Department of Human Services (DHS) Programs

The Department of Human Services (DHS) supports Victorians most in need to live safe, happy and fulfilling lives.

 

The department has approximately 11,000 staff across 6 divisions and 8 regions.

 

What does DHS do?

DHS plan, fund and deliver health, community and housing services in line with the government's vision for making Victoria a stronger, more caring and innovative state.

 

DHS Portfolios

Children

·         A wide range of community services for children and their families, such as kindergartens, early intervention and family support services

·         Victoria's statutory responsibilities such as child protection and juvenile justice

 

Disability

·         Services that provide support for Victorians with intellectual, physical, sensory and dual disabilities, neurological impairments and acquired brain injury

 

Housing

  • Provide more and better public and social housing
  • Improve and extend the range of affordable housing options available in the community
  • Tackle the underlying causes of homelessness and reduce the number of homeless people in Victoria
  • Provide training, employment support and assistance to help break the cycle of housing disadvantage for those most in need

Women and Youth

·         Driving a whole-of-government agenda in relation to Victorians aged 12 to 25

·         Working to iprove the quality of life for all Victorian women

 

Divisions

The Department of Human Services is a service delivery department. Services are delivered directly through our 8 regions, and through our community sector partners.

Three program divisions have responsibility for program policy, planning and resource management. Other divisions are responsible for assisting programs and regions in delivering excellent services including providing an organisation-wide approach to strategy, policy, service improvement and performance.

Information on the divisional sites includes publications, overview of services, staff contacts and latest news.

 

Children, Youth & Families Division

The Children, Youth and Families Division focuses on the health, safety, development, learning and wellbeing of children, young people and families in Victoria.

The division plays a key role in the planning and provision of services to Victorian children and their families. Services include youth justice and youth services, and child safety and family services (adoption, child protection, out-of-home care, family violence, sexual assault).

 

Disability Services Division

The Disability Services Division provides and funds a range of services for people with intellectual, physical, sensory and neurological disabilities.

The division works in partnership with families and carers and with both non-government and government service providers to advance the wellbeing and quality of life of people with disabilities.

 

Housing and Community Building Division

The Housing and Community Building Division provides housing and support to Victorians most in need. This includes homelessness and crisis support, affordable rental housing and training and employment opportunities for people in public housing.

 

DHS Regions

The Department of Human Services delivers services through its eight geographical regions.

 

There are three metropolitan regions:

and five rural regions:

Regions plan for, fund and deliver housing and community services and develop strong partnerships with agencies to collaboratively plan local services to give the Victorian community high quality services.

Regions are the department's public face and most departmental clients receive services from regional staff.

 

Metro and Rural regions

Department of Human Services Regional Disability Intake and Response Service contact details.

 

Metropolitan regions

Eastern Metropolitan
Telephone: (03) 9843 6312
Fax: (03) 9843 6575
TTY: (03) 9843 6638
Email: Eastern.Disability@dhs.vic.gov.au

 

North and West Metropolitan
Telephone: (03) 9412 2741
Fax: (03) 9412 5466
TTY: (03) 9412 2647
Email: NorthandWest.Disability@dhs.vic.gov.au

 

Southern Metropolitan
Telephone: 1300 131 079
Fax: (03) 8585 6005
TTY: (03) 8585 6008
Email: Southern.Disability@dhs.vic.gov.au

 

Rural regions

Barwon-South Western
Telephone: 1800 675 132
Fax: (03) 5226 4566
TTY: (03) 5226 4062
Email: Barwon.Disability@dhs.vic.gov.au

 

Gippsland
Telephone: (03) 5136 2474
Fax: (03) 5136 2520
TTY: (03) 5136 2494
Email: Gippsland.Disability@dhs.vic.gov.au

 

Grampians
Telephone: 1800 670 143
Fax: (03) 5333 6505
TTY: (03) 5333 6815
Email: Grampians.Disability@dhs.vic.gov.au

 

Hume
Telephone: 1800 783 783 (landline)
Telephone: 1300 238 133 (moblie)
Fax: (03) 5722 0541
TTY: 1800 022 149
Email: Hume.Disability@dhs.vic.gov.au

 

Loddon Mallee
Telephone: 1800 229 822
Fax: (03) 5434 5890
TTY: (03) 5434 5669
Email: Loddon.Disability@dhs.vic.gov.au

 

Better Health Channel - Disability

The Better Health Channel provides health and medical information to help individuals and their communities improve their health and wellbeing. The information we provide is:

  • Quality assured and reliable
  • Up to date
  • Easy to understand.

Information on the Better Health Channel is provided to help people stay healthy or understand and manage their health and medical conditions. It does not replace care provided by medical practitioners and other qualified health professionals.

The Better Health Channel was established in May 1999 by the Victorian (Australia) State Government. The site does not have any commercial advertising and we do not accept any corporate sponsorship.

 

DiVine

What is DiVine?

DiVine is an online community for and by people with a disability.

The website is published by the Victorian Government’s Office for Disability in the Department of Human Services.

 

Inclusive community

DiVine aims to inform, engage and entertain. It is a vibrant, inclusive community that encourages participation.

 

The website provides the opportunity for you to share your passion and unique perspective with thousands of other Victorians.


Range of interests

One-in-five Victorians has a disability. The wide range of topics covered on DiVine reflects the wide range of interests of people with a disability.

 

Futues for Young Adults
Futures for Young Adults

The Futures for Young Adults (FFYA) program provides support to students with a disability who need additional assistance to make the transition to post-school options. The program is available to eligible students from when they complete school until they turn 21.

 

RuralAccess, MetroAccess and deafaccess
RuralAccess, MetroAccess and deafaccess

RuralAccess, MetroAccess and deafaccess are part of the Disability Services Community Building Program. 

 

The Community Building Program supports communities to develop new ways of including people with a disability in local community life.

  • MetroAccess workers are based in each of the 31 local councils across metropolitan Melbourne. 
  • RuralAccess workers are located in 25 local governments and community health services across rural and regional Victoria. 
  • deafaccess workers are based in five community service organisations across rural Victoria.

These workers plan and develop strategies across the full range of community infrastructure including education and training, transport, health, accommodation and housing, physical access planning, sport, recreation and the arts. 

 

 

We would like to acknowledge that this information was sourced from the Victorian Government Department of Human Services.

 

This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations under the National Disability Coordination Officer Program.  The views expressed in these materials are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.