Ermha

31/08/2026

Today, Meridia launched its Strategic Plan 2026-2030.

The plan outlines a clear direction for the years ahead across our Group of social service organisations: The Disability Trust, Ermha, OC Connections, Marriott Support Services, Bedford Group and Embarc Employment - reinforcing our shared commitment to supporting people, families and communities.

Read Meridia’s post below and don’t miss the link to listen to the Get Real podcast. Hear from our Board Chair, Dr Peter Langkamp, and Board member, Carol Heijo, as they share valuable insights informed by their lived experience.

We are proud to launch Meridia's Strategic Plan 2026-2030.

Built through extensive consultation with our workforce, people with lived and living experience, participants, advocates and stakeholders, the strategy sets out our vision for a better-connected social services ecosystem where people remain connected to opportunity, community and purpose at every stage of life.

Guided by three priorities, Strengthen What Works, Build a Sustainable and Diverse Future, and Integrate, Enable and Innovate, the plan provides a clear roadmap for growing our impact while continuing to deliver high-quality, person-centred services.

Together, our service brands, including The Disability Trust, Bedford Group, Ermha, OC Connections, Marriott Support Services and Embarc Employment, will continue working together to create meaningful outcomes for the people and communities we support.

To coincide with the launch, we have also released a special episode of the GET REAL Podcast, featuring Meridia Board Chair Dr Peter Langkamp OAM and Deputy Chair Carol Heijo, who discuss the strategy, the future of the social services sector, and how Meridia is building a more connected approach to support.

Read the strategy: https://meridia.au/news/a-strategy-for-a-better-connected-future/

Listen to the podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/922639/episodes/19567211

Together, we connect what matters.

28/08/2026

If you’re over the age of 18 and feeling distressed, you can access free, practical support without having to go to a mental health, general health or emergency service.

Distress can take a wide variety of forms. It can be an unpleasant emotion, feeling, thought or behaviour, including:
📍feeling overwhelmed, worried or helpless
📍feeling sad or unmotivated to do the things that you used to enjoy
📍feeling frustrated or on edge
📍feelings of self-doubt or low self-esteem
📍withdrawal from family or friends
📍physical symptoms like headaches, tension, increased tiredness
📍changes to your eating or sleeping habits.

The Distress Support Service offers a welcoming, inclusive and compassionate space to people from all cultures, genders, sexualities, bodies, abilities, spiritualities and backgrounds. Staff in our short-term support team have their own lived experience of distress and understand what you are going through.

For appointments email: [email protected] or fill in the easy referral form at https://www.ermha.org/dss/



Jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments.
Victorian Department of Health
Victorian Aboriginal Health Service -VAHS

21/08/2026

If you know where these poles are, get in touch with Wathaurong Aboriginal Co Op.

A CALL TO OUR COMMUNITY — PLEASE HELP US BRING THESE HOME

We’re asking for the community’s help following the theft of a number of painted totem poles from the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative’s Morgan Street construction site.

These poles are much more than objects from a construction site. They hold cultural significance to our community and were carefully painted and created with a purpose. They were intended to be reused and incorporated into the new Wathaurong building at Morgan Street, continuing their story as part of the new home for our community.

These poles had been intentionally retained during the early stages of the project, as their careful removal required specialised handling. For this reason, they were scheduled to be removed following the demolition of the main building so they could be safely preserved for incorporation into the new development.
We are deeply disappointed that they have been taken, particularly knowing the meaning and significance they hold.

If you took the poles, we ask that you please return them. No questions asked. We simply want to see them brought home so they can take their rightful place in the new building.

If you have seen the poles, know where they are, or have any information that could help us recover them, please get in touch with Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative directly.

We also ask our community to please share this post so we can reach as many people as possible.

These belong with community. Please help us bring them home.

20/08/2026

Only one week to go — make the most of early‑bird pricing before it ends!

The Complex Needs Conference brings together international experts and lived‑experience leaders for a three‑day program focused on improving the systems that support people with complex and diverse needs.

Practitioners, researchers, policy makers and lived‑experience advocates are all invited to be part of driving change for those who fall through the gaps of our current service systems.

📍 Melbourne | 30 September - 2 October 2026
🎟️ Early bird registrations are heavily subsidised until 28 August.

Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/dXmh6f8f

20/08/2026

The vote has happened. Now we need to come together.
The last few months have asked a lot of our community.
People with disability and families have shared deeply personal experiences, made submissions, contacted politicians, followed inquiries and fought hard for an NDIS that delivers the support, choice and control people were promised.
The NDIS changes have now passed Parliament.

