We are here for you.
If you or someone you know is in danger or at immediate risk, please call 000.
Requesting children's aid from Big Group Hug
We provide essential items for children aged newborn to 16 years old.
Aid requests must be made by a health, welfare or education professional, not a private individual.
Health and welfare professionals (including Maternal Child Health staff) see hundreds of families a year, ensuring we can reach thousands of families in need; they also provide any additional wrap-around support required.
If you have any questions, refer to the FAQ below or please email us.
FutureFIT: Interview Clothing in the West
Big Group Hug and Ready Set are proud to launch FutureFIT, a new workforce readiness program designed to support young people aged 15–24 as they take their first steps into employment.
This six-month pilot program runs July-December 2025 and will run from Big Group Hug’s Tarneit Hub. FutureFIT offers free wardrobe styling and interview-ready clothing to young people facing financial hardship in the cities of Wyndham, Hume, and Hobsons Bay.
Make a Big Group Hug aid request
If you are a health, welfare or education professional and have a family requiring our assistance, please complete our Online Request Form.
Please note: Opening hours for caseworker request collection are:
Thomastown: Monday to Thursday, 9.00am – 2.00pm.
Tarneit: Tuesdays to Thursdays, 9:30am – 12:30pm
Airport West: Monday and Wednesday 9.30am-12.30pm.
Emergency support and counselling phone numbers
We are not an emergency service. If you or your children are at risk or in danger, please contact:
000
Emergency
132 229
Maternal and Child Health Line (VIC)
1800 015 188
Safe Steps – Family Violence Response Centre
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service
1800 755 988
In Touch – family violence service working with migrant and refugee women and their communities
1800 551 800
Kids Helpline
1800 065 973
Men’s Referral Service
1800 133 302
Women’s Legal Service
13 YARN
Crisis Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
131 278
Child Protection
FAQs
(On mobile? Click a question box to reveal the answer)
How does a child/family access aid?
A request for aid must be made by a health or welfare professional on their client's behalf. This helps us reach more children in need, and ensures the parents/caregivers have access to any additional supports needed. Once we receive the request, the Request Team assesses it and our Warehouse Team curates the requested care package.
Who can request aid packs?
Requests must be placed by a health or welfare professional. This can include: Midwives and Maternal Child Health nurses/midwives. Social Workers, Caseworkers, Case Managers, Wellbeing staff in hospitals, health settings, welfare agencies, education institutes and community welfare groups.
If you don't have a caseworker and need assistance:
<a href="mailto:info@caroline.org.au, info@caroline.org.au?subject=Referred by Big Group Hug" Please email Caroline Chisholm Society. If Caroline Chisholm Society cannot assist you directly, they will be able to refer you onto another organisation who can.
Once the aid pack is ready, how does it reach the child in need? Who can collect it?
The requesting caseworker is responsible for collecting the aid once they have been notified that the pack is ready. The caseworker may choose to collect the aid from one of our three locations and must bring the request number with them.
Can aid packs be delivered by Big Group Hug?
Caseworkers may request for the items to be delivered to their agency office or recipient's home for a small transportation fee, this is the only fee involved in accessing our otherwise free service and the requesting agency is expected to fund this small cost.
I have further questions
If you have any questions, please email us info@biggrouphug.org.