With the COVID-19 pandemic, the St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria found itself in an extraordinary situation. Our 167-year tradition of face-to-face, hands-on approach suddenly became an issue which needed to be refreshed due to the new government guidelines regarding limiting social contact. And that is exactly what we have done! Rest assured, we are here and we will continue to play a vital role in helping people who need it most.
Our critical services will remain true to the Society's mission, while also keeping the health and wellbeing of our members, volunteers and employees top of mind.
- Our Welfare Assistance Line is open.
- Our Vinnies Soup Vans are operating under our new service delivery model.
- Our Vinnies Shops are open.
- Our Vinnies NILS (No Interest Loans Scheme) team are still taking calls.
- Our Bushfire Assistance service continues to help people impacted by Victoria's recent fires.
- Our Box Hill reception (03 9895 5800) is open.
Yes, our services are a little different at the moment but we are still providing assistance to people and communities in need, just as we have throughout our long history in Victoria. We are here for you.
Changes to our current works are:
- Conference Home Visits
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STATUS: SERVICE OPEN WELFARE ASSISTANCE LINE 1800 305 330 MONDAYS-FRIDAYS 10.00AM-3.00PM Our conferences are open with a staggered return in 2021.
- Vinnies Soup Vans
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STATUS: SERVICE OPEN MELBOURNE METRO Our Fitzroy, Collingwood and Footscray Vinnies Soup Vans are delivering hampers to our friends on the street and people experiencing food insecurity in hotels, boarding house, towers and other residential areas.
- Fitzroy Soup Van
Now running one street stop.
When: Every Friday from 22 January 2021 at 7.30pm
Where: Federation SquareCOVID-safe plan: We will be managing the queueing system so that people will be quickly moved through and encouraged not to congregate. Our dedicated Vannies (Soup Van volunteers) will be helping to manage social distancing and will be distributing face masks, hand sanitiser and water bottles. We will have limited toiletries and other material aid, but will be taking down details of any additional requirements people have which can be delivered directly during our day-time service.
REGIONAL Operations are open. ____________________________________________________
- Vinnies Shops
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STATUS: OPEN FROM 18 FEBRUARY CHECK MY LOCAL SHOP CHANGES TO OPERATION NEW SHOP HOURS METROPOLITAN SHOPS REOPENED CHECK HOURS REGIONAL MONDAYS-SATURDAYS REOPENED CHECK HOURS SUNDAYS REOPENED CHECK HOURS MELBOURNE METRO Most of our Melbourne metro Vinnies Shops are open. Please check your local shop hours by by searching here.
REGIONAL Regional shops operating normally. Please check your local shop hours by searching here
DONATIONS:
We thank you all for sorting your donations during lockdown and keeping them safe. Vinnies Shops will be gratefully accepting donations, which will need to be quarantined. In some cases we may need to temporarily cease accepting donations as we are anticipating a high demand and our volunteer-run teams will need time to sort through donations safely.SHOPPING SAFELY:
To assure the health and safety of all our loyal customer and volunteers, we have COVID Safe plans with hand sanitiser, sneeze screens at our service counters, socially-distancing floor stickers and a maximum capacity at each of our Vinnies Shops. While mask-wearing is not mandatory in spaces less than 2,000 sqm, as per the Victorian Government guidelines we recommended wearing a face mask if you cannot maintain 1.5 m distance from other people.Every second change room will be open.
You can still visit our eBay store.
We thank you for your understanding. Our volunteers are ready and waiting to safely welcome you back through our doors.
Remember: It is through your generous donation of goods and finances that we are able to provide our services. We do not receive any government financial assistance.
- Welfare Call Centres
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STATUS: SERVICE OPEN WELFARE ASSISTANCE LINE 1800 305 330 MONDAYS-FRIDAYS 10.00AM-3.00PM - Assistance Centres
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STATUS: SERVICE CHANGED Interviews are to be arranged on
an appointment-only basis.MELBOURNE METRO Remain closed.
REGIONAL Remain closed or operating as a modified service.
- Bushfire Assistance
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STATUS: SERVICE OPEN CALL 13 18 12 MELBOURNE METRO No change - Call centre remains remote on 13 18 12 REGIONAL No change – remains a member assessment by phone - Vinnies NILS (No Interest Loan Scheme)
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STATUS: SERVICE OPEN PHONE INTERVIEWS 03 5229 8829 The Vinnies NILS team are here to help if you need a safe, fair and affordable credit alternative to purchase goods or services that will improve quality of life for individuals and families on low incomes.
Phone interviews will be conducted or you can visit https://www.vinniesnils.org.au/ for further information.
Changes to this service are due to the government’s COVID-19 health directive to limit social contact which will reduce the risk to people we assist and to our volunteers.
Rest assured, that once this crisis is over, our services will be back to normal.
- Material Assistance
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STATUS: SERVICE OPEN CALL 13 18 12 - Education Programs
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STATUS: SERVICE ONLINE EMAIL US TO JOIN linette.etheredge@svdp-vic.org.au MELBOURNE METRO No change – remains an online offering only. REGIONAL No change – remains an online offering only.
We are still here, but our Vinnies Education Programs have changed.All our Education Programs are running via zoom with primary, secondary and VCE programs running on both Tuesday and Thursday 3.30-5pm.
Each week we will offer you six activities, we will ask you to send us something and then we will finish with a song. Most activities will have links to online videos to help and guide you along.
If you and your children would like to receive our education activities online each Wednesday please email linette.etheredge@svdp-vic.org.au and the education team leader will add your name to the email list.
Changes to this service are due to the government’s COVID-19 health directive to limit social contact which will reduce the risk to people we assist and to our volunteers.
We hope to resume our normal programs in 2021.
- Youth Services
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STATUS: SERVICES ON HOLD QUERIES YOUTH@SVDP-VIC.ORG.AU SCHOOLS@SVDP-VIC.ORG.AU School workshops, services and programs are also currently on hold. We are being adaptable with the changes and are pleased to offer Skype sessions for interested schools.
Want us to host your next Mini Vinnies virtually? Or run through a Vinnies workshop? Please contact the Youth Engagement Team to book in a session via schools@svdp-vic.org.au
We anticipate a return (Teen Camps, Kids Day Out, College Open Day and Roadshow) will be back to normal.
Should you have any queries at this time please contact the Youth Engagement Team via youth@svdp-vic.org.au
- Prison Visitation
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STATUS: TEMPORARY HALTING AND STOPPING OF SOME SERVICES - Prison face-to-face visits to cease.