MOSS

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Clifton Hill

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Who is the program for?

Anyone who is homeless or at risk of homelessness, including singles, couples and families who are homeless or in a housing crisis. The Crisis Response Program (CRP) provides short term intensive case management to people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

What are the objectives of the program?

This program supports people who are homeless in order to address issues that may have led to them becoming homeless. We do this through Case Management – linking people with the supports required to overcome or work through their problems.

The workers assist consumers in accessing and maintaining accommodation. The program operates via an outreach model of support. CRP provides support for up to eight weeks and will ensure that appropriate referrals and linkages are arranged after this period for ongoing support.

Where is the program offered?

Darebin, Banyule, Nillumbik, Whittlesea

How can you access this program?

Referrals are via Haven Home Safe, our local access point.

Program Contact Details

(03) 9482 3488
crisisresponse@merri.org.au
279 High Street, Northcote 3070

Important contact details

MOSS Northcote High Street
279 High St, Northcote 3070
Phone (03) 9482 3488
Email crisisresponse@merri.org.au

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Who is the program for?

The Connections Program works with people who are experiencing both

  • Unmet health needs and
  • Homelessness, housing issues, or living in low-cost accommodation (including social or public housing)

The Connections Program also supports people who may:

  • Have few links to other services
  • Need support and to gain skills to live independently
  • Are isolated with little social or family support
  • Have complex support needs
  • Live in unsafe housing
  • Experience hoarding and squalor
  • Have difficulty making or attending appointments
  • Have difficulty finding the right services
  • Need links to health and community supports

What are the objectives of the program?

We connect people to the services and supports they require. Through providing these links we hope to assist our clients with finding the proper support and guidance needed to overcome barriers.

Where is the program offered?

A vital role of the Connections Program is to support people to link to the appropriate services.

Our catchment areas are:

  • Banyule
  • Whittlesea
  • Darebin
  • Nillumbik
  • Brunswick and East Brunswick

We also support people over 55 years of age living in low-cost accommodation in:

  • Hume
  • Moreland

How can you access this program?

We accept referrals from all services, families, friends and individuals.

Program Contact Details

Phone (03) 9359 5493
Connections@merri.org.au

Important contact details

MOSS Broadmeadows
22 Lakeside Drv, Broadmeadows 3047
Phone (03) 9359 5493
Connections@merri.org.au

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The program supports tenants in reaching their goals and providing social and welfare services to improve their health and social connectedness while sustaining and maintaining their tenancies to prevent housing breakdowns & homelessness.

Who is the program for?

Tenants of:

  • 1 Holmes St, Northcote
  • 351 Barkly St, Brunswick

What are the objectives of the program?

The program aims to engage early to establish and assist in maintaining tenancy. The objective is to provide a link to local communities and on-site programs in order to increase a feeling of social connectedness and belonging.

Where is the program offered?

  • 1 Holmes St, Northcote
  • 351 Barkly St, Brunswick

How can you access this program?

All tenants can self-refer, as can any support services currently linked to the tenants.

Volunteer Program

The Volunteer and Community Development Program at Barkly Street and Holmes Street aim to provide social interaction and support to residents of these public housing estates. Community activities are designed to engage and connect residents within the community.

MOSS encourages community members from all ages, backgrounds and skill levels to volunteer with the OPHRS (Old Persons High Rise Support) Volunteer Program. There are numerous volunteer roles that support our residents to engage in a range of enjoyable and relevant activities, while also increasing our resident’s connection to the wider local community.

To find out more about the MOSS Volunteer & Community Development Program contact cate@merri.org.au

Foodbank Donations

MOSS accepts Foodbank donations on behalf of members of the local community and residents of Older Persons High Rise Support Programs.

These emergency relief food parcels can contain fresh food, pantry and frozen foods.

Program Contact Details

Shirley 
(03) 9380 6036
351 Barkly St, Brunswick 3056

Moana or Joseph 
(03) 9481 0036
1 Holmes St, Northcote 3070

Important contact details

MOSS Northcote Holmes Street
Contact Person: Moana or Joseph 
1 Holmes St, Northcote 3070
Phone (03) 9481 0036

MOSS Brunswick
Contact Person: Shirley 
351 Barkly St, Brunswick 3056
Phone (03) 9380 6036

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Who is the program for?

Children 0-17 accompanying their families who are being supported by a family violence or homelessness case manager.

Where is the program offered?

North and West Metropolitan area of Melbourne.

How can you access this program?

Referrals must come from a homelessness or family violence case manager working with the primary carer or family. Referring workers should first contact the Bright Futures team to discuss any potential referrals. Bright Futures funding does not allow self-referrals.

What are the streams?

Bright Futures offers 3 streams of support to children and young people:

Stream 1 - Assessment and development of a case plan

Assessment and case planning

Bright Futures offer support by facilitating a collaborative assessment with the primary carer and the child or young person (where possible). The Bright Futures assessment process supports the development of a holistic case plan for the child or young person, outlining the supports they would like.

After the assessment and case plan are complete, there are two support pathways:

  • Hand back to referring worker for support

If support needs may be met by the referring agency, the Bright Futures team will organise a hand-over to go through the case plan with the client, parent/caregiver and referring agency.

  • Move to Bright Futures case management.

If support needs cannot be met by the referring worker and require specialist support, the child or young person will enter Stream 2 – Enhanced Case Management.

Assessment and case planning usually occurs over 3-4 appointments.

Stream 2 - Enhanced case management

Bright Futures offers enhanced case management for children and young people by providing specialist support to meet the needs identified in their case plan. Enhanced case management involves meeting with the child or young person and their primary carer once every 1-2 weeks, depending upon need.

