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Community Support Guide

Find essential support and key services in Alpine Shire and beyond.

Community information and assistance

This is a challenging time for many in the community. Whatever your situation, there are resources available to support you. You can access the majority of these services in many ways, including online through their websites or through telephone hotlines.

On this page

Carer support

Carers across Victoria can contact Carers Victoria, a committed team who support and represent carers. 

Visit Carers Victoria online

Freecall 1800 514 845 between 9am - 5pm on Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

Their support services include:

  • Telephone advisory line
  • NDIS advisory service
  • Telephone and Skype counselling
  • Emergency respite
  • Other carer support services, such as purchasing goods and equipment

Family violence support

Dial 000 if you are in immediate danger. 

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing family violence, help is available.

 

1800 RESPECT | 24-hour contact service for family violence and sexual assault

 

Centre Against Sexual Assault | Trauma-informed counselling, advocacy, and support for people who have experienced a recent or historical sexual assault

 

Centre Against Violence | Family violence and sexual assault service located in Wangaratta, Wodonga, and Benalla

 

Child Protection Crisis Line 

  • Call 1300 360 452 between 9am – 5pm on Monday to Friday or 131 278 after hours

 

Gateway Health | Family violence outreach, counselling, support, and referral

  • Visit Gateway Health online
  • Call their Myrtleford office on (03) 5731 3500 between 9am – 12pm and 1pm – 5pm on Monday to Friday or freecall 1800 657 573

 

Kids Helpline | Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free (even from a mobile), confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25

 

inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence | Services, programs, and responses to family violence in migrant and refugee communities

 

MensLine Australia | Telephone and online counselling service for men with family and relationship concerns

 

Men’s Behaviour Change Program | For men who want to stop using violence against a partner or family member

  • Call their Wangaratta office on (03) 5723 2000 or their Wodonga office on (02) 6022 8888

 

No to Violence | Free, confidential, and expert support for people at risk of using family violence

 

Orange Door | Help for people who are experiencing family violence or who need support with the care and wellbeing of children and young people

 

Rainbow Door | Connecting all LGBTIQA+ people to the services they need

 

Safe Steps | Family violence response service

Financial and legal support

Anglicare Australia | Free, non-judgemental, and confidential financial information and counselling

 

Victoria Legal Aid | Helping Victorians with their legal issues

 

Insurance Council of Australia | Insurance assessments and advice

 

Rural Financial Counselling | Information and financial assistance for farmers

Food support

Collect and delivery

Woolworths Bright | Click and collect available

 

IGA Bright | Phone orders to collect, with delivery services also available

 

FoodWorks Mount Beauty | Phone orders to collect, with delivery services also available

 

Vegitation Mount Beauty | Wholesale and retail supply of fresh fruit and vegetables, speciality cheese, eggs, and nuts

 

Coles Myrtleford | Click and collect available

 

Arnolds Wodonga | Fruit, vegetable, and meat provider based out of Wodonga

 

Food bank

Mount Beauty Emergency Relief / Anglicare Victoria | Provides emergency relief to community members

  • Call 0458 550 450 between 9am – 5pm on Monday to Friday

 

Myrtleford Neighbourhood Centre | Community food pantry

Housing and homelessness support

If you are experiencing difficulty paying your rent for any reason or you are at risk of homelessness, there is support available for you. 

 

Anglicare Victoria | Prevent, protect & empower disadvantaged Victorian children, young people and families

 

Beyond Housing | Help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness

 

Consumer Affairs Victoria | Advice for tenants and landlords

 

Salvation Army Homeless Services | Services include accommodation, case management, assertive outreach support, and financial assistance

 

Statewide Homelessness Services Victoria

  • Call 1800 825 955

Maternal and child health support

We support families with young children through our Maternal and Child Health service. 

Visit our Maternal and Child Health pages

Medical support

Dial 000 if you are in immediate danger. 

 

Alpine Health | Acute health, home support, residential and aged care, youth service, and community health programs

 

Medical Centres | General practice and primary care

 

NURSE-ON-CALL | Free service available 24/7 with registered nurses providing caring and professional advice to address health-related questions and concerns

 

Victorian Palliative Care Advice Service | Offers free, confidential advice for all Victorians seeking information about life-limiting illness, palliative care or end-of-life care

 

Victorian Virtual Emergency Department | A free, state-wide 24/7 public emergency health service for non-life-threatening emergencies

Mental health support

Dial 000 if you are in immediate danger. 

 

Lifeline | 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services

 

Albury Wodonga Health Mental Health Triage Service | 24/7 mental health triage line

 

Beyond Blue | Free telephone and online counselling service open 24/7

 

Dementia Australia | Information and support to help people with dementia, as well as their families, friends, and carers, and community.

 

Headspace | Free online and telephone support and counselling to young people 12 – 25 and their families and friends

 

Kids Helpline | Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free (even from a mobile), confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25

 

MensLine Australia | Telephone and online counselling service for men with family and relationship concerns

 

Mental Health First Aid | Working towards a world where everyone has the skills, knowledge, and confidence to help someone experiencing a mental health problem

 

QLife | Support for LGBTIQ+ people and their loved ones wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings, or relationships.

 

StandBy | Dedicated to assisting people and communities bereaved or impacted by suicide. 

Senior support

People over 65 years or over (50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders) can access My Aged Care to find out more about support and services available. 

Visit My Aged Care online

Call 1800 200 422 during their opening hours:

  • Monday to Friday | 8am - 8pm
  • Saturday | 10am - 2pm

Transport support

There are currently no taxi services operating in Alpine Shire.

 

Public Transport Victoria (PTV)

V/Line train services operate from Melbourne or Sydney to Wangaratta or Wodonga with connecting bus services to Myrtleford, Porepunkah, Bright, and Mount Beauty. Plan your public transport journey and book tickets online.

 

Kiewa Valley Community Car (Community Accessability) 

Transport for medical and therapy appointments.  Must be registered with My Aged Care for subsidised transport. Low-cost, self-funded transport may be available for older people with financial challenges that limit their access to transport.

 

Ovens Valley Specialist Medical Transport Service (Community Accessability)

Available to eligible older residents of the Upper and Lower Ovens Valley who are geographically isolated and have limited or no means of transport.

 

Red Cross Patient Transport Service

Transport for people who are elderly or have a disability and have no means of transport to non-urgent medical appointments in Albury, Benalla, Melbourne, or Wangaratta.

  • Call (03) 5721 8451
  • Email ptwangaratta@redcross.org.au

 

Angel Flight Australia

Free, non-emergency flights and ground transportation for people who live in rural and regional Australia to access the specialist medical treatments they need.  Health professionals (medical practitioners, nurses, social workers) are the only people who can submit flight requests.

 

Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS)

Provides financial assistance to rural and regional Victorians who must travel 100km one way or 500km per week for specialist medical treatment.