Wadamba Wilam (Renew Shelter) provides intensive outreach support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are experiencing homelessness and enduring mental illness.

We work in a holistic way to provide support in areas including mental health, housing, physical health, social and cultural wellbeing, substance use, employment and education. We coordinate with other services as needed.

Wadamba Wilam is a voluntary support program open to people based on eligibility criteria and service capacity.

Social and Emotional Wellbeing

Aboriginal concepts of wellbeing are holistic in nature and include mental, physical, social, spiritual and cultural wellbeing.

Connection to land, family and spirituality play a central role in wellbeing and healing.

Social and Emotional Wellbeing problems can arise from grief, loss, trauma, substance use, child removal, incarceration, family breakdown, racism, social disadvantage and cultural dislocation.

We provide an effective and culturally safe service to help restore wellbeing.

Healing and recovery goals vary and may include areas like physical and mental health, self-confidence, social and community connection, interpersonal relationships, spirituality, education and skill development, and employment.

Our approach

Wadamba Wilam is a partnership between Neami National, the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS), UnitingCare ReGen and the Northern Area Mental Health Service (NAMHS).

Our team includes staff from each of our partners bringing together skills, experience and resources to support the social and emotional wellbeing of people in a culturally safe way.

Working in partnership

Wadamba Wilam is supported by the Victorian Government Department of Health through the National Partnership Agreement (NPA).

Eligibility

Wadamba Wilam (Renew Shelter) supports the Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing homelessness in Darebin and Whittlesea.

Referrals

Referrals can be made by individuals, carers, families, mental health professionals or other health care providers.

Referrals must be discussed with the individual prior to making the referral.

We encourage referrals from people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, youth and refugees.