CIVic is the Secretariat for the ER Victoria (ER Vic).

Who is ER Vic?

ER Vic is the peak body for the emergency relief sector.

It's aims are to:

• Bring ER providers together
• Support the work of providers
• Advocate on issues affecting disadvantaged people

ER Vic was established as the Emergency Relief Victoria network in 1979, and became an incorporated association in 2008. The membership comprises over 50 agencies who provide or fund Emergency Relief throughout Victoria.  

What is Emergency Relief

Emergency Relief (ER) is the provision of critical support to individuals and families who for various reasons may be experiencing immediate and personal distress due to a financial emergency or domestic crisis.

People who fit this profile usually include the unemployed, low-income earners, victims of domestic violence, refugees, sole parents, elderly, disabled or homeless persons.

Assistance, which may vary from agency to agency, could comprise any number of services: provision of food parcels or vouchers, household goods or clothing, rent assistance, payment of bills such as electricity or gas, or money to buy a meal.

Other forms of assistance such as specialist counselling, transport assistance, medicine, education costs, as well as community information services may also be provided to meet the requirements of disadvantaged people and support their well being.

Who are ER providers?

ER providers are a vast and complex set of providers. It is a sector which is unique in Australia and compromises a diverse array of more than 700 non-government organisations.

While many of these are primarily “faith”-based, the emergency relief sector also  includes large numbers of charitable and welfare organisations, community based agencies, large and public institutions, as well as culturally and ethnically specific support bodies.

It is estimated that almost 80% of the people who work in emergency relief organisations in Victoria are non-paid volunteers.

Membership with ER Vic

ER Vic provides bi-monthly member’s meetings to bring ER agencies together to share information and network. Our meetings include relevant guest speakers.

ER Vic advocates on issues affecting disadvantaged people to government and other relevant bodies.

ER Vic sends regular information bulletins, and sometimes have member-only offers for philanthropic funding.

It’s free!

There are two membership levels:

1. Sitting Member: open to any agency which provides ER to people in Victoria, and has an Australian Business Number (ABN).  You may nominate 3 authorized representatives who can represent the organisation and vote. The member is entitled to nominate and appoint authorized representatives to the Committee of Management via an annual ballot.

2. Associate Member: open to any individual who whishes to review information about ER Victoria or wishes to participate in member meetings. Associate members have no voting rights and are not entitled to nominate or appoint representatives to the Committee of Management.

To further information email ervic@cisvic.org.au