13 MAY 2024
This month, the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) will launch their Winter Appeal in response to a dramatic increase in the number of Aboriginal families seeking homelessness support. VACCA is calling on individuals, organisations, and groups to dig deep this winter to support Aboriginal families at risk of homelessness this winter.
As the cost-of-living crisis has put more pressure on already vulnerable Aboriginal families, VACCA has seen an increase in the number of dual income families reaching out to their homelessness support services for help. Support workers see many more families having to decide between buying food for their children or paying rent.
Victoria has the highest rate of Aboriginal people seeking homelessness services across Australia, with Aboriginal Victorians accessing homelessness and social housing services at a rate 10 times higher than non-Indigenous Victorians, something VACCA is seeing from the frontline. VACCA’s homelessness support program, Wilam Support Services, has already experienced such great demand it ran out of government funding in March.
As winter sets in, funds raised through VACCA’s Winter Appeal will help to prevent further crisis for already vulnerable families, carers, and Elders by providing emergency relief like food hampers, help with household bills, and support with transport.
Each year, VACCA supports over 6000 individuals and families through emergency relief programs in a culturally safe, trauma informed environment. Once connected to VACCA through this emergency relief, individuals and families can then be referred to other essential services if needed, supporting them to get back on their feet for good.
Speaking about VACCA’s emergency relief work, VACCA CEO Muriel Bamblett said “we never lose sight of the mums and dads in our community that that need our support at critical times. They have a connection with us, and we ensure through our services, that they have access to the right supports, when they need. If they get into trouble, they know they can ring us.”
To support VACCA’s Winter Appeal, please make a donation at vacca.org/donate or email supportus@vacca.org to find out other ways you can help.
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FOR RELEASE –
Beth Cesarin - Senior Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
PH: 0439 117 408 E: bethc@vacca.org
Sarah Gafforini – Director, Office of the CEO VACCA
T: 0427 621 421/ E: sarahg@vacca.org
ABOUT VACCA - www.vacca.org
The Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) is Victoria’s Peak Voice for Aboriginal children. We are the leading provider of Aboriginal child and family services, and the largest provider of services for Aboriginal family violence and homelessness. We have been supporting children, young people, and families in the community for over 47 years as an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO).
Through our vision of self-determination – Live, Experience, and Be – we exist to support culturally strong, safe, and thriving Aboriginal communities. We deliver over 80 programs across Victoria including child and family services, family violence, support for stolen generations, child protection, cultural strengthening programs, mental health, financial services, justice and redress support, early years, and homelessness services.