So what actually changed? What do the amendments mean? What happens next? And how are we all feeling after everything that's happened?

Join Every Australian Counts and members of our Steering Committee for a special Protect Our NDIS Community Debrief.

📅 Friday 28 Aug
⏰ 12pm AEST
💻 Online via Zoom
🔗 Register: https://events.humanitix.com/after-the-vote-ndis-community-debrief

We'll explain the changes in plain English, talk about what we need to watch as they're implemented, share information about where people can get help, and most importantly, make space for our community to talk.

You can ask questions, share what's on your mind or simply come along and listen.
This has been a tough fight. You don't have to process what happened on your own.
The vote has happened. Our community is still here, and our campaign is not over.

[Image description: Every Australian Counts event graphic promoting “After the Vote: NDIS Community Debrief”. The NDIS changes have passed Parliament, and the community is invited to come together online via Zoom on Friday 28 August, from 12–1:30pm AEST. A “Register Now” button appears at the bottom.]

14/08/2026

The countdown is on… only two weeks to go to secure early bird tickets! Lock in your registration for the Complex Needs Conference 2026.

Our host Julie McCrossin AM, international experts and lived experience leaders will come together for a three day program focused on creating more connected, human centred systems across mental health, justice, housing and disability.

Learn more and register: www.complexneedsconference.com.au

Ermha and ACSO are proud to be co-hosting the Complex Needs Conference 2026 - which is funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing - VIC

12/08/2026

We’re excited to introduce The Honourable Justice Andrew Becroft as our Keynote speaker for the Complex Needs Conference. Justice Becroft, appointed to the High Court in Auckland in 2023, has held several significant roles across New Zealand’s justice and public sectors, including Children’s Commissioner and Principal Youth Court Judge.

Don’t miss his presentation: “Young offenders with “high and complex” needs: whose label, how helpful, and what should we really do?” If you want to make a difference, have creative suggestions, and want to be challenged, then this is the presentation for you!

You can find further details of his keynote and other program details at www.complexneedsconference.com.au

ACSO
Department of Families, Fairness and Housing - VIC

07/08/2026

ermha365 is proud to be part of the South East Homelessness and Housing Alliance (SEHHA) to give a strong voice on homelessness and housing issues facing Cardinia Shire Council City of Casey and City of Greater Dandenong.

Our Pathways program supports people in the south east with complex needs living in low cost housing, or who are homeless. (Pathways Practice Leader Peter Black is pictured at left with some of our fellow SEHHA member orgs represented by Stephen Nidenko Wayss and Sarah Woods Windermere Child and Family Services

At the 2021 census, there were 4,555 people experiencing homelessness in the South East. And sadly, we expect it will rise again in the 2026 count.

Homelessness services in the south east are stretched beyond their limits with significant unmet demand. We can’t wait any longer for action.

Yesterday at Dandenong Library SEHHA announced its strategic priorities, calling on the Victorian Government to:

⏰ Increase specialist homelessness service funding to meet service demand and fill service gaps across the South East

⏰ Fund assertive outreach services in Casey and Cardinia to reduce rough sleeping in the South East to Zero

⏰ Fund a new crisis supported accommodation facility to service Casey and Cardinia

Find out more about SEHHA here: https://www.sehha.au/advocacy-priorities

ermha365 is part of Meridia Group

07/08/2026

With only three weeks left for🐣early bird tickets, now is the time to secure your place at the Complex Needs Conference 2026!

Our MC Julie McCrossin AM, international experts and lived experience leaders will come together on 30 Sept to 2 Oct at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) for a three-day program focused on creating more connected, human centred systems across mental health, justice, housing and disability.

More info and registration here: https://www.complexneedsconference.com.au/

ermha365 is proud ☺️to again be co-hosting the with ACSO on behalf of Department of Families, Fairness and Housing - VIC

05/08/2026

We’re excited to introduce Mark Johnson MBE as our opening keynote speaker for the Complex Needs Conference 30 Sept to 2 Oct 2026 in Melbourne. Mark is a UK-based social entrepreneur Lived Expert and policy advisor with over 20 years’ experience shaping national responses to addiction, crime, mental health and homelessness. He is driven by the belief that those most affected must help shape the systems that serve them.

Join us to be part of the audience for his presentation: “Hard to reach people or hard to reach services? The history of the lived experience movement in the UK and beyond.”

Go to the conference website for more info on Mark's keynote and other program details: https://www.complexneedsconference.com.au

ermha365 is proud to be co-hosting the Complex Needs Conference again with ACSO on behalf of Department of Families, Fairness and Housing - VIC