BFFS collaborates and works with other community services organisations in order to deliver a holistic service to our clients.
There so many different factors at play which lead to people finding themselves in financially difficult circumstances. At BFFS, we believe that in order to achieve long-term financial wellbeing, the underlying reasons leading to financial distress also need to be addressed. Therefore, we work closely with other organisations to gather information and refer our clients for further professional assistance.
Please note that all Shepparton organisations are highlighted in green.
| Organisation | Description |
|---|---|
| Financial | |
| Good Shepherd Microfinance | Good Shepherd Microfinance offers financial inclusion products and services. BFFS works with Good Shepherd to provide no interest and low interest loans to our clients. |
| Emergency relief and family support services | |
| Bendigo Foodshare | We work closely with Bendigo Foodshare who provide the food items we distribute as part of our Emergency Relief program. |
| Shepparton Foodshare | We work closely with Shepparton Foodshare who provide the food items we distribute as part of our Emergency Relief program. |
| Foodbank Australia | Foodbank are a great supporter of our work and also provide food items for us to distribute. |
| Greater Shepparton Foundation – Food Link Program | Established in response to the COVID-19 crisis, Food Link aims to support business and those in need. SFFS works with Food Link to distribute food relief to the community. |
| Anglicare | Anglicare offers intensive case management services for those in need including family support services. |
| Salvation Army – Bendigo Corps | Salvation Army in Bendigo is an emergency relief provider and offers a raft of other services. |
| Salvation Army – Shepparton Corps | Salvation Army in Shepparton is an emergency relief provider. |
| St Vincent De Paul (Vinnies) | Vinnies has an assistance centre located at 16 Hopetoun Street, Bendigo which provides emergency relief at certain times and on certain days during the week. Vinnies’ emergency relief centre in Shepparton is situated at 290 Wyndham Str and is open 10am-12pm Mon-Fri. |
| Uniting Bendigo | Uniting Care Bendigo is another emergency relief provider which can also help with pharmacy vouchers for those that need urgent help with obtaining medication. |
| Familycare | Familycare offers family, carer and disability support services to people in the Goulburn and Lower Hume regions. |
| Housing | |
| Haven; Home, Safe | Haven connects people with housing options and integrated supports so that they can find and keep a place to call home. |
| Horizon House Bendigo | Provides accommodation, care and intensive support to young people aged 16-22, who need a safe place to call home. |
| Housing Justice | A free and confidential service providing advice, information and assistance to tenants, including tenants living in public housing. |
| Beyond Housing | Committed to addressing homelessness, supporting people in housing stress and increasing the supply of affordable housing in North East Victoria and the Goulburn Valley. |
| Domestic violence support | |
| Centre for Non-Violence | Working to respond to and prevent family violence and homelessness across the Loddon region. Includes a Men’s Behaviour Change Program. |
| Annie North | Annie North provides crisis and transitional support and refuge accommodation to women and children who are escaping domestic and family violence, or who are homeless due to domestic and family violence in Bendigo. |
| Marian Community | A 24/7 specialist family violence service for women and children experiencing family violence in the Shepparton region. |
| Aboriginal support services | |
| Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative | BDAC offers a comprehensive range of services for the indigenous community in Bendigo and surrounds. |
| Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative | Rumbalara is a community-controlled organisation that offers a range of health and community services to the Greater Shepparton community. |
| Drug and Alcohol programs | |
| Bendigo Community Health Services | BCHS is a not for profit organisation that offers a wide range of health services, including a number of alcohol and drug-related programs and support services. |
| Physical and mental health services | |
| Bendigo Community Health Services | BCHS charter is to care for everyone in the community no matter who you are, where you live or what you earn. Most of their services are free or low cost. |
| Primary Care Connect | A community health service in Shepparton that engages with vulnerable and hard to reach community groups, offering over 25 programs focusing on a range of health and wellbeing issues, including primary health, drug and alcohol, gambling and many more. |
| Mind Australia – Bendigo | Mind Australia has been supporting people dealing with the day-to-day impacts of mental illness, as well as their families, friends and carers for over 40 years. |
| Wellways | Wellways is a leading Australian not-for-profit mental health, disability, NDIS, community care, and aged care services provider which has an office at 79B Wyndham Str, Shepparton. |
| Caroline Chisholm Society | Helps women and their families in the Shepparton region to achieve a safe and nurturing environment for their children. |
| Shepparton South Community Centre | Dedicated to providing social support, adult education, health and wellbeing activities, community services and referrals that meet the diverse needs of groups and individuals in the Shepparton community. |
| Youth services | |
| headspace Bendigo | headspace supports young people, between the ages of 12-25, with mental health, physical health, drug and alcohol support and educational/vocational support. All services are free. |
| headspace Shepparton | headspace supports young people, between the ages of 12-25, with mental health, physical health, drug and alcohol support and educational/vocational support. All services are free. |
| YSAS Bendigo | Youth Support + Advocacy Services aim to enable young people and families to overcome problems associated with substance use, mental health and behaviours such as offending and self-harm. |
| The Bridge Youth Service | Works with young people in Shepparton aged between 12 and 25 to increase their sense of belonging and create a community connection with value, respect and belief in their power to change their situations. |
| The Lighthouse Project | Lighthouse is driving improved wellbeing and educational outcomes for children and young people in the Shepparton region from conception to career. |
| Multicultural services | |
| Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Centre | Multicultural Services is a welcoming not-for-profit organisation that empowers people from migrant and refugee backgrounds to participate fully in Australian society. |
| Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District |
The Ethnic Council is a peak body promoting and representing the social, cultural and economic well-being of ethnic communities in the Goulburn Valley.
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