The goals of enhanced case management might include:

  • Intensive support that is focused on social, recreational, health and educational support needs
  • Identification and linkages into appropriate services
  • Supporting positive interactions with peers and family
  • Minimisation of anxiety and stress-related tension caused by various traumatic experiences
  • Advocacy on children and young people’s rights to access services within their community

Enhanced case management support is provided for 3 – 6 months.

Stream 3 - Therapeutic group work

The Bright Futures group work program is a therapeutic creative arts group that provides space away from some of the more stressful times children may have encountered through their experience of homelessness and/or family violence. Therapeutic methods such as art, movement, games and small group discussions create an atmosphere that feels safe and relaxed. Groups explore themes such as family and identity, understanding and communicating feelings, responding to intense emotions, safety & supports, strengths and hopes and dreams.

Bright Futures work in partnership with other services in the North and West regions to run groups throughout the area aimed at different ages such as

  • infants and mothers
  • primary school-aged children
  • high school-aged children

The groups are run in different locations each term, with various partner agencies. To discuss a group partnership, please contact the team.

Referral Process

Co-Case Management
Bright Futures work in a co-case management model. The referring worker must maintain support with the primary carer or family for the duration of Bright Futures involvement so that any support needs for the primary carer and family as a whole can continue to be addressed.

Referral process:

Stage 1 –
Initial enquiry and screening call
  • Referrers to have an initial conversation with a Bright Futures team member regarding a potential referral.
  • If referral sounds appropriate for Bright Futures, then a referral form will be emailed to the referring worker to complete and return to Bright Futures.
Stage 2 –
Discussion of referrals
  • Once Bright Futures have received a referral, it will be discussed at the fortnightly team meeting.
  • If it’s appropriate for a Bright Futures Stream 1 assessment, a Bright Futures worker will be allocated for a follow-up.
Stage 3 –
Handover
  • The allocated Bright Futures worker will then contact the referring worker to set up a handover appointment with the referring worker, Bright Futures worker, and the parent/caregiver.
  • Handover – the opportunity for the referring worker to introduce the Bright Futures worker.
  • Bright Futures to explain the program, assessment process, provide welcome pack documents and complete the consent forms.
Stage 4 –
Assessment and case planning
  • Assessment – Usually completed over 2-3 visits with a mixture of visits with just the parent/caregiver and visits involving the children/young people.
  • Case Planning – Completed over 1 visit at the end of the assessment.
Stage 5 –
Collaborative decision-making
  • Once Assessment and Case Planning are completed, Bright Futures will discuss (at the fortnightly team meeting) whether the referral will be moved to Stream 2 – Enhanced Case Management or passed back to the referring worker for followup.
  • Bright Futures will keep the referring workers, and parent/caregiver informed throughout this process.

What are the objectives of the program?

Provide holistic case management and group work support to children and young people who have experienced homelessness and family violence to improve social, emotional, educational and physical wellbeing.

Program Contact Details

Bright Futures
(03) 9359 5493
brightfutures@merri.org.au

Important contact details

MOSS Broadmeadows
22 Lakeside Drv, Broadmeadows 3047
Phone (03) 9359 5493
Email brightfutures@merri.org.au

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Who is the program for?

North and West Practitioners from:

  • Specialist Homelessness System (SHS)
  • The Family Violence sector
  • Other non-government agencies

The NWRCRP is funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DOFFH) to assist and support Specialist Homelessness System services (SHS) and other NGOs with responding more effectively to the needs of children and young people who have experienced homelessness and/or family violence.

What are the objectives of the program?

The objective of the program is to ensure children are seen as clients in their own rights. We provide resources, training and secondary consultation for practitioners to upskill their knowledge and practice to work effectively with children.

The role of the NWCRP is flexible and can meet specific regional needs that are identified within the program’s core functions, these being:

Secondary Consultation

  • Complex case discussions and assessment frameworks
  • Training and Resources
  • Trauma, attachment, intervention and engagement tools

Networking and Advocacy

  • Researching as required and promoting best practice
  • Active involvement in various networks focused on Homelessness Service System Development advocating for children
  • Advocating on behalf of children experiencing homelessness on a range of issues that affect their health, wellbeing and status within our community

Resources

  • Toolkits are available for practitioners to assist them in engaging with clients and children. We provide information on upcoming training, the latest research and legislative changes.

Brokerage

  • Brokerage provides opportunities for infants and children to access goods, services and experiences to engage in positive childhood activities. This will encourage homelessness and family violence support providers to integrate child and family-centred assessment and case planning into their work practice.

Our Philosophy

  • The NWRCRP advocates on behalf of children and young people in the homelessness and family violence sectors. As stated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, we uphold the rights of children.

All Children

  • Require a safe, secure and nurturing environment to promote positive childhood experiences and physical and emotional growth
  • Require predictable and responsive caregiving
  • Aboriginal children need to be connected to culture and community
  • Should have access to quality, affordable education
  • Should be encouraged to dream about their futures by being creative and foster a sense of belonging within family and community

Where is the program offered?

North and West Metropolitan area of Melbourne

How can you access this program?

Referrals come through practitioners from SHS and Family Violence sectors. Practitioners should first contact the NWRCRP team to discuss brokerage, secondary consultations or training needs. The NWRCRP is part of the Statewide Children’s Resource Program. We can provide you with the contact details for the Coordinator in your region.

Program Contact Details

North and West Regional Children’s Resource Program
(03) 9359 5493
NWRCRP@merri.org.au

Important contact details

MOSS Broadmeadows
22 Lakeside Drv, Broadmeadows 3047
Phone (03) 9359 5493
Email NWRCRP@merri.org.au