VACCA Stories

Another proud VACCA graduate!

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 02:00:00 +0000

After showing promise as a Career Tracker Intern, Tyarne was pointed towards VACCA’s Graduate Program by her manager as a way to upskill herself and move into a permanent role.

VACCA supported Tyarne every step of the way, granting her study leave and flexible work hours to pursue her final qualification. Her manager had previously completed the program, as had the Aboriginal facilitators, making the classroom a safe space. Every morning would begin with a Dadirri (a deep listening spiritual practice) grounding exercise to ensure that the course content was culturally safe and tailored to the participants needs.

During the course, Tyarne learnt about trauma, circles of security and was able to expand the range of clients she felt comfortable supporting. She also learnt to apply therapy models to her interactions with clients, enabling her to help the children and families she works with to feel safe and unpack their trauma. Tyarne has since completed this course and is now a Clinical Team Leader for VACCA’s Aboriginal Children’s Healing Team on a permanent basis!

Supporting Rainbow Mob at VACCA

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Zee Pepper is a proud Gunai Kurnai trans man and Quality Manager in VACCA’s Child Safeguarding and Quality team. Supported by VACCA through his gender affirmation journey, Zee watched the organisation grow into a safe, inclusive place for Rainbow Mob –both staff and clients.

Zee is a member of VACCA’s Binbeal Murrup Advisory Group, which works to ensure our services and workplace are safe and welcoming for LGBTIQA+ children, young people, carers, families, and staff. Meaning ‘Rainbow Spirit’ in Woi Wurrung language, the group contributes to LGBTIQA+ initiatives at VACCA, including training sessions, fact sheets, resources, policies and events. Days like IDAHOBIT and Wear it Purple are observed each year with morning teas and wellbeing activities to celebrate and uplift the voices of our Rainbow Mob and LGBTIQA+ staff.

Respecting the intersectional identities of our staff and clients forms a key part of VACCA’s guiding principles. Acting in the best interests of clients and respecting the staff that work alongside them gives us the opportunity to celebrate our Rainbow Mob and support them to be uniquely themselves.

Watch the video to meet Zee and learn how we celebrate Rainbow Mob at VACCA!

Supporting Community with Emergency Relief

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Nathan is a proud Narungga man and works in VACCA's Emergency Relief team to help support community members in times of financial stress.

Through the distribution of food vouchers, help with utility bills and other material aid, the Emergency Relief team helps those in times of financial stress or hardship with a culturally respectful service to support their immediate needs.

As the cost-of-living continues to rise, the team has seen an increased demand from community for support with food. Many of these people have never previously with a support service like our Emergency Relief team. Some clients have shared they are forced to choose between paying bills or buying groceries.

Through Emergency Relief, VACCA supports community with short term financial support, enough to help them get back on their feet and feel safe knowing that they can put food on the table. This financial support can come in the form of food vouchers, food packages, fuel vouchers, store vouchers or material aid. Material aid takes a different approach to support, supplying community with white goods, furniture and financial relief for utility bills – taking some of the burden off clients that have recently moved and need help getting back up and running.

Watch the video to meet Nathan and learn about how VACCA’s Emergency Relief team supports community!

Promoting Family Violence Initiatives

Sat, 03 May 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Mikayla is a proud Dja Dja Wurrung, Yorta Yorta, Gunai/Kurnai, Waywurru and Dhudhuroa woman who works as a Senior Project Officer in VACCA’s Family Violence Initiatives team.

Based at VACCA Head Office in Preston, Family Violence Initiatives works to facilitate key reform in the family violence space statewide; assisting specialist projects, new initiatives, and supporting the Family Violence team in outcomes and evaluations. Mikayla’s work forms a crucial part of VACCA’s strategic response, playing a key advocacy role in the sector and assisting programs across our regions to align and adapt to new family violence service delivery practices.

Projects that the team support include Dhelk Dja, which works to encourage healthy respectful relationships between young people through learning modules and camps. Mikayla is also the Project Lead for VACCA’s Lubly Consent project, which teaches young people the importance of consent as they enter their first relationships.

Watch the video to meet Mikayla and learn about the importance of culture in her life and work!

