Support for Families Affected by Drought

St James Primary School, Sebastopol

As many rural and regional communities face the challenges of ongoing drought, support is available through Catholic Education Ballarat, CatholicCare Victoria, and the St Vincent de Paul Society to help families manage the impact.

If your family is experiencing hardship due to drought, please don’t hesitate to seek support, confidentially and without judgement. Below is a summary of the help available.

Catholic Education Ballarat – School Fee Support

  • Family Fee Assistance: Reduced school fees for eligible families
  • Flexible support options: Principals can discuss tailored arrangements with families facing hardship
  • How to access: Speak confidentially with your school Principal or office

CatholicCare Victoria – Family and Wellbeing Services

Contact: 1800 123 228

Available services include:

  • Counselling for individuals (aged 4+), couples, and families (in-person or online)
  • Family Wellbeing Support offered in-person for children (0-18 years) and their families to build resilience and strengthen relationships, establish and/or improve routines and learn coping mechanisms to manage stress and anxiety
  • Parenting Support for parents and carers to build skills and confidence (individually or in group settings, in-person or online)
  • Separation Support for separated parents (including shared care and property mediation)
  • Financial and Material Aid – food and fuel vouchers for those in financial crisis

Services are available across a range of locations including Ballarat, Bendigo, Horsham, Mildura, Shepparton, Geelong, Warrnambool and more.

St Vincent de Paul Society – Practical Assistance

Support available across the Diocese of Ballarat includes:

Food & Essentials:

  • Food vouchers and fresh ingredients
  • Hygiene products and pantry staples

Education Support:

  • School uniforms
  • School equipment (laptops, books)
  • Excursions

Utility Support:

  • Assistance with car registration, energy and phone bills, petrol, and travel on public transport

Other Support:

  • Access to Holiday Houses in Warrnambool and Point Lonsdale

To access support from Vinnies, contact your local parish conference or school for a referral.

For a confidential discussion or help connecting with these services, please reach out to your school Principal.