Cost of living is hitting people in Laverton hard.
I want you to know that you are not alone.
If you are in immediate danger, call: 000
If you need to talk to someone, call Lifeline: 13 11 14
Below are a range of services provided by the Government, local services providers and more:
Free L-Plate, P-Plate license and online testing
L-platers can save up to $51.40 in license and online testing fees and learner drivers going for their P-plates can save up to $133.30 in license and online hazard perception testing fees.
Solar Homes Program
The Solar Homes Program offers eligible Victorian households solar panel (PV) rebates and the option of an interest-free loan, hot water rebates, and an interest-free loan for solar batteries.
Victorian Default Offer
The Essential Services Commission has announced the Victorian Default Offer will reduce households electricity bills an average of $100.
Victorian Energy Compare
Find the best deal on your energy bills by comparing through the Victorian Energy Compare.
3, 6 & 12 Month Registration
You can now choose to pay your vehicle registration in smaller installments.
Winter Gas Concession
Discounts on gas bills are available for eligible concession card holders to help ease the cost of living during the winter months.
Capped V/Line fares at metro rates
No matter where you live in Victoria, it will cost you the same amount to travel. The most you’ll pay is the same as a daily capped fare, which is currently $10.60 full fare, or $5.30 for concession
Council rates and charge
The rate cap limits the maximum amount a council can increase general rates and municipal charges. The 2024-25 rate cap is 2.75 per cent.
Discounts, bonuses for Victorians on new savings finder
Millions of Victorians will be able to quickly and simply access discounts, rebates and savings available to them through a new Savings Finder on the Service Victoria app and website.
Three & Four-Year-Old Kinder
Free three and four-year-old kinder, saving families up to $2,500 per child each year. Learn about how your child can access Free Kinder, the benefits of kinder, and how to find and enroll in a kinder program that suits your family's needs.
Baby Bundles
Baby bundles will be provided in hospitals at the time of birth and will contain key parenting information and resources to support the health, development and wellbeing of the babies.
NURSE-ON-CALL
Call 1300 60 60 24 for immediate, confidential expert health advice from a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Community Pharmacist Pilot
The 12-month pilot in Victoria from October 2023 to October 2024 allows people to receive some treatments at a local pharmacy without needing to see a doctor to get a prescription.
Early Parenting Centres
Early Parenting Centres (EPCs) are a free primary health service. They provide specialist support for Victorian families with children from birth to 4 years and deliver flexible, targeted services that aim to enhance the parent-child relationship,
Priority Primary Care Centres
Priority Primary Care Centres provide care for people with conditions that require urgent attention but not an emergency response. The centres help Victorians who need urgent care get help faster, while keeping our busy emergency departments free for those in critical, life-threatening situations.
Prep Bags
Each Prep student attending a Victorian government school will receive a Prep bag to celebrate this milestone in their education journey. The bags are filled with engaging learning items and information for parents and carers to help families have a great start to the year.
Get Active: Kids Voucher Program
Eligible children may receive up to $200 to cover the costs for membership and registration fees. Applications will open in Spring 2024.
School Breakfast Clubs program
The Victorian Government has committed a further $21.1 million in the Victorian Budget 2024/25 to expand the School Breakfast Clubs program to include all government schools that opt in across Victoria.
Kinder Kits
Kinder Kits are activity boxes filled with books, educational toys and activities made especially for three-year-olds to enjoy at home. Families don’t need to order a Kit – your kindergarten service will provide the Kits to children in Term 1.
Help with school costs and fees
Help is available through the Affordable School Uniforms program to meet the costs of uniforms and other key school items. Victorian state government school students are eligible to receive uniform items, school shoes, stationery packs and other essential school items such as travel passes at no cost.
Free blind cord safety kits
Unsecured blind or curtain cords claim the lives of one or two Australian children every year. The free curtain and blind cord safety kit will help make looped curtain and blind cords safer in your home.
Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund provides payments for eligible students to attend school camps, excursions, and sports and outdoor education programs.
Free Zoos and Museum visits for kids on weekends and during school holidays
Glasses For Kids
Provides free vision screening and, if needed, further testing and free glasses to participating Prep to Year 3 students. Glasses for Kids targets school communities across Victoria based on areas of disadvantage.