Reuniting Families with Link-Up

Thu, 22 May 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Tayah is a proud Malyangapa, Barkindji, and Ngiyampaa woman - her work as a Reunion Officer at Link-Up supports Elders in community to reconnect with family, walking forward while honouring our shared past.

Link-Up Victoria is a VACCA service that supports Stolen Generations survivors and their families through every step of the healing journey. Link-Up helps people to reclaim their Aboriginal identity, to connect to lost family and learn about their traditional culture and Country.

The Link-Up process begins with research. Accessing records and official documents helps clients to discover their own or a family member's history. After undertaking extensive research to locate family both living and deceased, Link-Up workers like Tayah then do their best to facilitate a reunion between clients and family on their traditional Country.

Culture is at the very heart of VACCA and informs every facet of our work. Drawing support from family, tradition and history, staff work in a culturally safe environment and recognise its significance in creating the best outcomes for the children, young people and families we work alongside.

Watch the video to meet Tayah and learn about the strength she draws from her family and culture!

Cultural Support Planning for Children in VACCA Care

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Sienna is a proud Garawa woman and a Senior Advisor in VACCA’s Cultural Support Planning team, who ensure that children and young people in care stay connected to and strong in their culture.

Through the creation of Cultural Support Plans, the facilitation of Returns to Country and Cultural Camps, Sienna and the team work to make sure children and young people always know where they belong, even if they aren’t able to be placed with family.

Every child in VACCA care has a Cultural Support Plan, a document that lays out how they will be supported to explore and have an ongoing relationship with their culture, history and identity. Advisors like Sienna even work with the children and young people to design their own plans, ensuring they always have a voice. Cultural Support Plans give the young people a sense of belonging and strength in knowing who they are and where they come from as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The plans are living documents, growing and changing just as much as a young person does. They follow them through every step of their journey, whether living with family or in care.

Sienna also works closely with Case Managers to facilitate Returns to Country for the young people in care. On these trips, they can find family, connect to Country, and engage in traditional practices like art, dance and music. In this knowledge they are able to find pride in their identity and strength in knowing who they are and where they come from.

Watch the video to meet Sienna and learn more about Cultural Support Plans at VACCA!

Educating with the External Training Team

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 02:00:00 +0000

Jake is a proud Wagiman and Ngan'gimerri man working in VACCA's External Training Team.

Drawing from the deep well of strength passed down through his Elders, Jake works to educate the general public on Aboriginal culture and history, telling our story from our point of view and inspiring change in future generations.

VACCA’s External Training team offers a range of programs to organisations and individuals, especially those working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families and community. The training programs are developed by our team of expert facilitators, including Jake, who combine uniquely Aboriginal ways of being, knowing and doing with evidence-based learning and over 47 years of experience working with community.

Just like Jake, our strength at VACCA comes from culture – from our stories, history, language and community; we draw this strength from everything around us. Culture connects us and provides a framework in which to support every facet of our work with the children, young people and families we support.

Watch the video to meet Jake and learn how he draws strength from his ancestors!

Fostering a Diverse, Inclusive Workplace

Sat, 17 May 2025 02:00:00 +0000

TJ is a proud Nunukal sistergirl and the chairperson of the Binbeal Murrup Advisory Group at VACCA.

Binbeal Murrup means “Rainbow Spirit” in the Woi Wurrung language and is VACCA's LGBTIQA+ working group, which ensures our services and workplace are safe and welcoming for our all our rainbow mob - whether they're clients, community or staff. The group contributes to LGBTIQA+ initiatives at VACCA through running training sessions, distributing fact sheets, resources and policies. The group also organises events for significant dates in the LGBTIQA+ calendar, such as Wear it Purple, IDAHOBIT and Pride Month. Days like these serve to show LGBTIQA+ staff and clients that they are seen, supported and have all of VACCA working towards a better future for them.

Not only a working group, Binbeal Murrup also operates as a social group within VACCA, with dedicated time each month to foster connection among LGBTIQA+ staff and allies working across VACCA’s regions. The social group is a safe space for our Rainbow staff and allies to meet each other for a yarn, share experiences and build community.

Watch the video to meet TJ and learn more about VACCA’s LGBTIQA+ initiatives!