Agencies that provide support and respite
Brimbank City Council , Phone: 9249 4000. www.brimbank.vic.gov.au
Hobsons Bay City Council Phone: 9932 1530 www.hobsons.vic.gov.au
City of Maribyrnong Phone: 9688 0103 www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au
City of Melbourne Phone: 9658 9542 www.melbourne.vic.gov.au
Shire of Melton Phone: 9747 7200 www.melton.vic.gov.au
City of Moonee Valley Phone: 9243 8806 www.mvcc.vic.gov.au
Wyndham City Council Phone: 9742 8114 www.wyndham.vic.gov.au
Respite Connections is an agency which provides services however they are time limited and not ongoing like the council. This agency can provide up to 20 hours of respite in the first year and in the second year they are able to provide limited funding to go towards a weekend away, a holiday, a gym or zoo membership or other creative way to provide respite. Their number is: 9396 9550. Respite Connections can also provide respite in an emergency however you have to be registered first. Give them a call and see what the can do for you.
DHS Disability Client Services provides residential respite that cares for your child overnight. Although this sounds scary, many parents find that it provides them with a regular monthly break where they can look forward to a good night’s sleep. Also the children look forward to their sleepover and to seeing friends at the house. The department usually organises the stays with the same children and good friendships can be made. The department can be contacted on: 1800 783 783. If they are busy you can leave your number and they will call you back. DHS also offers other services such as so it is a good idea to have a chat with the Intake worker about your needs.
Baptcare Family Services and MacKillop Family Services are agencies that are funded to provide services as well. Depending on where you live depends on who you contact. Both these agencies provide Case Management, Flexible Respite Activities and funding for items that may be needed for your child such as harnesses or car seats to travel safely in the car or iPads to encourage communication or nappies and other incontinence items. The item needs to be something that contributes to the wellbeing and development of the child. The funding is limited to $500 from Baptcare and up to $750 from MacKillop. Once again it is a good idea to contact the Intake Worker and have a chat with them about their services and put your name on the waiting list.
Baptcare – 9373 3800 www.baptcare.org.au
Brimbank; Melbourne & Moonee Valley City Councils.
MacKillop Family Services - 9680 8444 www.mackillop.org.au/disability
Hobsons Bay; Maribyrnong; Melton & Wyndham City Councils. .
Amaze (formerly Autism Victoria) - Phone: (03) 9657 1600 can help out in a number of ways, even if you just require someone to talk to. Their website iswww.amaze.org.au. They have a counsellor/psychologist; library; and autism advisors to help with information about the Helping Children with Autism packages.
Association of Children with a Disability – Phone: 9818 2000 or website address is www.acd.org.au . They are an information, support and advocacy organisation for children with a disability and their families in Victoria. They also have information in some community languages such as Arabic, Chinese and Vietnamese.