides practical support and evidence-based clinical services for young people experiencing serious problems, but also intervene as early as possible with those at risk to prevent problems from escalating and becoming entrenched. Since 2001, YSAS has had dedicated practitioners focusing specifically on addressing the risks/needs associated with AOD use for young people in ‘Out of Home Care’ (OoHC).