Mindfulness
Smiling Mind is an organisation that works to make mindfulness meditation accessible to all.
Mental Health
Bipolar Disorder Caregivers useful, easily accessible information website for caregivers of people with bipolar disorder.
Mind Australia has an office in Gippsland and provides practical and motivational support that helps people to develop the skills they need to move on, thrive and improve the quality of their lives. This includes helping people with the things that make them feel strong and healthy, such as being in control of their life, being resilient and participating in their community. We also work with people to address poverty, housing, education and employment. It is an approach to mental health and wellbeing that looks at the whole person in the context of their daily life.
Sane Australia aims to help all Australians affected by mental illness lead a better life.
Spectrum Borderline Personality Disorder Service supports and works with local Area Mental Health Services and health professionals to provide treatment for people aged 16-64 who are assessed as having, or who have a personality disorder. We particularly focus on those who are at risk from serious self-harm or suicide and who have complex needs.
Wellways has an office in Wonthaggi and works with a diverse range of people living with mental health issues or various disabilities, and their families, friends and carers, to bring about positive change and build good lives in their communities. This can include creating a home, securing a job and building meaningful relationships.
Within Australia (formerly SNAP) and has an office in Leongatha and delivers accessible programs and services that help people achieve optimal health and wellbeing by being better able to respond to challenges they face in their daily lives. We work with people to build resilience, overcome barriers, regain hope, reconnect with their communities and realise their goals.
LGBTQI
LGBTI Health is the national peak health organisation in Australia for organisations and individuals that provide health-related programs, services and research focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people (LGBTI) and other sexuality, gender, and bodily diverse people and communities. We recognise that people’s genders, bodies, relationships, and sexualities affect their health and wellbeing in every domain of their life.
Switchboard is a community based not for profit organisation that provides a peer based, volunteer run support service for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) people and their friends, families and allies.
Transgender Victoria work with and for, the trans and gender diverse (TGD) community as well as its allies, to create positive change in areas that impact the human rights of TGD people. TGV represents the TGD community in challenging discrimination and assists to empower TGD people so that they may lead full and meaningful lives.
Q Life is Australia’s first nationally-oriented counselling and referral service for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or intersex (LGBTI). QLife provides nation-wide, early intervention, peer supported telephone and web based services to people of all ages across the full breadth of people’s bodies, genders, relationships, sexualities, and lived experiences.
Legal
Gippsland Community Legal Service is a free and confidential legal service.
Women’s Legal Service is a not for profit organisation which has been providing free legal services to women since 1982. We work with and for women experiencing particular disadvantage to address legal issues arising from relationship breakdown or violence.
Housing
Salvocare Housing Support is located in Leongatha and provides an initial assessment and planning service for people who are homeless or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
Tenants Union Victoria works to promote and protect the rights of tenants and residents in most types of residential accommodation across Victoria. We aim to inform and educate tenants about their rights, improve conditions, improve the status of tenants and represent their collective interests in law and policy making.
Victorian Bond Loan Scheme is a program for people who want to rent privately in Victoria and can’t afford to pay the bond. You may be able to borrow the money for the bond interest-free through this scheme.
Financial Counselling
Financial Counselling
Financial Counselling is the peak body for financial counsellors in Australia. People from all walks of life can find themselves with money problems. Financial counsellors are non-judgmental, qualified professionals who provide information, support and advocacy to people in financial difficulty. Working in community organisations, their services are free, independent and confidential. Follow the link to find services near you.
Gambling
Gambling Help Online Gambler’s Help services operate in Bass Coast and South Gippsland. You can contact a Gambler’s Help service to make an appointment with a Gambler’s Help counsellor. All services are free and confidential.
Responsible Gambling works to improve the health and wellbeing of Victorians by working with our communities and government to deliver effective, evidence-based initiatives and innovative approaches to prevent gambling harm and provide support for those seeking help.
Family Violence
The Domestic Violence Resource Centre is a state-wide resource centre working to prevent and respond to family violence, with a particular focus on men’s violence against women in intimate relationships.
The Men’s Referral Service is an anonymous and confidential telephone service for men.
It provides a central point of contact for men who are wanting to stop their violent or abusive behaviour towards their family members, but are not sure how or where to go for advice.
Women can also call the Men’s Referral Service seeking information and help for their male partner, husband, relative or friend.
Call the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491
Phone: 8am-9pm Monday-Friday
Bass Coast Health has a free and confidential counselling service for people impacted by family violence. Contact The Family Resource Centre on 56 713 278 for more information or to make an appointment.
Eating Disorders and Body Image
The Butterfly Foundation offers a multitude of services and programs that provide support, treatment, prevention, early intervention, education and training.
Eating Disorders Foundation Victoria provides a comprehensive support and information service on all aspects of eating disorders. EDV incorporates a unique approach to the provision of clinical and non-clinical support services through a blend of qualified professionals and lived experience of employees and volunteers.
Depression
Beyond Blue provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live.
The Black Dog Institute is dedicated to understanding, preventing and treating mental illness. We are about creating a world where mental illness is treated with the same level of concern, immediacy and seriousness as physical illness; where scientists work to discover the causes of illness and new treatments, and where discoveries are immediately put into practice through health services, technology and community education.