External supports
You my need more support during the COVID19 crisis. The following lists a number of external support including emergency crisis support, emergency food relief, legal help and emergency housing support.
For financial support explore our comprehensive financial support page
For free University Wellbeing support, explore our services
24hr crisis helplines
IN AN EMERGENCY ALWAYS CALL 000
Mental Health/ Suicide Risk
- Life Line: 131 114
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
- Suicide Line: 1300 651 251
- Kids Help Line (5–25yrs): 1800 55 1800
- Maternal and Child Health (24 hour, 7 days a week service): 13 22 29
- QLife - telephone and online counselling for LGBTIQ people, by LGBTIQ people. Call 1800 184 527 or online (3pm – 12am every day).
Sexual Assault
- 1800 RESPECT - 24/7 online and telephone counselling, information and support on 1800 737 732.
- Victorian Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASA) - provide a crises response where sexual assault has occurred in the last two weeks. To contact the CASA closest to you call 1800 806 292.
- Sexual Assault Crisis Line Victoria (SACL) - After-hours telephone crises counselling service on 1800 806 292. 5pm – 9am weekdays, weekends and public holidays.
- Sexual Offences & Child Abuse Investigation Team - Regional local contacts. Bendigo (MDC*): (03) 5444 6752 Mildura (MDC*): (03) 5023 5980 Shepparton: (03) 5820 5878 Wodonga: (02) 6049 2671. *MDC – Multi-disciplinary Centre
Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- 1800 RESPECT - 24/7 online and telephone counselling, information and support on 1800 737 732.
- Safe Steps: Family Violence Response Centre - 24/7 telephone counselling, information and support on 1800 015 188.
- Mensline Australia - support and information service for Australian men. 24/7 telephone, text or video counselling on 1300 78 99 78.
- Northern Integrated Family Violence Services Partnership - COVID19 and Family Violence Resources
La Trobe After-hours Counselling/Crisis Support
Crisis Line – Out of hours mental health and wellbeing support
Call: 1300 146 307 or Text: 0488 884 100
5pm - 9am weekdays, 24 hours weekends, and public holidays.
Psychiatric Triage (or crisis assessment and treatment teams)
Information, Assessment and Triage for direct and prompt response and assessment of individuals where there is a serious concern for welfare and safety of an individual available 24/7.
Contact numbers varies by region, find your specific region number here.
Some quick suburb links below:
Bundoora: Psychiatric Triage – North East
1300 859 789
Bendigo: Psychiatric Triage – Loddon Campaspe/Southern Mallee
1300 363 788
Shepparton: Psychiatric Triage – Goulburn & Southern
1300 369 005
Albury/Wodonga: Psychiatric Triage – North/Eastern Hume
1300 881 104
Mildura: Psychiatric Triage – Northern Mallee
1300 366 375
Legal support
Urgent Legal Advice
Call 1300 792 387
General advice line
Call 9629 6300
General Information Line
Call 1300 558 181
International Students Support
Emergency housing support
Call 1800 825 955.
This number is the statewide phone number in VIC for ALL Homelessness access points. The call will divert to the local homelessness access point, pending wherever a person is calling from.
Assists with informing you of eligibility to what service.
Access point for people experiencing homelessness and housing related issues including housing information and advocacy, assessment of Housing and Support needs, referral to crisis accommodation and specialist support services, limited financial assistance to establish or maintain rental tenancies.
Available assistance includes access to secure, affordable and appropriate housing for older people. Appointments preferred.
Food: Free meals or low-cost food
Foodbank International Student Pop-Up Store
Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday's (excluding public holidays), Foodbank with their partners have been busy hitting the streets of Melbourne to bring FREE and culturally diverse food and pantry items to international students via their new International Student Pop-Up Store.
AskIzzy is a free website that connects you with emergency services including food. Type in your suburb and it will show you list of food support services in your area.
Two Birds One Scone at Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus
Located in the Agora 3pm - 6pm weekdays, Two Birds One Scone club are offering free frozen meals from SecondBite to La Trobe students in need.
Domestic students are be able to collect free meals by presenting their student card in conjunction with a health care card at their initial collection. International students can receive free meals for one week and can seek one of La Trobe’s support services to approve continual support.
A cooler bag is recommended upon collection.