Smile Squad is the Victorian government's free school dental program
Smile Squad delivers free oral health promotion, dental check-ups and treatment to Victorian government school students at school. Smile Squad helps students stay engaged in school and ready to learn.
Free sanitary pads and tampons in all government schools
Free pads and tampons are now available in every government school in Victoria – because being able to access sanitary products shouldn't be a barrier to students getting the most out of their education.
School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI)
Our Government is boosting education opportunities and narrowing the digital divide through the School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI). The SSBI includes $8.8 million that has been invested to provide up to 30,000 eligible families with no internet at home a free National Broadband Network service until 31 December 2025.
Families can check their eligibility by contacting the National Referral Centre, operated by Anglicare Victoria, on 1800 954 610.
Free TAFE
There are over 80 free TAFE courses for you to consider to up-skill and find your next job.
Jobs Victoria
Get personalised support in looking for work through jobs Victoria.
Free Nursing & Midwifery Degrees
Through the Victorian Government you can get a free nursing degree.
Free Secondary Teaching Degrees
Through the Victorian Government you can get a free secondary teaching degree.
Women in Security Program 2024-2025
The Women in Security Program is an initiative to increase the number of women in technical cybersecurity and cybersecurity leadership roles across Victoria. Through comprehensive training, certification opportunities, and personalized mentorship, we will provide 90 ambitious women in Victoria with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to thrive in cybersecurity roles.
Coming Soon: Specialist Women’s Health Clinics
The first 5 of 20 comprehensive women's health clinics will open soon allowing Victorian women to have access to free and comprehensive care and support including gynecologist, urologists, specialist nursing, etc.
GenWest
GenWest is an organisation helping people who are experiencing family violence. They also have a range of resources available on their website on sexual and reproductive health, family violence support, community health and wellbeing, and gender equity.
If you would like to speak to a staff at GenWest, please call 1800 436 937.
Free Pads and Tampons in up to 700 public places
The Victorian Government has committed to providing free pads and tampons in vending machines located in public places across the state. These locations will include public hospitals, TAFEs, courts, libraries, staffed train stations and major cultural institutions like Melbourne Museum and the National Gallery of Victoria.
Multicultural Centre for Women's Health
The Multicultural Centre for Women's Health is a non-for-profit organisation that advocates and educates to strengthen the health, wellbeing, safety, and leadership of migrant and refugee women in Australia.
This organisation is open Monday to Friday and can be contacted on (03) 9418 0999.
Concessions and Discounts for Veterans
Find Victorian Government concessions and discounts available to veterans, and their families or carers. This includes discounts through the Veterans Card - Victoria.
Care Finders
A free support service that supports vulnerable older Australians to access aged care services.
Better Health Channel & Help At Home
Provides a range of resources to assist seniors to live at home for as long as possible. Additional resources here.
Ageing and Aged Care
A range of supports and services offered by the Victorian Government.
Brimbank City Council
Services offered by the Brimbank City Council for seniors.
Maribyrnong City Council
Services offered by Maribyrnong City Council for seniors.
Victorian Pensioner Free Travel Vouchers
Pensioner Concession Card holders are eligible for annual free travel vouchers. The travel vouchers can be used on trams, trains and buses, including V/Line trains and coaches.
NURSE-ON-CALL
Call 1300 60 60 24 for immediate, confidential expert health advice from a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Services Australia
Through the Commonwealth Government's Services Australia website a range of services and supports including the Aged Pension, Disability Support Pension, Mobility Allowance, and more can be accessed.
Wyndham City Council
Services offered by the Wyndham City Council for seniors.
Hobson Bay City Council
Services offered by Hobson Bay City Council including disability and other supports.
Coming Soon: Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria
A one-stop shop for renters, agents and landlords to resolve tenancy disputes over rent, damages, repairs and bonds
Restricting Rent Increases
New rules now exist for landlords for increasing rent between successive fixed-term rental agreements and limiting the number of increases to once annually. Any increase must now have 60 days notice in writing.
Long-Term Rental Agreements
Renters can enter into rental agreements for 5 or more years for added security and stability.
Rental Stress Support Package
The Government has provided $8 Million of additional funding for local organisations who provide essential supports for those facing rental stress including:
Anglicare Victoria | Housing for the Aged Action Group (Haag) | Justice Connect | Tenants Victoria
New Renting Taskforce
The Government is establishing a new renting taskforce to crack down on rental providers and estate agents who do the wrong thing.
