BUREAU SERVICES
Emergency Relief & Material Aid
The Bureau is open from 9am to 5pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Wednesday 1pm to 5pm.
To be eligible for food vouchers and other emergency relief from this agency you need to live in the following postcodes: 3169, 3171, 3172 and 3174.
We also assist people from postcode 3170 (Mulgrave) on a once off basis and then refer them to other agencies for further assistance.
There are some exceptions if you live outside the above postcodes.
Wherever you live, we can provide information on other agencies that provide emergency relief.
Drop In Service
Morning session: 9.30am - 1.30pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
Afternoon session: 1pm - 4.30pm Wednesday
No appointment is generally necessary. You will be seen in the order that you register at the reception desk, however some appointments will be available to support people with form filling and more complex issues, follow up etc. There is no guarantee you will be eligible for assistance or that funds will be available by the time of your interview.
If you leave the building you will lose your place in the queue.
If needed you can access emergency relief up to 3 times in a 3 month period subject to availability of emergency relief. For additional emergency relief you can choose to wait or attend an appointment to discuss your situation in more depth.
Child Support Program
The Child Support program at the Bureau has been helping separated parents with their child support matters for over sixteen years.
Understanding the legal aspects of Child Support can be difficult. The Bureau has been assisting carer and payer parents to overcome barriers by providing information, support and assistance.
While supporting you to undertake your parenting role, the Child Support Program can also advocate with Centerlink and the Child Support Agency on your behalf.
Any legal aspect that may be worrying you can be dealt with by referral to free legal advice.
Before you take any steps, you need to know what part of the scheme you fall into.
Stage One
The scheme applies to parents who separated before October 1st 1989 and for all children born before that date.
Stage Two
The scheme applies to parents who separated on or after October 1st 1989 and for all children born on or after the 1st of October 1989.
We can assist you with:
- Applications for a Child Support Assessment.
- Applications for a Change of Assessment.
- Objection to decisions made by the Agency.
- Change in child support payment due to change of residence or employment of a child.
- Advocate with the Child Support Agency on your behalf.
- Assist you with understanding a Notice of Assessment.
- Help you to understand the effect of family payments in child support and advocate on your behalf with Centerlink.
- Provide you with appropriate legal information and referrals where necessary.
- Refer you to mediation and counselling if necessary.
To make an appointment or for further information, contact the Child support worker Joyce on 9546 5255.
General Counselling
General counselling is available on Monday and Tuesday from 9am - 5pm.
Counselling is offered short term and on a one to one basis.
We will see clients for issues surrounding:-
- relationships,
- parenting,
- depression,
- anxiety related conditions,
- personal crises,
- grief and loss,
- managed mental health disorders and
- culturally diverse issues.
We will refer clients to other service providers for:-
- mediation,
- couple therapy,
- domestic violence,
- anxiety related conditions,
- anger management,
- crime related issues,
- substance abuse,
- gambling,
- current suicidal/homicidal ideation or
- current psychosis and psychological tests or reports.
To make an appointment or for further information, contact the Bureau on 9546 5255.
Personal Support Program
The Personal Support Program is available at the Bureau to assist individuals to address difficult circumstances in their lives and move towards achieving their personal goals and objectives.
What can you expect from PSP
- Effective assistance to overcome the difficulties that may be affecting your health, wellbeing and achievements in life
- To be treated with dignity and have your privacy respected
- To receive one-to-one support for up to a period of two years
- To receive services that are relevant and appropriate for your life situation/circumstances
Who can participate
The program is open to:
- Most people of workforce age who receive Centerlink Income support payments
- Eligibility for the program is assessed by Centerlink. Contact your local Centerlink for an assessment
Who can the program help
Individuals referred to the program face a diverse range of issues, such as
- Homelessness
- Domestic Violence
- Drug/Alcohol problems
- Financial Management problems
- Social Isolation
Financial Counselling
Can a financial counsellor help?
- negotiate with creditors
- credit and debt matters
- utility disconnections
- mortgage problems
- bankruptcy
Financial counsellors can:
- explain what you can do if you can't pay bills
- help you to work out payments with creditors
- tell you about possible government assistance
- advocate on your behalf with creditors
- tell you about your legal rights
- give you information about bankruptcy
- refer you to other organisations that may help
NILS - No Interest Loan Scheme
People on low incomes may be eligible for a No Interest Loan to buy new items for their home,
such as a refrigerator, washing machine, bed or lounge suite, for medical or dental expenses or, in exceptional circumstances,
to pay car registration.
- Loans can be for up to $1,000.00
- There are no fees, charges or interest payable.
- Repayments are $20 - $40 per fortnight and usually made through Centrepay.
- Loans cannot be used for household bills, debt repayment or car repairs.
- You must live in the Postcodes 3171, 3172, 3174 or 3169 to be eligible for the loan.
- The application process involves doing a household budget of income and expenses,
to determine the applicant's capacity to repay the loan.
African Settlement Workers
The African Settlement Workers provide:
- Cross Cultural Information sessions,
- Advocacy and
- Counselling for individuals and families who have recently arrived from Africa.
Volunteer Program
- Recruitment, selection and training of the volunteer staff.
- Consulting with other agencies who are developing or establishing a volunteer program.
- Promoting the value of volunteering to the broader community and involvement in community development and education projects.
Outreach workers
These workers provide case-work and community projects at the Bureau.
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