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 in Melbourne metro are closed. Our regional shops (excluding Ballarat) are open. 
• Our Vinnies NILS (No Interest Loans Scheme) team are still taking calls.
• Our Box Hill reception (03 9895 5800) is open. 
• Our Education Programs are running via zoom when in lockdown or face to face when possible. 

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

STATUS:	SERVICE OPEN	WELFARE ASSISTANCE LINE	1800 305 330
		MONDAYS-FRIDAYS	10.00AM-3.00PM

 

 

Phone interviews only will be conducted and contactless delivery/collection of assistance. 
Material aid will be available in emergency situations.

Vinnies Soup Vans

STATUS:	SERVICE OPEN

 

MELBOURNE METRO		Our Soup Van services around the state are undertaking contactless street service of meals to our friends on the street and people experiencing food insecurity in hotels, boarding house, towers and other residential areas.
Inner City Soup Van		CBD and fringes, Carlton, Collingwood, Richmond, Flemington Please CLICK HERE to see up-to-date Street Service details. If you need food assistance and cannot access our street service, please call our Assistance Line 1800 305 330
Footscray Soup Van		Please CLICK HERE to see up-to-date Street Service details.
Berwick Soup Van		Please CLICK HERE to see up-to-date Street Service details.
Traralgon Soup Van		Hamper by prior arrangement – (free call) 1800 305 330
REGIONAL		Hamper by prior arrangement – (free call) 1800 305 330

____________________________________________________

 

Vinnies Shops

STATUS:	CLOSED	CHECK MY LOCAL SHOP
	CHANGES TO OPERATION
	METROPOLITAN SHOPS	CLOSED
	REGIONAL SHOPS	OPEN*

MELBOURNE METRO		Shops are closed
REGIONAL		*Shops are open except for Ballarat.

DONATIONS:
We gratefully accept your donations only when Vinnies Shops are open - so we can thank you for your generosity! Please know that our donation storage areas in some shops can fill up quite quickly, resulting in our volunteers to halt accepting donations for that day. Our best advice is to call ahead. We thank you for you understanding.

You can still visit our eBay store!

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

STATUS:	SERVICE OPEN	WELFARE ASSISTANCE LINE	1800 305 330
		MONDAYS-FRIDAYS	10.00AM-3.00PM

 

 

Assistance Centres

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

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)

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

STATUS:

SERVICE OPEN Available in emergency situations

CALL 13 18 12

 

Education Programs

STATUS:

SERVICE CHANGED

TO JOIN

linette.etheredge@svdp-vic.org.au or 0437 168 366

 

MELBOURNE METRO		All education programs are running weekly in a face to face capacity when possible or in zoom during lockdown restrictions.
REGIONAL		All education programs are running weekly in a face to face capacity when possible or in zoom during lockdown restrictions.

 

Youth Services

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

STATUS:	TEMPORARY HALTING AND
	STOPPING OF SOME SERVICES

 

• Prison face-to-face visits to cease.