Additionally, Victorians who suspect properties available for rent are being falsely advertised or do not meet minimum standards can now alert Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) directly through a new complaint form online.
Rental Bidding
The Government is cracking down through a new renting taskforce on landlords who use rental bidding to drive up rental prices.
Homebuyer Fund
A shared home equity scheme making it easier for prospective home buyers. As little as 5% is needed for a deposit with the Government contributing up to 25% of the purchase price.
Under-Quoting
New legislation means that real estate agents need to follow strict rules about how to estimate property prices.
Stamp Duty
Stamp duty has been abolished for first home buyers buying a property valued at less than $600k and tapered reaching up to $750k.
Stamp Duty - Off the Plan Purchases
If you buy off the plan,you only pay stamp duty on the land the property is sitting on.
First Home Owner Grant
A $10,000 First Home Owner Grant is available when you buy or build your first new home.
Land Tax on Vacant Residential Properties
Helping to free up opportunities for first home buyers.
Housing Establish Fund - Up to $700
Eligible clients can receive $700 annually for the maintenance/establishment of private rental housing, emergency & short term housing and removalists/storage costs.
Utility Relief Grant Scheme - $650 Payment
A $650 payment for bills every two years (Payment will be provided to the company).
Catholic Care - Hobson Bay
Support for people, such as supermarket and fuel vouchers.
Call: (03) 9689 3888 | Web: www.ccam.org.au
Uniting Wyndham
Homelessness early intervention service.
19 Duncans Rd, Werribee | call (03) 9742 6452
Tarneit Community Learning Centre:
Services include showers, personal hygiene items, food relief.
150 Sunset Blvd, Tarneit | Cal (03) 9748 9822
IPC Health - Brimbank
Provides support to those at risk or experiencing homelessness including primary healthcare, case management and other supports.
106 Station Rd, Deer Park | Call 0491 088 737
Email: [email protected]
Good Shepherd - Sunshine
Can provide loans, financial advice and other services.
Level 1/24 Devonshire Road, Sunshine | Call (03) 8312 8800
Email: [email protected]
Anglicare Victoria
Can provide financial counselling, emergency relief and other services
Call (03) 9731 2500 | Web: www.anglicarevic.org.au/
National Debt Helpline
A service for financial counselling.
Call: 1800 007 007 | Web: ndh.org.au/
St Vincent de Paul
Phone for delivery of food, vouchers and other material aid.
Call: 1800 305 330 |Web: www.vinnies.org.au/findhelp#!vic
Whitelion (Wyndham)
Housing outreach service for those 16-25 who are at risk of homelessness. Includes food packages.
86 Derrimut Rd, Hoppers Crossing | Call (03) 8735 1355
The Salvation Army - Thrift Shop
Vouchers may be available for seasonal goods.
84 Synnot St, Werribee | Call (03) 9742 5097
Wyndham Salvation Army
Services include, food vouchers, bill assistance, pharmacy and phone vouchers, case management food parcels.
209 Watton St, Werribee | Call (03) 9731 1344
Victorian Homeless Crisis Line
Open 24/7 to speak with a support worker if you are at risk or experiencing homelessness.
Call: 1800 825 955
Melbourne City Mission - Adult and Familiy
Range of support services focused on achieving stable, secure and appropriate housing.
1/8 Watton St, Werribee | Call: 3 9385 3200
Laverton Community Integrated Services
Crisis intervention counselling and emergency relief.
Call: (03) 8368 0177 | Web: lcis.org.au/
Salvation Army - Altona
Vouchers, hampers, and financial counselling.
Call: (03) 9398 1750 | Web: www.salvationarmy.org.au/
need-help/
Equip Church - Hoppers Crossing & Laverton
Can provide free food parcels, clothing, furniture and home goods.
21/13 Elm Park Hoppers Crossing | Call (03) 9748 0099
Email: [email protected]
58 Woods St, Laverton | Call (03) 9931 0889
Email: [email protected]
The Salvation Army - Church Outreach
Community Lunch every Tuesday & Wednesday which includes a free BBQ.
Free fruit to the public every Friday night at 6pm at Werribee Station.
211 Watton st, Werribee | Call (03) 9741 7359
Duke Street Community House
Community Food Relief Market every Wednesday from 1:00PM to 2:30PM.
