HIPP services

CCI Arrest Referral Program

This program provides assistance for clients arrested and charged with non-violent drug related offences and/or street sex offences.  The program works closely with the St Kilda police and the criminal justice system.  A special Tuesday afternoon court list is held monthly for street sex workers charged with these offences.

Supported Accommodation Assistance program

This is a joint Commonwealth - State Program which funds the delivery of services to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. This service is directed at young woman who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and who work in the sex industry.

Community Connection program 

The Community Connections Program, based at Inkerman Street, provides casework support, information and assistance to people with complex needs who are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless or living in insecure housing.  Community Connections uses an assertive outreach model to engage potential clients who are not linked in with services.  This involves visiting parks, laneways, rooming houses, squats and other locations where people with complex needs who are not linked into services may be and introducing our services to them.  Once potential clients are identified a Community Connections worker will follow up to assist the person to link into appropriate services and supports.  The program is also involved in a range of community development projects aiming to improve the responsiveness of the community and services to marginalised people with complex needs.

Supported Residential Services outreach team

The SRS Outreach Team, based at our Mitford Street site, aims to link residents of pension level supported residential services to allied health and other supports.  A podiatrist, physiotherapist and an allied health assistant engage with residents to assess their allied health needs and then link them into services and supports.  An Access and Equity worker is part of the team and provides linkages and advocacy to ensure the needs of pension level SRS residents are met by the service system.  In addition the SRS outreach team facilitates outings for residents of pension level in Cities of Stonington and Port Phillip.

The health bus

The health bus has been in operation in the Cities of Port Phillip and Stonnington for 12 years and has provided a valuable service to the most at risk and marginalised people in our communities. We have acquired a new health bus, which provides a comprehensive and expanded outreach service, targeting people who are at risk of social isolation and/or who don't access the health service.  The health bus is also used to access young people at schools and after schools programs.

The services offered by the Health Bus include information and referral, health assessments and treatment, dispensing of supplies including condoms and clean injecting equipment.  The bus operates at night Monday and Thursday and at different times weekdays. Experienced staff from within ISCHS and other community agencies utilise the bus as an entry point of contact with the community.

The drug and alcohol team

This team form are dispersed across our four sites.  They provide counseling, case management, consultation and community education to people with substance abuse issues.

The Mental Health program

The mental health program provides a wide range of community supports to adults up to the age of 64 years who have an enduring psychiatric disability. Services provided enable clients to maximise their options and live satisfying independent lives, and include:

• Case management
• Assertive outreach
• Health education
• Skills development and socialisation
• Recreational support
• Financial management
• Housing support