South East Community Links

Some welcome relief for Victorian households.

From today, Victorians can claim a 20% rebate on this financial year's car registration costs — for up to two vehicles per person.

For many families already stretched by the cost of living, this is a practical saving worth claiming.

Applications open today until 31st July.

Apply here: https://service.vic.gov.au/find-services/transport-and-driving/registration/rego-rebate

Every now and then, feedback arrives that stops you in your tracks. 💜

Recently, we received a long message that did exactly that, recognising the extraordinary work of our team in supporting a person through one of the hardest moments of their life.

What moved us most wasn't just the kind words. It was the acknowledgement of how our team showed up across different disciplines, different languages, different roles — all working together, in real time, for one person who needed help.

That's SECL. That's our people. And we couldn't be prouder. 🫶
👏

Community Information & Support Victoria - CISVic

This morning, Footscray Station became the newest home for our Community Connectors Program and we couldn't be prouder.

We were joined by Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Minister for Public and Active Gabrielle Williams MP Metro Trains Melbourne CEO Raymond O'Flaherty, and MP for Footscray Katie Hall MP to officially welcome Community Connectors to Melbourne's west, alongside some of the remarkable team already doing this work every day at Dandenong and Frankston stations.

Our CEO Peter McNamara said it best: "It all starts with a moment of trust." That's what Community Connectors is built on. Skilled outreach workers, present at busy transport hubs, ready to reach out to people who are doing it tough, often before they even know how to ask for help.

Since launching at Dandenong and Frankston, the program has connected thousands of people to support, prevented harm, and made our stations safer and more caring places for everyone. Not through enforcement, through human connection.

We're grateful to Metro Trains Melbourne for their ongoing partnership in making this possible, and excited to see what this next chapter looks like in Footscray.

You'll find our Community Connectors at Footscray Station and the adjacent Irving Street, Monday to Friday during the day. If you see them, be sure to say hello. 👋

Learn more: secl.org.au/wellbeing/communityconnectors

On Friday 15 May, we were proud to join Hampton Park Secondary College and their wellbeing team to mark IDAHOBIT Day — the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, observed on the anniversary of the World Health Organization's decision to remove homosexuality from its Classification of Diseases in 1990.

Our team members from Youth Links and from our Family Violence team ran two engaging activities with students — Rainbow Trivia and a 'Privilege Sale' — with rainbow sour strap prizes proving a particular highlight. 🍬🍭

More than just a fun morning, these activities invited students to reflect on how LGBTI+ discrimination affects people's lives, what rights and privileges really look like, and how we can each play a role in building a more respectful and inclusive world.

Thank you to Hampton Park Secondary College for the invitation to be part of this important day.

For the past two years, South East Community Links has had the privilege of contributing to the Victorian Multicultural Commission Regional Advisory Council (RAC), representing the voices and experiences of multicultural communities across Melbourne's south east.

Our Regional Advisory Council focused on four critical areas:

🏠Housing
🙋Youth Employment
🚫Racism

Together with council members and community leaders, we worked to identify barriers, develop recommendations, and advocate for meaningful, systemic change on issues that matter deeply to the communities we serve.

Last week marked the conclusion of the two-year term, a moment to reflect on the work accomplished and the relationships built along the way.

A highlight of the journey was attending the Premier's Gala Dinner, connecting with leaders and stakeholders from across the sector.

Thank you to the Victorian Multicultural Commission for the opportunity to contribute to this important work. We look forward to continuing to advocate alongside and for multicultural communities across our region.

We joined Minister for Violence Reduction Sonya Kilkenny MP, Anthony Cianflone MP, Katie Hall MP, Metro Trains Melbourne and local partners to announce the expansion of the Community Connectors program to Footscray Station.

Delivered in partnership with Metro Trains, Community Connectors places highly trained outreach workers at busy transport hubs to support vulnerable community members before situations escalate into crisis.

The program has already made a strong impact at Dandenong and Frankston stations, engaging with thousands of people, preventing harm, improving community safety and connecting people to critical support services.

Our CEO Peter McNamara said “Community Connectors work because they meet people where they are. This program is helping create safer stations while connecting vulnerable people with practical support and pathways

Every week day, our Community Connectors are on the ground at Dandenong, Frankston and Footscray stations, building trust, helping people in distress and linking them directly into services like housing, mental health and crisis support.

We’re proud to continue growing a model that combines compassion, early intervention and community safety, and look forward to bringing Community Connectors to Melbourne’s west.

Every year, South East Community Links delivers the Community Capacity Building (CCB) Program, supporting emerging community leaders and associations to strengthen their governance, leadership and ability to deliver projects that respond to the needs of their communities.

Yesterday, we brought together participants, alumni and local organisations for our annual CCB Networking Event at Littlecroft Family & Community Centre in Narre Warren South.

Funded under the Australian Government’s Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) program, the event created opportunities for connection, collaboration and shared learning.

We were pleased to hear from:
✨Migrant Workers Centre
✨ LiverWELL
✨ Victorian Electoral Commission
✨ City of Casey, who have actively supported the program since it began.

A highlight of the morning was our “Learn from a Leader” conversation with Kalows and Daniel, co-founders of African Youth Alliance.

Starting as a small homework club, African Youth Alliance has grown into a thriving organisation delivering wellbeing programs, youth summits and cultural events for young people across Victoria. Hearing their journey from early CCB participants in 2019 to respected community leaders was a powerful reminder of the long-term impact of investing in community capability and leadership.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and continues to strengthen and support multicultural communities across Melbourne’s south east.

This Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, our family violence team is out in the community, running workshops and creating space for open, honest conversations.

We recently partnered with .isecommunity, a local group supporting Afghani families in Melbourne’s south east. We're pleased to work alongside, Sunrise Community to do important work strengthening connections and addressing challenges.

At the invitation of Vice President Shegofa Naseri, we delivered an in-language version of Responding to Disclosures of Sexual and Family Violence training, developed by South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault, to more than 20 community members and leaders.

Together, we explored how to respond safely and supportively when someone discloses violence, and how to connect people to the right services.

This is what prevention looks like. Building knowledge, trust and confidence within communities.

This work is part of our Working Together: Strengthening Family and Sexual Violence Support with Multicultural Communities program, funded by Family Safety Victoria.