27 Duke St, Sunshine, VIC 3020 | Call (03) 9311 9973
Email: [email protected]
Salvation Army Social Housing Service Sunshine
This is a provider of short-term, emergency and transitional housing.
Services: Brimbank - Sunshine, Albion, Ardeer and Sunshine West
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (03) 9313 4300
Address: 6/147 Harvester Road, Sunshine, VIC 3020
Melbourne City Mission - Youth
Provides long or short term accommodation and other personal supports including education, training and employment.
Call: 03 9614 3688
Unison Housing
This is a provider of short-term, emergency and transitional housing.
Services: Wyndham, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong
Email: [email protected]
Tel (Footscray): (03) 9688 8300
Initial Assessment and Planning (IAP) – Homelessness assistance
Seddon: (03) 9689 2777
Werribee: (03) 9216 0300
Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG)
Can provide assistance and emergency housing services for those aged 50+.
Call 1300 765 178| Web: oldertenants.org.au
Victorian Social & Community Housing
This is housing provided by the Victorian Government.
Applications can be submitted online here.
For any further assistance please contact our office.
Women’s Housing Ltd
Provides low costs housing to women at risk of homelessness.
Call: 9412 6868 | Web: womenshousing.com.au/
Monash Law Clinic
Monash Law Clinics provides free legal advice and assistance to the Victorian community across a range of legal issues - including:
Please call 1800 860 333 between 9:00am - 4:00pm (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) or email [email protected] to request an appointment.
WEstjustice
Provides free legal help to people in the western suburbs of Melbourne.
Call: 03 9749 7720
JobWatch
Provides free legal information living in Victoria regarding any employment related matters.
Please call 03 9662 1933 for their Telephone Information Service.
Victoria Legal Aid
Victoria Legal Aid provides free legal information and advice to people with legal problems, focusing on criminal law, family law and some civil law matters.
Victoria Legal Aid also provides education to help build knowledge in the community about legal rights and responsibilities.
If you would like to speak with a staff member at the Victorian Legal Aid, please call 1300 792 387 (Monday to Friday between 8:00am - 6:00pm).
Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV)
Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) provides a range of information and advice services to support consumers to exercise their rights and regulated businesses, professionals and organizations to comply with the law.
If you would like to speak with a staff member at the Consumer Affairs Victoria, please call 1300 558 181 (Monday to Friday between 9:00am - 5:00pm).
Justice Connect
Provides free legal assistance for a number of areas of law, including domestic building law, seniors law, homeless and not-for-profit law.
Please call 03 8636 4400 or visit their website to apply for legal help.
Tax Cuts for all Australians
From July 1 2024, all Australians will be receiving a tax cut of at least $654 a year for incomes starting from $40,000 to a maximum of $4,529 for incomes of $190,000 or over.
Under the previous planned tax cuts, those on incomes less than $50,000 would have received nothing.
Paid Parental Leave
Parents of babies born or adopted on or after July 1st 2025 will in addition to receiving Government-funded Paid Parental Leave will now also receive 12% superannuation payments during this period as well.
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Medicines on the PBS are capped at a price of $31.60 for two years. For pensioners and concession card holders, prices are capped at $7.65 per medicine for a period of five years.
$300 Energy Rebate
All Australian households will receive a credit of $300, which will go towards their energy bills.
This rebate will be paid in quarterly installments directly to your energy provider.
HECS Debt Support
Australians who have a HECS debt will now have their debt indexed at the lower of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the Wages Price Index (WPI) for any given year, and this will be backdated to the end of 2023, reducing the effective indexation for last year by 3.9%. This change will wipe approximately $3 billion worth of student debt.
Jobseeker Payment
Australians who find themselves unemployed can apply for Jobseeker payments, which will provide them with a fortnightly payment between $762.70 for a single person with no children to a maximum of $987.70 for an exempted carer.
You can apply for this payment through Centrelink.
Commonwealth Rent Assistance
Australians living in private rentals or community housing can apply for Commonwealth Rent Assistance, which has been increased by an additional 10% in the 2024 Federal Budget.
You can apply for Commonwealth Rent Assistance through Centrelink.
Paid Placement for Uni Students
Students who are required to undertake an unpaid placement as part of their course, including teaching, nursing and social services students, will now receive up to $319.50 a week to support them while they undertake this placement.
