Victorian Department of Families, Fairness & Housing

❤️ Free pads and tampons. Period. ❤️ 64% of people who need period products struggle to afford them – that’s why we are providing free access to pads and tampons across Victoria.  It’s a nation-leading initiative and we are SO excited to have launched the test phase. Starting today, we will: 🟠 install 50 vending machines in public places like cultural institutions, hospitals, courts, TAFEs, public libraries and staffed train stations  ❗️And there’s more to come in 2025, with free pads and tampons in up to 700 locations across Victoria. Learn more about the program at: https://lnkd.in/gDE7p5mv

🚨 Your voice matters! 🚨 If you are 18 or older, you need to enroll to vote to ensure your voice is heard on election day. 📢 Find out how to enrol and why it’s so important to vote on YouthNav. 🗣️ Co-designed by young people, YouthNav is your go to resource for all the latest info on making a difference and having your say. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/g7cu3tT3

The festive season is often a time for joy, but for some, it’s a time to seek safety. Help is available over the holiday period. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000. For 24/7 family violence support, contact Safe Steps on 1800 015 188. The Orange Door can also provide help from 9am–5pm weekdays (closed public holidays) https://lnkd.in/gTkt9K8Z. If you are concerned about your own behaviour or that of a friend, call the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491. For other family violence support services, visit: https://lnkd.in/dmsV8rh Everyone deserves a holiday filled with peace, safety, and the chance to rebuild.

Boosting support for food relief where it’s needed most. 👩👩👧👦📍 We’re happy to share that since 2020, $56 million has been invested in strengthening local, regional and statewide food relief in Victoria: 🥑 $4.5 million in funding through the Community Food Relief Program (Announced today!) 🍋 $1.5 million in 2024-25 to support operations of six regional foodshares 🌽 $10 million to Foodbank Victoria for new hubs 🍉 Ongoing funding of $3.3 million each year to Foodbank Victoria 🥕 $1.25 million in grants to community organisations 🥪 $2.2 million to FareShare to update facilities 🍏 $2.9 million to Shepparton Foodshare to construct a purpose-built warehouse 🍇 $1 million to Bendigo Foodshare to build a new Community Food Hub For more information about food relief initiatives, visit: https://lnkd.in/gYeViqh4

The Orange Door Drysdale site at 23-25 Palmerston Street is closed from 3pm 22 December 2024, re-opening 2 January 2025 You can still get help by phoning 1800 312 820 (business days between 9am and 5pm) or emailing barwon@orangedoor.vic.gov.au or visiting The Orange Door at 83 Moorabool Street, Geelong. Find an Orange Door site near you at: https://lnkd.in/gSs9FcsV

Celebrating local approaches to food relief and security across the state! 🍎🥑🥕🥦🍑🍌 Congratulations to the 111 organisations funded in the 2024-25 Community Food Relief Program – Local Grants. This funding is part of the Victorian Government’s $4.5 million Community Food Relief Program. Visit our website for a full list of grant recipients: https://lnkd.in/dU5w3k_f

Meet some of the Victorian Senior of the Year awardees proving age is just a number 🏆. ⭐ Prof. Manjula Datta O’Connor – Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year ⭐ Virginia Mack – Ageing Well Award ⭐ Jack Cooper – COTA (Council on the Ageing) Victoria Senior Achiever Award Congratulations to all this year’s winners! 🎉 To read about the other inspiring awardees, head to: https://lnkd.in/gb4MGp3i Government House is located on the traditional lands of the Bunurong and Wurundjeri people. #VicSeniorOfTheYearAwards COTA Victoria

Supervision is an important part of working in the family violence, sexual assault and child wellbeing sectors. It helps every employee get the knowledge and confidence they need to deliver quality services to clients. To support organisations across these sectors to deliver effective supervision, the Victorian Government launched the Best Practice Supervision Guidelines. To further help organisations understand and use the Best Practice Supervision Guidelines in their practice, a new series of videos and discussion guides are now available. For more information about the guidelines, videos and discussion guides, visit https://lnkd.in/gXCkaUJ3

Congratulations to the recipients of the Engage! and FReeZA 2025-27 grant programs 👏 💜 61 organisations will receive FReeZA grants up to $120,000. This funding will deliver safe music and cultural events that elevate young voices and emerging artists, helping them shape Victoria’s rich creative industries. 💚 73 organisations will receive grants up to $180,000 through the refreshed Engage! program. The funding will help young people develop life skills through training, mentoring and volunteering opportunities. The successful organisations will work closely with young Victorians aged 12-25 to ensure all programs and events meet their diverse needs. 😁 We can’t wait to see your events and programs come to life. For more information and a full list of recipients, head to: 👉 Engage: https://lnkd.in/gGpfXWXH 👉 FReeZA: https://lnkd.in/gmEn2ymV

If you’re a regional or rural student pursuing accredited training in disability support work, you still have time to apply for one of our regional disability worker scholarships. ⏳ We want to strengthen our regional disability workforce by helping you to complete your unpaid placement, with payments of $3,500 available. 💲 Students with disability or from First Nations communities are encouraged to apply. 👉 Move fast – applications will close 20 December 2024, that’s this Friday. To find out more and to apply, visit: https://lnkd.in/gFP79JnF