Community Information & Support Victoria - CISVic

07/10/2026

Yesterday was a great reminder of what can happen when Victoria’s community sector comes together.

A big congratulations to the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) team on a fantastic Community Sector Conference.

It was great to connect with people from across the sector, share ideas and talk about the issues shaping Victoria’s future.

We were also proud to see CISVic Member agencies Knox Infolink Mornington Community Support Centre and South East Community Links represented in the conversation.

One important focus was Victorian Council of Social Service's Essentials for Everyone state election campaign.

CISVic is proud to support the call for a Victoria where everyone can access the essentials they need to live with dignity — and where community organisations have the resources and certainty to be there when people need help.

We also welcome the Premier’s announcement that Victorian Labor is committed to moving community organisations onto four-year funding agreements.

Longer-term funding gives local organisations more certainty to plan, keep skilled staff and provide consistent support in their communities.

It’s an issue closely connected to our own state election ask, Backing Victoria’s Frontline.

We’re calling for a four-year investment in Victoria’s Community Information and Support network so local services can keep providing practical help early, before hardship becomes crisis.

A strong community sector matters to all of us. And there’s real strength in speaking together about the kind of Victoria we want to see.

Learn more about Essentials for Everyone:
https://www.essentialsforeveryone.org.au/

Learn more about Backing Victoria's Frontline:
https://cisvic.org.au/get-involved/advocacy/

16/09/2026

New research from Australian Council of Social Service puts numbers around something our member agencies see every day: people simply don’t have enough money to cover the basics.
95% of people surveyed who receive working-age income support are struggling with grocery costs. Three in four are cutting back on food, skipping meals or finding money elsewhere in already stretched budgets just to eat.
Across Victoria, Community Information and Support services see what this looks like up close. People are seeking emergency relief and practical support when there’s nowhere left to cut, often while also dealing with housing stress, rising bills and other challenges.
Our members provide a vital local safety net. But emergency relief can’t fix an income that doesn’t meet the cost of essentials.
These findings add to the evidence that adequate income support matters, not only for individuals and families, but for stronger communities.

11/09/2026

CISVic was pleased to join the Council to Homeless Persons and others from across the sector for this important conversation.

We welcome the Victorian Government’s investment in addressing housing and homelessness. We also know how important the community information and support sector is in helping people navigate complex service systems, understand what support is available and connect with the help they need.

Congratulations to CHP for bringing people together and continuing to highlight the issues affecting Victorians experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

There is still much to do, and strong collaboration across government and the community sector will be critical.

20/08/2026

Every community is different, and so is every Community Information & Support service.

From food and material aid to information, referrals, advocacy, volunteer support and community connection, CIS agencies respond to the unique and changing needs of the people and places they serve. As trusted, place-based organisations, they are often the first point of contact when people need help navigating life's challenges.

What makes the Community Information & Support sector so effective is its generalist approach. By listening, understanding a person's circumstances, and working alongside local partners, agencies can provide practical support while helping community members access the specialist services they need.

Local. Responsive. Connected. Supporting communities to navigate hardship and find pathways forward. 💙

Southern Peninsula Community Support

Southern Peninsula Community Support supports vulnerable individual...

10/08/2026

We were pleased to welcome Luba Grigorovitch MP, Minister for Youth and Minister for Carers and Volunteers, to our member agency Laverton Community Integrated Services Inc..

As a service the Minister knows well, Laverton was a fitting place to talk about the important role Community Information and Support services play in local communities.

These services help people find practical support, make sense of complex systems and connect with the help they need — close to home.

We also had the opportunity to share CISVic’s plan to strengthen existing services and address geographical gaps across Victoria, so more communities can access trusted, place-based support when they need it.

Thank you to Minister Grigorovitch for taking the time to visit and hear more about the work of our sector.

To find out more about the work of the Community Information and Support sector, see the link in the comments.

05/08/2026

This video offers a snapshot of the Community Information and Support sector from almost 12 years ago.

A lot has changed since then. But one thing hasn't.

People still need practical, local support when life takes an unexpected turn.

In fact, that need has grown.

Today, more than 122,440 people across Australia are experiencing homelessness or insecure housing. And 44% of Australian households are struggling to put food on the table.

Behind every number is a person, a family, a neighbour.

Every day, Community Information and Support agencies are there to provide practical help, trusted information and a pathway forward.

The challenges may be bigger than they were 12 years ago, but so too is the importance of strong, place-based community support.

Just as importantly, our sector helps people navigate increasingly complex service systems, connecting them with the right support at the right time. When life becomes overwhelming, having someone who knows where to turn can make all the difference.

Emergency relief is the provision of financial or material assistan...

04/08/2026

Food insecurity rarely happens on its own.

It can be tied to housing stress, rising bills, health concerns, family pressures or an unexpected change in circumstances.

That’s why place-based services like Geelong Foodshare matter.

Geelong Foodshare understands its local community. It works alongside a network of agencies so food can be a starting point for broader support, connection and longer-term stability.

Through its Social Supermarkets, food education programs and local partnerships, people can access nutritious food with dignity and choice. They can also connect with services that understand the other challenges they may be facing.

This is more than food relief. It is practical, local support built around the needs of the Greater Geelong community.

Watch the video to learn more about Geelong Foodshare’s impact.

Thank you to the staff, volunteers and community partners helping make sure local people do not have to face hardship alone.


Luba Grigorovitch MP

22/07/2026

Celebrating First Nations people AND standing against racism should never be limited to days and weeks of significance.
It is something we all have a responsibility to do, every day.
That means listening. Believing people’s experiences. Speaking up when racism happens. Challenging unfair systems. And continuing to learn, even when it feels uncomfortable.

For First Nations peoples, racism is inseparable from the ongoing denial of sovereignty and self-determination. Centring First Nations voices, truth-telling and leadership is essential to meaningful and lasting change.

Our workplaces, community organisations and governments all have a role to play.

Watch Sharna’s story from Still Becoming: Our Anti-Racist Future:
https://youtu.be/LOcDmJBWcMU


Australian Human Rights Commission

The second story in the series of 4 animated stories created by GAR...

21/07/2026

It’s with gratitude for an incredible contribution that we announce our Chief Executive Officer, Kate Wheller will be leaving CISVic in October.

Kate has been with CISVic for sixteen years, and played a significant role in the transformation of the organisation over that time.
Most recently, Kate led the CISVic team this year to develop a new 3-year strategy for the organisation, and a compelling advocacy platform to represent the interests of the Community Information and Support Services sector in the lead-up to November’s state election.

With this solid foundation, CISVic is well placed to continue operations uninterrupted while the CISVic Board undertakes a recruitment process to hire the organisation’s next CEO.

That process will commence immediately, and we look forward to our next CEO being able to join us early enough to overlap with Kate in the role, ensuring a smooth transition.

CISVic gives its deepest thanks to Kate for her years of service, and wishes her the best for her next chapter.

The CISVic Board