DIVRS

03/10/2026

Everyone's welcome!

You don't have to be a runner to be dashing.
Walk it. Run it. Wheel it. Take it at your own pace.

And there are three ways to join us:

💚 Community Ticket - Free
If the cost of a ticket makes it harder to join us, choose the Community Ticket. We'd still love to have you there. No questions asked.

💙 Supporter Ticket - $40

💛 Pay It Forward Ticket - $80
Come along - and help someone else come along too.

Children under 15 join free with a registered adult.

Sunday 18 October. Darebin Parklands.
Register here: https://darebin-dash.raiselysite.com/

02/10/2026

01/10/2026

We had a great time at the Darebin Seniors Festival today talking all things DIVRS and what a community that cares for each other makes happen.

This included how we help ease cost of living pressures through sharing food, helping people save money on energy bills and more, how we provide practical help on all sorts of issues, and how people can get involved through volunteering with us or becoming a member of our supporter circle.

30/09/2026

Meet Ilona, one of our social work students, who recently helped an 80+ Greek woman reconnect her mobile phone after it was disconnected because she had missed paying a bill.

We regularly share food with Katerina* and DIVRS is a place she knows she can come for help.

When she told us her phone had been disconnected, we sat down with her and called the phone company. Together, we worked out what had happened and paid the outstanding bill.

But getting her number reconnected wasn’t so simple.

Because her phone was disconnected, she couldn’t receive the text needed to verify her identity. She doesn’t have email, so she came back with her passport. We were then told she would need to get a new number.

That wasn’t a small thing. Like most of us, she has her number connected to family, friends, her doctor, bank and all the organisations and services she deals with. Changing it would mean a lot of work and disruption and Katerina didn’t want to decide that day.

We weren’t convinced this was the only option. After she left, we contacted the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, called the company again and asked to speak with a supervisor, who confirmed Katerina’s number could be reconnected (disconnected numbers are quarantined for 6 months)

There was just one more problem: how do you contact someone who doesn’t have a working phone or email?

So we wrote her a letter and asked her to come back to DIVRS.

When she returned, we called the company again, asked for the matter to be escalated and, within 10 minutes, her number was reconnected.

She was delighted. So were we.

Checking a bill or reconnecting a phone might sound simple. But when digital access, authentication systems and communication barriers get in the way, everyday tasks can become much harder to navigate.

At DIVRS, we provide a place where people can come, talk things through and work out what needs to happen next — together.

If you’d like to support our work reducing barriers and enabling connection, join our supporter circle at https://www.divrs.org.au/donate

28/09/2026

stARTalking and free health checks are now at the Reservoir library. Come and join our LaTrobe student nurses for creative activities and chat about all things health. They can even check your blood pressure and give one on one information.

Is there a health topic you'd like to know about? Come along and let us know and we'll have it as a future topic.

Reservoir Library, 23 Edwardes St every Tuesday 2pm - 4pm to 26 November.

No need to register, just drop in.

Want to know more? Call us on 9480 8200.

22/09/2026

Are you our next Darebin L2P Program Coordinator?

We’re looking for a skilled, passionate person with strong relationship management and engagement skills and effective organisational skills, to coordinate the Darebin TAC L2P Program. You will enjoy working with young people and volunteers to provide a supportive, safe and engaging program experience.

While she loves being part of our wonderful community, unforeseen circumstances means our current L2P Coordinator needs to step away from the role. She will provide the incoming person with a structured handover.

🚗Help young learner drivers without access to a car or supervising adult get on the road experience to apply for their Ps, matching them with volunteer mentors.
🌼Work flexibly across 24 hours per week.
💙Join an organisation that is energetic, innovative, champions social justice and sustainability and has been working with the Darebin community for 50 years.
☀ Not-for-profit salary packaging (such as up to $15,900 for everyday living expenses per FBT year), gifted leave at Christmas and travel allowance available.
🙂We invite people from a broad range of experiences and backgrounds to apply including youth work, social work, community services, community development, or a relevant field.

Find out more and apply by 11 October at https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/members/DIVRS/darebin-l2p-program-coordinator-2

Please call Christina DiPierdomenico, CEO on 9480 8202 if you’d like to discuss this opportunity.

20/09/2026

Walk it. Run it. Wheel it. Bring the kids. Bring a mate.

Darebin Dash is coming to Darebin Parklands on Sunday 18 October.
Choose 3 km or 5 km, then make a morning of it with coffee, a wander through the DIVRS Urban Farm and free entry to Alphington Farmers Market.

Every ticket supports DIVRS. And if you can fundraise too, even better. Go solo, get a team together or simply come along and take part. You don’t have to run to be dashing.

5 km — 9am
3 km — 10am

Community tickets are free, children under 15 can join free with a registered adult, and supporter and Pay It Forward tickets help DIVRS do more locally.
Register or start fundraising: https://darebin-dash.raiselysite.com/

There’s no official timing. No personal bests required. Just a good morning out for a great local cause.

16/09/2026

This is your reminder to start your Will for FREE this week. You have until 28 September to make the most of DIVRS's partnership with Safewill.

No overwhelming paperwork, no lawyer fees, just a straightforward online form you can finish over a cuppa. Plus, it's never been so easy to leave a legacy of community and care with a gift to DIVRS, helping local people continue to access deep connections and practical support for generations to come.

Want help getting started? Give the community support team a call on 9480 8200.

Or get your will sorted now at https://tinyurl.com/freewillwithDIVRS

09/09/2026

Today is where we remind ourselves that any day can be a day to start a conversation that could change a life. Even though 9 in 10 of those who were asked, ‘are you OK?’, report feeling grateful, cared about and supported we can often forget to ask for or seek help.

Here at DIVRS we value making time to listen. And we can refer you to helpful resources and services.

Drop in to see us at 285 High St or to into one of our free health kiosks across Darebin. Visit https://www.divrs.org.au/health-and-wellbeing for more details.