Turbans 4 Australia is running Covid Crisis relief for people in need in Melbourne, including International students. It is generously providing free grocery hampers, non perishable and fresh produce free of charge to students, Tuesday - Thursday and Saturdays including contact-less free delivery.
Fill out this form to register or contact turbans4australia@gmail.com for more information.
Bendigo Food Support by Victory Young Adults (VYA)
Bendigo VYA are offering ‘Food Help’, dry assorted food bags of a random assortment of dry packaged goods, for students in need. There are a limited number of food bags and are distributed on a case by case basis.
If you need a food bag or would like more information, please email vyainfo@victorycc.com.au or direct message their VYA Facebook or VYA Instagram
Delivering free food to people in need during self-isolation in South Eastern suburbs.
Provide providing food for international students in dire need.
A comprehnsive list of suburbs and organisations providing free meals in Melbourne's northern suburbs
Available assistance includes food parcels, food vouchers, Telstra vouchers, help sourcing furniture and household items, referral to other services such as No Interest Loans financial counselling and rent assistance
Call 1800 305 330, 10am–3pm.
Available assistance includes food vouchers, material aid and utility aid.
You must be Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander or must have Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in your care.
Call 1800 993 783 for appointments.
Ready made meals for International Students, refugees, asylum seekers and those experiencing or at risk of homelessness
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays 4.00pm – 4.30pm at Northern Community CareWorks, 81-91 High Street, commencing Thursday 25 June.
Need more information?: Call Northern Community CareWorks on 9484 4788
Indian care aims to promote the welfare and wellbeing of Victoria’s South Asian International Students from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar. Contact Indian Care for more information and support services
Location in South Bank, Empower help with fresh, frozen and pantry staples
City of Melbourne Community Food Guide
The City of Melbourne have also developed an extensive Community Food Guide about community meals, including free and cheap meals.
Area specific supports and services
Heidelberg West and Surrounding Suburbs
Prioritising these postcodes 3079, 3081, 3084, 3085 for emergency food relief
Call 9459-5959, Mon-Fri 10am-3pm
City of Whittlesea
Financial assistance to residents of Whittlesea in crisis re: bills, housing, food, transport, medical expenses.
Call 9401-6644 Monday to Friday
City of Darebin
Providing weekly grocery vouchers, food parcels and pre-made meals to households.
Call the DIVRS phone service on 9480 8200, Monday – Thursday between 9.30am -12.30pm. You may need to leave a message with your name and someone will return your call.
Ready made meals for International Students, refugees, asylum seekers and those experiencing or at risk of homelessness
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays 4.00pm – 4.30pm at Northern Community CareWorks, 81-91 High Street, commencing Thursday 25 June.
Need more information?: Call Northern Community CareWorks on 9484 4788
Bendigo
Their website lists a range of supports including financial, emergency housing support and wellbeing resources. Click here for a condensed quick list
Bendigo Family and Financial Services are providing emergency food parcels in Bendigo.
Albury/Wodonga
Salvation Army
International and domestic students in need can call them on 02 6024 2886 between 9am and 2pm, Wed to Fri. They can offer food parcels, supermarket vouchers, and case management.
Student Association and Union Support
La Trobe Student Association (LTSA) - all campuses (Albury/Wodonga, Bendigo, City, Melbourne (Bundoora), Mildura and Shepparton)
LTSA Food Relief - Non perishable food items to assist students
LTSA Legal Service - The service offers free and confidential advice from qualified and experienced lawyers on a number of issues.
LTSA Financial Support Service - free financial counselling for students
Advocacy
Your local Student Association Advocates can help with all kinds of issues including problems on placements, assessment failure, misconduct allegations, and more. They can help you work out what you need to get through life's challenges, whether that's at University or at home. They can also make referrals, talk to people on your behalf, link you in with local community support and just generally be there for you.
LTSU (La Trobe Student Union) - Melbourne (Bundoora) only
La Trobe Student Union Legal Service provides free legal advice and access to a qualified lawyer around all manner of legal issues, including issues around unfair dismissal at work and rental rights.
LTSU Emergency housing - emergency housing, referral service, clothing and food
Digital Support
Computer Support
WorkVentures provide access, digital support, digital skills and financial support to those who need access to anything digital.
Contact them to find out about eligibility.
If you know of any great resources we may have missed or would like to provide any feedback, let us know! Email Rose at r.wimbush@latrobe.edu.au