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Melbourne City Mission – Community Friend Program

Promoting and supporting leisure opportunities for people with a disability through volunteer friendship support and activities.

Melbourne City Mission (MCM) is a leading community support organisation working alongside people to live the life they aspire to, their way, providing a broad range of support in: Homelessness, Early Years, Disability, Early Childhood Intervention Services, Education, Palliative Care and Mental Health service areas.
Melbourne City Mission’s Community Friend Program (CFP) is a friendship/social support program which thoughtfully matches and supports friendships between volunteers and clients (participants) – people living with a mild to moderate disability and/or mental health condition.
The aim of the Community Friend Program is to support people with a mild to moderate disability and/or mental health condition to engage with their community, make new friends and enjoy a social life – something most of us take for granted.
In doing this, the Community Friend Program decreases isolation and increases independence for some of Melbourne’s most marginalised community members.
The Community Friend Program supports clients aged from 18 – 64 years of age. These clients come from a range of Local Government Areas in Melbourne including; Banyule, Yarra, Darebin, Moreland, Melton, and Brimbank.
There are opportunities for one-to-one friendship and/or joining monthly social groups in the program.
CFP has a strong emphasis on friendship, community and providing support to participants, whilst ensuring they maintain their independence wherever possible.
During the pandemic, CFP continued the program and support of both Volunteers and Participants by encouraging contact via phone calls/Zoom/emails/social media contact.

Participant benefits can include:
* Continual support from CFP coordinators via phone, email and in person
* Invitations to mid-year and end of year gatherings.
* CFP quarterly Newsletters
* Improved independence, confidence, and access to the community
* Enjoying new social and cultural experiences
* Broadening social networks and experience within the community
* Gaining new friendships, activities, and events to attend throughout the year
* Being a part of a wonderfully cultured Program, full of inclusion and diversity

Volunteer benefits can include:
* Continual support from CFP coordinators via phone, email and in person
* Training through programs or specific requirements
* Up skill / work experience or learning new skills
* Opportunity to act on your values, passions, and interests
* Making new friendships and creating professional networks
* Enjoying new social and cultural experiences
* Invitations to mid-year and end of year gatherings, or one-off events
* AccessEAP – entitled to 6 free and confidential counselling sessions annually.
AccessEAP is a nationwide EAP provider that offers you or your family access to free and confidential
face-to-face, video conference or phone counselling sessions at a time and place of your choosing.
* Invites to Melbourne City Mission events/Zoom sessions
* CFP quarterly Newsletters
* Being a part of a wonderfully cultured Program, full of inclusion and diversity.

The Community Friend Program is jointly funded by the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments, through Home and Community Care (HACC).

Find out how you can join and enjoy activities as a participant or volunteer by contacting us today.

Welcome to Melbourne City Mission - Community Friend Program!
” Promoting and supporting leisure opportunities for people with a disability through volunteer friendship support and activities. “
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