With the COVID-19 pandemic, the St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria found itself in an extraordinary situation. Our 165-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 Call Centres are open.
  • Our Conferences are making visits to deliver food and other assistance.
  • Our Vinnies Soup Vans are out in the evenings delivering food parcels.
  • Our Vinnies Shops are open where they are still able.
  • 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.

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

 

We are still here but our home visit service has changed!

Vinnies will endeavour to keep our services going to people in need during this critical time.

If you need assistance please call our Welfare Assistance Line (free call), 1800 305 330. 

Our Call Centre volunteers are available to take your calls Monday to Friday, 10.00am – 3.00pm.

Our home visit service is now being organised over the phone. 

In the place of the usual face to face home visit interview, phone interviews will be conducted so that we can understand what you need and arrange how to best assist you. For example, leaving a food parcel/food vouchers outside your residence in an agreed secure location. If you are not able to respond to the phone call to set up the interview, we will tell you when we will call you again. If you are not able to respond to the second call, we will leave you a message about how you can request help again. If we come to visit you and you are not at home, we will still leave the missed visit card so that you know that you need to contact the Call Centre again.

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.

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

 

Due to this most recent government directive, we have had to temporarily suspend our Fitzroy Soup Van run to the four towers currently under hard lockdown. We do this with a very heavy heart, but are buoyed by news that the Victorian Government will be providing food and care packages over this interim period.

What support, including food, is being provided can be found here: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/extra-support-housing-estates-and-restricted-postcodes

We also want to assure everyone, particularly our friends at the towers, that we will be back providing personalised hampers as soon as we possibly can.

____________________________________________________

We are still here but the Vinnies Soup Van service has changed!

While our street runs have been suspended you can still contact us for assistance with food by calling:

Vinnies Welfare Assistance Line is 1800 305 330 (Monday–Friday 10.00am to 3.00pm).

Over the phone, we will determine your situation and make a personal arrangement of how we can reach you with these essentials. Examples of the support we can offer include food hampers for individuals and families, and food parcels for those with little or no cooking facilities.

Changes to this service are due to the government’s COVID-19 health directive to limit social contact which will reduce the risk to the people we assist and to our volunteers. 

Rest assured, that once this crisis is over, our Vannies will be back on the streets with their trademark soup and a smile.

Vinnies Shops
STATUS:   SERVICE OPEN  CHECK MY LOCAL SHOP  
  CHANGES TO OPERATION NEW SHOP HOURS  
  MONDAYS-FRIDAYS 10:00AM-4:00PM  
  SATURDAYS 10:00AM-4:00PM  
  SUNDAYS CLOSED  

It's all happening at our Vinnies Shops!

We are so pleased to announce that:

  • 89 Vinnies Shops across Victoria are now open.
  • Trading hours are 10:00AM-4:00PM for the majority but check your local shop as it may be open until 5:00PM
  • 351 volunteers are looking forward to welcoming you back.
  • Donation of goods can be made between 9:00AM- 11:00AM Monday to Friday. (Why the short window? Donations are quarantined for 48 hours and some shops have limited storage. Please call before visiting your local Vinnies to avoid disappointment.)
  • Home collection of goods is temporarily stopped. 
  • Increased hygiene proficiency practices are in place, including provision of industrial strength hand wash being provided to all shops.

Vinnies thank you for your patience during this time. Your support is greatly valued and we look forward to welcoming you back into our shops.

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. 

PLEASE CHECK YOUR LOCAL VINNIES SHOP FOR CHANGES TO OPERATION AND TRADING HOURS.

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

 

15 March 2020:

Unfortunately, at the moment there are major Telstra outages in Melbourne’s east which have impacted our Call Centre’s functionality.

 

Our volunteers are still here – you may, however, have difficulty getting through and wait times may increase.

 

We apologise, and realise that it is frustrating for everyone, but we also are asking you for your patience.


We are still here and if you need assistance please call 1800 305 330, Monday to Friday, 10.00am – 3.00pm.

Our volunteers are continuing to man the Welfare Assistance Line but be aware that greater waiting times might be experienced. 

Please note: Health questions will be asked at the time of the call.

Rest assured, that once this crisis is over, our services will be back to normal.

Education Programs
STATUS:   SERVICE ONLINE EMAIL US TO JOIN linette.etheredge@svdp-vic.org.au

 

We are still here but our Education Programs have changed!

While our normal programs are suspended due to COVID-19, the St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria has developed online education programs that provide a fun way to stay connected and continue to develop your skills.

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. 

Rest assured, that once this crisis is over, our programs will be back to normal.
 

Youth Services
STATUS:   SERVICES ON HOLD QUERIES YOUTH@SVDP-VIC.ORG.AU
      SCHOOLS@SVDP-VIC.ORG.AU

 

We are still here but while our Youth Services are temporarily on hold for now, but our young Vinnies teams are helping out in various areas across the Society.

For example Shannon and Jacob have been volunteering in the Bushfire Assistance Call Centre and assisting people when they call in needing help. We also have multiple young Vincentians working across Soup Vans, Retail and the eBay Store. 

While child related activities have been put on hold for now, Young Vinnies teams are looking at ways to stay connected with the children and teens they support. To spread some Easter joy, we recently had our Teen Camp committee and Casey Young Vinnies groups set out to deliver hampers of chocolate to those they serve. Maintaining these relationships are at the forefront of all Young Vinnies teams.  

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 are pleased to add a new dimension to the Footsteps of Frederic (FOF) Program, through FOF Goes Live! This year it kicked off in February with a retreat but now, with the inability to have face-to-face sessions, is another example of the Society reimagining how we deliver programs so that they can continue. 

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 (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

Vinnies NILS (No Interest Loan Scheme)

STATUS:   SERVICE OPEN PHONE INTERVIEWS 03 5229 8829

 

We are still here and if you need assistance please call 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.

 

Assistance Services
STATUS:   SERVICE OPEN
  CHANGES TO OPERATION

 

  • Interviews are to be arranged on an appointment-only basis.
Prison Visitation
STATUS:   TEMPORARY HALTING AND
  STOPPING OF SOME SERVICES

 

  • Prison face-to-face visits to cease.
Vinnies CEO Sleepout
STATUS:   EVENT CHANGES DIGITAL EVENT  THURSDAY 18 JUNE 2020

 

This year, the St Vincent de Paul Society’s flagship fundraising event, the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, has gone digital and will be live-streamed on Thursday 18 June to raise awareness and essential funds for Vinnies’ services. The event will be hosted by TV personality Dr Andrew Rochford.

To keep our communities safe during the COVID-19 crisis, the Vinnies CEO Sleepout will take place in backyards, cars and on couches as participants join the event via their phones, tablets or computers to hear stories of people’s lived experience with homelessness and insights into Vinnies’ frontline services and the impact of COVID-19.

“I’ve seen the difference that Vinnies’ services make first-hand, and the Vinnies CEO Sleepout is such an important fundraiser,” Dr Rochford said.

In 2020, CEOs and community leaders from regional areas can also sign up and participants can involve their partners and children – helping the whole family to learn more about the growing issue of homelessness and how they can help. 

The Society’s CEO Sue Cattermole said: “This year, I will be sleeping in my car on 18 June, and I hope CEOs, executives and leaders from all sectors will join me to raise money for homelessness services at a time when it’s desperately needed.

Please register online at www.ceosleepout.org.au.