Community support and recovery

Support services

Find providers to help with free and low cost food, personal items, transportation, pharmacy items, accommodation, legal support and a wide range of other services.

Foodbank

International students are welcome to choose from a diverse range of fresh product, pantry and staple items via Foodbank's new International Student Pop-Up Store . Students simply need to bring along a shopping bag along with a Student ID.

Racism and discrimination

If you, or someone you know, has experienced discrimination or vilification on the basis of race or religion and would like to report it or seek information about your rights, you can make a complaint to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC).

Adult Migrant Education Program (AMEP)

Learn English for free through this program  which helps eligible migrants with low English levels to improve their English language skills, develop work skills and improve their understanding of Australian community life.

The Positive Living Centre (PLC)

The Positive Living Centre is a vibrant and safe environment for all people living with HIV, enhancing their health and wellbeing through the provision of social, emotional, recreational, and skills-based services and activities.

COVIDSafe settings for community services in Victoria

Learn how COVIDSafe settings and new restrictions affect community services in Victoria on the state government website.

Find a community group

Looking to join a local group? Use the search directory to browse community groups and organisations in Stonnington.

Reconnect with your local community

Stay healthy, informed and connected with information, events and programs from the City of Stonnington and other service providers.

• City of Stonnington events
• Active Stonnington events
• Arts and culture events
• Stonnington Engaged - activities and social program for people aged 55 years and over.
• Walks - tours and trails.
• Sport4All Grassroots and school sports program for people with disabilities.

Service Provider Help Lines

Find a list of services and providers for mental health counselling and support.

Head to Health

Head to Health provides Australians with trusted information and digital resources to help support their mental health and wellbeing during this pandemic.

Multicultural mental health resources

Find a list of mental health services and resources specifically developed for Victorians from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Thorne Harbour Health

This program provides information, support and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians.

Wellbeing and Mental Health Support for Victorian Small Businesses

Find mental health support for Victorians dealing with the challenges of running a small business during COVID-19.

Domestic and Family Violence Response Training (DV-Alert)

Domestic and Family Violence Response Training provides training to frontline workers to recognise and respond to domestic and family violence.

Additional Child Care Subsidy (temporary financial hardship)

The Additional Child Care Subsidy supports families experiencing temporary financial hardship due to COVID-19.

Online safety kit for parents and carers

Read 'COVID-19: an online safety kit for parents and carers' from the eSafety Commissioner.

Association for Children with a Disability

Find information to support children with disabilities during COVID-19 on the Association for Children with a Disability website.

Raising Children COVID-19 family guide

This guide for parents and carers provides information and tips on coping with COVID-19, protective hygiene, and more.

Youth programs

Our Middle Years and Youth Services team run programs, organise events and provide services to children and young people, aged 12 to 25 years, who live, work or visit our city.

Transition to work

The Transition to Work employment service supports young people aged 15-24 in finding work (including apprenticeships and training) or education.

National Work Experience Program

The National Work Experience Program (NWEP) is a work experience program for job seekers aged 17 years or over. Job ready participants undertake real life unpaid work experience placements to gain experience and confidence.

Online safety tips for the ‘new normal’

eSafety provides young people with information about online safety in a COVID-19 world; staying connected, managing mental health, studying remotely, dealing with fake news and cyberbullying. 

Gambler's Help Youthline

Find free and confidential gambling advice and support for under 25s, 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1800 262 376.

Council on the Aging (COTA) Victoria

Find COVID-19 resources and information for older Victorians including health advice, restrictions, vaccines and more. You can call their information line at 1300 135 090.

Be Connected

Be Connected is an government initiative that empowers older people to stay connected digitally to access services, make social connections, and develop digital skills while staying COVIDSafe.

Engaged program

Our activities program for people aged 55 years and older, people with disabilities, and carers.

Active Stonnington

Our sports and fitness program keeps our community health and safe while staying socially connected.

Rate relief and financial support

Council has a number of support measures in place for people experiencing difficulty in paying rates, fees or charges. This is an incredibly challenging time for our entire community and support is available.

Moneysmart financial assistance

Find government financial support for those impacted by COVID-19.

Energy bill relief for concession card holders

This $250 power saving bonus provides direct support to vulnerable Victorian households experiencing energy bill stress due to COVID-19.

Good Shepherd

Good Shepherd helps people achieve financial independence with financial assistance services and a financial independence hub.

