Contact us

For more information about our program and how we can work together to support our local community, please contact our local office on 1300 369 630, email iconnect@rav.org.au or visit www.deadlyRAV.com.au or www.rav.org.au.

The i-Connect Family Mental Health Support Service funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. Images are for illustrative purposes only.

In the spirit of respect, RAV acknowledges the GunaiKurnai people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our service is based.

Connect

What is i-Connect?

A service of Relationships Australia Victoria, i-Connect offers support to kids and young people aged 0 to 18 years in East Gippsland to improve well-being and self-esteem.

Who is Relationships Australia Victoria?

Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV) is a valued provider of specialist family and relationship services. Our vision is for positive, safe and respectful relationships for couples, families, schools, workplaces and communities.

A community-based not-for-profit organisation, we are not connected to any churches or other religious groups. We aim to help all members of the community, regardless of their spiritual belief, how old they are, if they are male or female, sexual orientation, lifestyle choice, what country they were born in or the amount of money they have. We respect the rights of all people in all their diversity to live safely and with dignity, with their families and within their communities, and to enjoy healthy relationships.

RAV has 12 centres throughout Victoria offering a wide range of services, and provides i-Connect through its outreach service based in Bairnsdale.

Information for agencies and organisations

Support for kids and young people in East Gippsland Information for agencies

What do we do?

i-Connect assists local Koori kids and young people to stay engaged in education and learning, including sports and recreation. We support them to stay connected to their culture, family and community.

We work with trusted adults in the lives of local kids and young people to help their well-being, resilience, and self-esteem.

Our service model

i-Connect is a flexible, free service and provides:

• long-term assistance, up to 12 months

• short-term assistance, up to six sessions within three months

• community engagement, education, group work.

What is a Family Action Plan

A family action plan is developed with the kids or young people once they have become a client, in partnership with their family or trusted adults.

The plan is then used to identify goals, work out ways to achieve them, and to track progress.

Eligibility Target groups

Who is eligible generally?

1. A kid or young person aged 0 to 18 years who is at risk of low self-esteem and well-being issues, or with parents with similar issues.A kid or young person who has a trusted adult in their life willing to support the kid or young person to achieve their goals.A kid or young person who may also be disengaged from education.2. There is a trusted adult (this can be a parent, aunty, uncle or an Elder) in the kid or young person’s life with whom they can work to achieve their goals.

Kids not attending school

This is the priority target group for i-Connect.

Kids in care i-Connect cannot provide a service to Koori kids in care, under a child protection order or where the State has total or shared parental responsibility.

Kids in contact with child protection system

i-Connect can provide a service to Koori kids in contact with the child protection system.

Kids transitioning from out of home care

i-Connect can provide a service to Koori kids and young people transitioning from out of home care.