Community Support and Family Services in Ringwood.

Experiencing family violence can be incredibly isolating, however you don’t need to feel alone. Our team are here to support you when you are recovering from family violence.

In our Ringwood location we offer family violence services to those living in outer Eastern Melbourne government areas of Maroondah, Knox and Yarra Ranges.

The Pathways to Resilience program at Ringwood offers a range of integrated therapeutic responses to support adults, young people and children who have experienced family violence. You can discuss your experience of abuse, receive referrals to additional services, participate in group work or attend confidential one-on-one counselling sessions.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, you may find it difficult to pay for basic essentials. In times of crisis, Uniting can provide you with emergency relief services.  

Our emergency relief services in Ringwood offer practical resources and a listening ear from someone who cares. Subject to availability you can receive:  

• Food 
• Clothing 
• Personal care items 
• Links to other services.  

Our team is here to provide support so you don’t need to go without necessities. You can access our Ringwood emergency relief services from 9:30 to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday. 

Phone number: (03) 8870 4020.

Loss of income, illness or a relationship breakdown are just some of the reasons why one may become homeless or at risk of losing their home. Our homelessness support services are here to help you provide information and crisis support to prevent homelessness, this can also include referral to other support programs in your area.

It can be tough to stand up for your rights as a tenant, especially if you are struggling to pay your rent, living in an unsafe environment or experiencing unfair rental increases.  Uniting’s tenancy assistance and advocacy program, supports people who are in private rental, or in public housing, you’ll receive the right advice so you can prevent eviction. 

It’s important to understand your rights and negotiate the best outcome for you – whether that’s breaking a lease, preventing rental discrimination or taking a case to VCAT.  Our programs in Ringwood aim to prevent people being evicted. 

Tenancy Assistance & Advocacy Program (TAAP) 

TAAP supports people in private rental who live in Eastern Melbourne. At Ringwood we assist tenants by using a range of negotiation and advocacy techniques to resolve disputes with landlords, preparing documents relating to VCAT hearings or dispute resolution.  

Phone number: (03) 8870 4014.

Tenancy Plus   

Tenancy Plus supports people in public and community housing and is accessible to people living in Eastern Melbourne. Tenancy Plus can assist tenants to establish, strengthen, or maintain their tenancy by providing case management, advocacy, support and information. 

Phone number: (03) 8870 4030.

Learning to drive is an important milestone in many people’s lives, enabling them to access more opportunities and independence. Uniting’s L2P matches young people with a fully-licensed driver and vehicle so they can gain supervised driving experience.

You can access this program if you are aged 16 to 21, hold a valid Victorian learner’s permit are living in out-of-home care, or experienced homelessness and are in Melbourne’s eastern region.

We work with young people aged 16-24, living in Eastern Melbourne, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and offer dedicated programs that help them improve their lives, work towards their goals, helping them to build coping skills and resilience to break the cycle of disadvantage. 

Phone number: (03) 8870 4092.

Pride in Place specialist homelessness support service for people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless who are from the LGBTIQ+ community. 

We can support you with: 

• Referrals to help find crisis accommodation 
• Work towards sustainable housing 
• Referral to other LGBTIQ-friendly services 
• Information about additional supports or peer groups 
• Addressing mental health, alcohol or other drug issues, general health or family violence.