Gambling support

Gambler's Help provides free and confidential advice 24/7 to assist people experiencing gambling problems as well as those close to them who are affected by their gambling. Their helpline number is 1800 858 858.

National Debt Helpline

If you are having financial difficulties, visit the National Debt Helpline COVID-19 Financial Survival Guide or call at 1800 007 007. You can speak to a financial counsellor for free and get advice.

Australian Taxation Office (ATO)

Find information about ATO measures and support during COVID-19.

Business 

Head to our Helping Businesses navigate COVID-19 page for support and advice for businesses dealing with the impact of COVID-19.

Circuit Breaker Business Support Package

The Victorian Government has launched the $250 million Circuit Breaker Business Support Package to assist small to medium businesses and sole traders, under the circuit breaker restrictions announced on 27 May 2021.

Business recovery and resilience mentoring

This government business mentoring program provides mentoring sessions to eligible small business owners to help with their COVID-19 recovery.

For individuals 

Working for Victoria

The Jobs Victoria online hub connects workers with new job opportunities and access to online training.

JobTrainer

As part of its economic response to COVID-19, the Australian government is providing free or low-fee training courses across the nation through its $1 billion JobTrainer Fund.

jobactive

jobactive is an Australian government initiative dedicated to getting more Australians into work, connecting job seekers with employers.

Boosting Female Founders Initiative

The Boosting Female Founders Initiative helps female entrepreneurs overcome the disadvantages faced in getting access to finance and support to grow their startups.

Carrer Transition Assistance

The Career Transition Assistance program is designed to help mature-age job seekers, aged 45 years and over, to build their confidence and skills to become more competitive in the market.

ParentsNext

ParentsNext helps  parents and carers to build confidence, develop skills, and access local support and services to obtain employment.

New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS)

New Business Assistance with NEIS can help you turn your business idea into a viable business, where you can be your own boss.

Launch into Work

The Launch into Work program supports pre-employment projects, helping job seekers prepare for vacancies and employers to trial new ways of recruiting. The program is primarily focused on creating long-term employment pathways for women.

For business

Head to our Helping Businesses navigate COVID-19 page for a range of support and advice for business dealing with the impact of COVID-19.

Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements

The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy supports businesses and Group Training Organisations to take on new apprentices and trainees, to build a pipeline of skilled workers and assist with the COVID-19 recovery.

Small Business Digital Adaptation Program

The Small Business Digital Adaptation Program provides $1200 rebates for small business to access a range of digital business tools.

Working for Victoria

Jobs Victoria works with employers to identify their business needs and help find jobseekers across Victoria with the right skills and experience.

jobactive

jobactive is an Australian government initiative dedicated to getting more Australians into work, connecting job seekers with employers.

Jobs Hub

The Jobs Hub provides assistance to job seekers and employers to connect in a rapidly changing job market in an COVID-19 world.

Wage Subsidies

Wage subsidies up to $10,000 (GST inclusive) may be available to Australian businesses hiring employment services participants in ongoing jobs.

JobMaker Hiring Credits

Eligible employers can access the JobMaker Hiring Credit Scheme, which is an incentive for businesses to employ additional young job seekers aged 16-35 years.

Jobs Victoria Fund

The Jobs Victoria Fund is a wage subsidy program that supports businesses to hire people whose employment has been most affected by the pandemic.

The Arts Wellbeing Collective

The Arts Wellbeing Collective is an Arts Centre Melbourne initiative  arts and cultural organisations working together to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in the performing arts. The Support Act Wellbeing Helpline (1800 959 500) is a free, confidential phone counselling service available 24/7 for anyone who works in the performing arts industry

The Equity Health Database

Download a list of GPs, psychologists, and other mental health professionals who have self-identified as having a special interest in or affiliation with the arts and/or artists.

Community Recovery

Recovery is best achieved when the affected community can not only participate in, but help lead the recovery process.

In recognition of this, the City of Stonnington is actively collaborating with community leaders via a Community Recovery Committee, which provides a mechanism for local leadership and community self-determination.

In this sense the committee acts as Council’s strategic decision-making body for sustainable community recovery: assessing emerging social issues and community needs, recommending priorities, and coordinating appropriate recovery activities. Earlier this year we asked the committee what their vision was for Stonnington as we recovered and reconnected after COVID-19. Here were their answers: