COVID-19 community support
COVID-19 is impacting our community, our social connections and our finances. Council’s CASI Community Connector is here to support you. To add your activity or support service added to this list, contact: CASI Community Connector info@moorabool.vic.gov.au.
Food relief and support
The Neighbours Place
Christian not-for-profit, whose aim is to serve disadvantaged and at-risk people without judgement. They assist residents who need emergency food, due to financial hardship. While the Foodbank is usually accessed by Centrelink cardholders, others on low incomes are eligible.
Via telephone appointment. Operating during pandemic:
9.30am to 12.30pm (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) Closed public holidays.
77 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh (03) 5367 6222
email: neighbourspl@iinet.net.au or visit http://www.neighboursplace.org.au/
Bacchus Up To Pay It Forward (BUTPIF)
BUTPIF works with local charitable organisations and local businesses, to provide free meal vouchers to those in need. Vouchers are redeemable at selected food outlets in Bacchus Marsh and Darley. Or where you see a BUTPIF sign.
You can contribute donations towards to this project at many local businesses. Vouchers are available through local charitable and welfare organisations, as well as:
- Darley Bakehouse/Bacchus Bakery
- Jolly Miller
- Little Lucky Café
- Loot Café, Van Café
- Vanilla Rose Café
- BM Fish & Chips
- Frankly Fruits
- The Butcher Club
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Bacchusuptopayitforward/posts/
For more information please call Judy on 0434 389 721
Soul Food
Each Wednesday at 12pm, lunch is available at St Andrews hall. Volunteers from various Bacchus Marsh churches contribute to this project.
They provide a nourishing meal and social contact. COVID-19 restrictions mean they now provide this meal as a take away option. You can also get bread, fruit and cake. This service is not available during school holidays.
Help with groceries and meals is available. Please contact Jenny for more information.
Wednesday lunch 12pm – takeaway during COVID-19
Enquiries – Jenny Kearney 0408104155 / jennykearney1206@hotmail.com
18 Gisborne Road, Bacchus Marsh VIC 3340
Ballan District Health and Care
Emergency Food Relief – The Food Bank is run Monday – Thursday 9-5pm and is accessible by appointment only. Families and individuals can access the food bank once a month for food relief. There are no costs/fees and no eligibility criteria
To make an appointment contact reception on details below:
164 Inglis Street, Ballan VIC 3342 (03) 5366 7999 / reception@bdhc.com.au http://www.ballanhealth.com.au
St Vincent de Paul Bacchus Marsh
They provide food vouchers, clothing, furniture, utility relief, education, advocacy support and friendship.
Welfare Assistance Line 1800 305 330 Mon-Fri 10am-3pm.
Online shopping - priority assistance
Never shopped online before? We can help you order groceries online. You can have your groceries delivered or you can collect them from the store. Council's CASI Community Connector can guide you through the process.
IGA Darley (Champions IGA), IGA Ballan
The IGA Priority Shop supports customers who are elderly, vulnerable or isolated. By providing essential grocery packs to their door.
https://igashop.com.au/
https://www.championsiga.com.au/
https://ballan.countrygrocers.com.au/
Foodworks Online - Bacchus Marsh
As well as regular online shopping, the NDIS, The Department of Veterans Affairs and My Aged Care has worked with the participating Independent FoodWorks stores to make sure customers, who are unable to shop in their usual way, have priority access to home delivery services.
This means if you have an NDIS, My Aged Care, or Veteran Gold Card Number you get priority to purchase essential grocery items online to be delivered to your home
https://bacchusmarsh.myfoodworks.com.au/
https://foodworks.com.au/homedelivery
Woolworths
Woolworths has the Basics Box, which includes some basics for breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks. If people are able to purchase their own, the service is for specifically for the elderly, people with a disability, those with compromised immunity and people in mandatory isolation.
https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/page/woolworths-basics-box
Coles
Coles has the Coles Online Priority Service - The Coles Online Priority Service (COPS) has been created to support our most vulnerable customers and communities during this challenging time, and ensure we help those who need it the most right now, particularly the elderly and those who can’t easily get to one of our stores.
https://shop.coles.com.au/a/bacchus-marsh/content/priority-service-information
Finance
Moorabool Shire – Providing Support to those financially affected by Covid-19
https://www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/financial-hardship
Child & Family Services
CAFS are still providing Financial Counselling services during COVID-19 for people experiencing financial hardship. The service is completely free and confidential.
52 Grant Street, Bacchus Marsh, 3340, PH: 5367 9900
http://www.cafs.org.au
MoneyCare Salvation Army Ballarat
Phone appointments available during Covid through MoneyCare Ballarat.
PH: 5337 0600
https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/about-us/our-services/moneycare/
https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/need-help/financial-assistance/youre-the-boss/
No Interest Loan Scheme
No Interest Loans (NILS) provide individuals and families on low incomes with access to safe, fair and affordable credit.
PH: 5229 8829
https://www.vinniesnils.org.au/
Money Help
MoneyHelp provides confidential and free financial information to assist Victorians with debt problems. You will find information here from rent assistance and redundancy payment to bankruptcy.
www.moneyhelp.org.au
Money Smart
Australian government website with useful information and tools regarding financial matters.
www.moneysmart.gov.au
National Debt Hotline
A free, independent and confidential not-for-profit service that helps people in Australia tackle their debt problems.
http://www.ndh.org.au/
PH: 1800 007 007 or
Live Chat weekdays 9.30am-4.30pm online.
BeyondBlue
Beyond Blue and Financial Counselling Australia are encouraging people to access free support services to cope with economic impacts of coronavirus.(Money on your Mind campaign)
https://coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au/managing-my-daily-life/financial-and-mental-wellbeing.html.
Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing service
1800 512 348 or chat online.
Free Counselling calls National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007
Available Payments
For information on Payments and services during coronavirus (COVID-19)
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/subjects/payments-and-services-during-coronavirus-covid-19
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/subjects/payments-and-services-during-coronavirus-covid-19/if-you-need-payment
Energy Bills
Energy retailers must provide assistance to any household that contacts them because they are having trouble paying their bills.
Utility Relief Grant Scheme: You can receive a maximum of $650 on each utility type in a two-year period (or $1,300 for households with a single source of energy (for example, electricity only).
You can apply for separate grants for each utility (electricity, gas and water).
https://www.energy.gov.au/energy-sector-response-novel-coronavirus-covid-19/information-australian-households.
https://services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/utility-relief-grant-scheme
Reachout.com
Reachout.com has online resources on managing work and money for young people.
reachout.com
Housing support
CAFS Bacchus Marsh
Housing support
1800MYCAFS
5367 9900
If you are experiencing or at risk of homelessness you can ring the 24 hour Victorian Hotline for assistance.
The 1800 number will direct your call to a service closest to you, or if the call is outside business hours, it will be directed to Salvation Army Crisis Services.
1800 825 955
https://services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/crisis-accommodation
Mental health and wellbeing
https://headtohealth.gov.au/service-providers for a detailed list of service providers.
HeadSpace
headspace began in 2006 to address this critical gap, by providing tailored and holistic mental health support to 12 - 25 year olds.
1800 650 890
headspace.org.au
https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/
Lifeline
Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
13 11 14
Kids Helpline
Phone counselling service/web chat
1800 55 1800
https://kidshelpline.com.au/
Suicide Call Back Service
Phone call/web chat or video chat available.
1300 659 467
https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/
Reachout.com
https://au.reachout.com/
Head to Help
The new HeadtoHelp mental health support service for people experiencing mental health distress. Mon – Friday 8.30-5pm. Service includes a statewide telehealth service and a new mental health pandemic response hub at Ballarat Community Health in Sebastopol.
1800 595 212
Partners in Wellbeing
Partners in Wellbeing can give you one-to-one support to help you improve your wellbeing, develop strategies to cope and get things under control.
1300 375 330.
Red Cross – Covid Connect
Red Cross – Covid Connect If you need someone to talk to, whether you are feeling isolated or lonely.
A Red Cross volunteer is happy to call you for a friendly chat – once or regularly – its up to you!
https://www.redcross.org.au/get-help/community-services/covid-connect
https://connect.redcross.org.au/en-US/covid-connect/
eFriend
A free virtual peer support service where you can access six sessions with the same peer worker to support your mental health and wellbeing.
https://efriend.org.au/
Friendline
FriendLine is for anyone who needs to reconnect or just wants a chat.
All conversations with FriendLine are casual and anonymous and our friendly volunteers are ready to talk about anything and everything.
Ph: 1800 424 287 or
http://www.friendline.org.au/
BeyondBlue
Beyond Blue have a dedicated COVID-19 online chat and online forum for people to share their concerns and connect to support one another.
https://online.beyondblue.org.au/
1300 22 4636
COVID-19 information and support
Coronavirus Hotline
If your enquiry is related to coronavirus health concerns or current restrictions, please call the Coronavirus Hotline.
1800 675 398
Coronavirus Information Line
Call this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19) or help with the COVIDSafe app. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
1800 020 080
Older persons COVID-19 Support line
The Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line provides information and support to senior Australians, their families and carers. Call Monday to Friday, except public holidays, from 8.30am to 6pm.
1800 171 866
Disability Information Hotline
Coronavirus information for people with disability.
1800 643 787.
https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers/information-and-referrals-for-people-with-disability-and-their-supporters-about-coronavirus-covid-19
Practical support
St Johns Community Transport and Covid Transfer Service
The St John Community Transport Service assists meeting everyday needs of people in our local community by being more mobile and having safe and reliable transport.
On behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), St John Ambulance Victoria is transporting vulnerable people to and from COVID-19 testing sites throughout Victoria.
1300 785 646
https://www.stjohnvic.com.au/transport-services/community-transport/
Contact your Local Health Provider to make a booking for the Covid-19 Transfer Service.
Moorabool Shire
Contact the CASI Community Connector for practical support queries, assistance in accessing/learning the technology to connect, assistance with online shopping, etc.
5366 7100
info@moorabool.vic.gov.au
Central Highlands Primary Care Partnership
Lots of useful resources and contacts available on the Central Highlands PCP website
https://www.chpcp.org/
Volunteering opportunities
Neighbours Place
Neighbours Place Bacchus Marsh are seeking donations of food – fresh and non perishable.
Deliver 9.30am to 12.30pm - Monday, Wednesday and Friday
To 77 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh (03) 5367 6222
Or via the food donation bin at Foodworks
Djerriwarrh Health
Multiple volunteering opportunities – welfare check ins, assisting with Meals on Wheels etc.
Contact : volunteer@djhs.org.au or ph: 5367 9600
Moorabool Shire
Many opportunities to volunteer and support your local community through community groups like Rotary, Lions Club, CWA etc, refer: https://www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/directory?page=1
Activities
Moorabool Libraries
Moorabool libraries have lots of great online activities, book clubs, bacchat, story time, craft groups,etc
https://www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/residents/community/library-services
https://www.facebook.com/mooraboollibraries/
Ballan Community House
www.ballancommunityhouse.com.au
5368 1934
Darley Neighbourhood House
https://www.facebook.com/pg/darleyneighbourhoodhouse/posts/
The Laurels
https://www.thelaurels.org.au/courses/