How can The Orange Door help?
We work with all types of families and support can be tailored to meet the diverse needs of you and your family members.
All families can experience difficult times and sometimes need extra help and support for a range of reasons.
We can help if:
- you are worried about the wellbeing and/or development of your child(ren) or young people
- you need help to strengthen your parenting skills and develop positive family relationships
- your family needs help to get through stressful times, which may be caused by a range of reasons including separation, mental health, grief, drug and alcohol abuse, financial worries, illness or living with a disability
- you need extra help managing the behaviour of your child(ren) or young people
- someone at home is making you, your children or young people, or another family member feel unsafe or afraid
- you’re pregnant or a new parent and need support and advice
- you have concerns for a vulnerable child or young person in your community.
Support includes:
- listening to you to understand the difficulties you’re facing
- helping you to explore your options and think about what you want to do next
- working with you to improve you and/or your family’s situation
- connecting you to services that can help, such as parenting support groups, services for children and young people, family violence support, counselling, financial help, or legal assistance
- supporting you to access funding for basic living expenses and other costs
- providing information and advice to professionals if you are worried about a vulnerable child or young person in your community.
We will listen to you and your family to understand the difficulties you’re facing and what your family needs, and ask what you would like to happen next.
We will work with you to improve your family's situation and help children and young people get the support they need.
What we can do for you
When you visit us, we provide a welcoming space for children and young people that has toys and games. You can bring your children with you to The Orange Door. If you have concerns about accessing our site, please call us so we can find ways to assist you.
We collaborate with many partners to meet your needs.
To support child and family wellbeing, we can:
- connect parents to local programs and support networks to help them manage, learn, and stay connected
- support families in engaging their children in community activities to maintain connection and quality of life. These activities include swimming lessons, gymnastics, playing musical instruments, sports, and more
- provide integrated family service support
- refer families to counsellors and specialists for trauma support
- assist with school attendance needs, such as books, shoes, uniforms, and tablets
- help keep families in their homes with access to financial counselling, one-time bill support, and assistance in purchasing essentials like heaters and bedding
- support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients in a culturally safe and sensitive manner.
If you’re experiencing family violence, we can help with:
- safety planning with you to help keep you and your family safe
- accessing ways we can support any immediate safety concerns
- connections to housing services
- financial support to relocate and purchase essentials, including access to the Escaping Violence Payment scheme
- security concerns, such as tech sweeps and small-scale home security interventions like lock changes and window repairs
- referrals to legal, financial, and counselling services
- access to case management services
- services and programs for the person using violence that can help including Men’s Behaviour Change Programs(opens in a new window), case management, and programs that support positive parenting.
What are children's rights?
Every child or young person has a right to:
- be safe and feel safe
- live in a safe and secure home, free from violence and abuse
- stay healthy and well
- go to a doctor, dentist or other professional for help when they need to
- have an education
- be allowed to be a child and be treated with respect
- have a say and be heard
- tell someone if they are unhappy
- feel proud and strong in their own culture
- be in contact with family, friends and people and places that matter to them
- have fun and do activities they enjoy
- develop life skills and grow up to be the best person they can.
The Orange Door is open to all kinds of families
We welcome:
- step families
- kinship families
- rainbow families
- foster families
- nuclear families
- extended families
- clans
- people who are not blood relatives and live together.
People who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(opens in a new window) can choose to be supported by a worker in the Orange Door employed by an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation (ACCO), or be referred to an Aboriginal Service.
The Orange Door works alongside local Aboriginal services and communities to meet the needs of individuals and families and support Aboriginal self-determination. This includes supporting your choices about the services you are referred to you.
Cultural and religious preferences are respected. We work with multicultural communities to meet the diverse needs of families.
We welcome everyone, regardless of migration status. You can seek help or support if you are a migrant or a refugee or do not have permanent residency.
How can you access services?
There are many ways to access help and support from The Orange Door. You can contact us via phone or email or visit one of our locations across Victoria. You don’t need a referral.
Tell us if you have accessibility requirements, for example if you use communication aids or require an interpreter, including Auslan.
Search by suburb or postcode to find a service near you.
The Orange Door is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (closed public holidays).
Statewide out-of-hours support is available.
Updated