You can apply for this payment during your placement period through Centrelink.
P&A Plus
This program is designed to enhance the distribution and marketing of quality Australian films across traditional and alternative release platforms.
Funding can be sought to support the traditional theatrical Australian and New Zealand release of completed feature films that have an established local distributor attached, or for alternative release campaigns in certain circumstances.
Deadline: always open
Amount: To be determined by Screen Australia
Further details: P&A Plus
International Finance Fund
The International Finance fund provides support to Australian projects with a very high level of global appeal, to assist them to develop pitching materials and strategy, in order to best attract international partnerships and finance in the current market.
It is open to long form drama and documentary projects on any platform which are market ready, have undergone a successful development process and can demonstrate development funding from an arm’s length commercial partner.
Deadline: Always open
Amount: $5,000 to $20,000
Further details: International Finance Fund
Australian Cultural Fund
The Australian Cultural Fund (ACF) is a fundraising platform for Australian artists. Through the ACF, artists upload their project, start their fundraising campaign and invite art lovers and supporters to donate with 100% of donations going directly towards artists’ creative projects. Through the ACF you can offer tax deductibility to your donors. The ACF has helped raise millions of dollars for Australian artists, enabling a wide range of projects to come to life and offering support to Australia’s cultural sector.
Deadline: Always open
Further details: Australian Cultural Fund
International Marketing Support: Festivals and Awards
For the promotion of Australian content and talent at the key international festivals and awards events, enabling the enhancement of international marketing strategies in conjunction with other partners.
Limited funding to acknowledge the importance of global strategies for new titles, restricted to their world or international premiere and planned related sales and marketing activities at significant industry events.
Deadline: six weeks in advance of the event.
Amount: up to $20,000 for feature films and television series and $10,000 for short films.
Further details: International Marketing Support: Festivals and Awards
Cultural Gifts Program
The Cultural Gifts Program offers tax incentives to encourage people to donate cultural items to public art galleries, museums, libraries and archives in Australia. If you have an item recognised as important to Australia’s culture you can donate it and receive a tax deduction. Donations include paintings, books, sculptures, installations, new media, manuscripts, personal papers, jewellery, ceramics, technological or scientific collections.
Deadline: Always open
Further details: Cultural Gifts Program
Contemporary Music Touring Program
The Contemporary Music Touring Program (CMTP) supports national touring activity undertaken by Australian musicians performing original Australian contemporary music.
The tour must comprise of performances in at least three venues or locations outside of the performer’s hometown. Tours that include regional and remote destinations, or which assist performers residing in regional and remote areas to tour, are a priority for funding. Grants are available from $5,000 to $50,000, depending on the number of tour venues or locations in regional or remote areas.
Deadline: 3 September 2024 and 4 March 2025
Amount: $5,000 to $50,000
Further details: Contemporary Music Touring Program
International Pitching Events and Talent Labs
International Pitching Events and Talent Labs provides support to producers selected for competitive overseas pitching events in order for them to secure finance, production and marketplace partners for Australian projects, or for key creatives invited to attend premium overseas talent labs to enable professional development and to build international industry networks.
Deadline: Always open
Amount: $5,000 to $20,000 (depending on duration)
Further details: International Pitching Events and Talent Labs
National Cultural Heritage Account
The National Cultural Heritage Account is a grant program that assists Australian cultural organisations to acquire significant cultural heritage objects that they could not otherwise afford. The National Cultural Heritage Account helps to retain and protect Australia's cultural heritage for future generations and provide public access to important objects that tell a story about our cultural identity. Australian cultural organisations that can care for and provide permanent public access to Australian protected objects have a priority for funding.
Deadline: Always open
Further details: National Cultural Heritage Account
Quick Response GRANTS
Quick Response Grants funds professional development opportunities for artists and arts workers or small project opportunities. The program supports the immediate need that arises where the activity is unable to be planned for or supported in other funding rounds, for example taking up professional development, skills development or small project opportunities at short notice.
Deadline: Always open
Amount: up to $3,000 for individuals and $5,000 for organisations
Further details: Quick Response Grants
For updates on support services in our community, follow Sarah Connolly
This web-page is still in the process of being updated. If there are any errors please call (03) 9916 1778
