30 Years of Support
Certified Child Safe Organisation
DFFH Partner
Trauma-Informed Carers
A Trusted Provider of Out of Home Care in Melbourne
At Ability Assist, we provide out of home care in Melbourne for children and adolescents who cannot safely remain with their families. Whether a young person enters our care through a court-mandated order or another referral pathway, our priority is the same: a safe, stable and nurturing home while the right long-term plan is put in place.
We are a certified Child Safe Organisation, and we work in partnership with the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) to support at-risk children and young people. Every home we operate is staffed by carers trained in trauma-informed practice, so the children and adolescents in our care are supported by people who understand what they have been through and know how to respond.
Out of home care exists because a child or young person cannot currently live at home, often following an investigation by Child Protection. Our role is to make sure that disruption is met with genuine stability: consistent carers, a safe environment and a clear plan built around each young person’s needs, not a generic model applied to everyone.
For more than 30 years, Ability Assist has supported children, adolescents and adults across Melbourne, and out of home care sits alongside our broader disability and youth services. That means the young people in our residential homes can also access supports like assistance with daily life, community participation and specialist disability accommodation where needed, without having to move between unfamiliar providers.
If you are a case worker, family member or referring professional trying to understand what out of home care with Ability Assist involves, our team is happy to talk you through it, whether or not you have all the details of a placement finalised yet.
Our Approach to Trauma-Informed Care
Many of the children and adolescents referred to out of home care have experienced trauma, whether through abuse, neglect or prolonged family disadvantage. Our carers are trained to recognise how trauma shows up in behaviour, routine and relationships, and to respond in ways that build trust rather than repeat past harm.
That starts with consistency. Wherever possible, a young person is supported by the same core group of carers, so relationships can form and routines can hold. It also means working patiently with behaviours that might otherwise be misread, and giving young people a genuine say in decisions that affect their daily life, from schooling to activities to how their home is run.
Trauma-informed care is not a single program or checklist. It shapes how our homes are staffed, how incidents are handled, and how we work with the doctors, counsellors, psychologists and educators involved in a young person’s broader support team.
What Does Our Out of Home Care Service Include?
Our out of home care services are built around the behavioural, emotional, medical, educational, nutritional, mental and physical needs of each young person. Our services include:
- Safe, supervised residential homes for children and adolescents who cannot live with their families
- Trauma-informed carers available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Individualised care plans developed around each young person’s needs and history
- Coordination with doctors, nutritionists, counsellors, psychologists and educators
- Support to maintain education, routine and connection to community wherever possible
- Regular reporting and collaboration with DFFH, case workers and other agencies involved in a young person’s care
- A pathway into other Ability Assist supports, including disability and community participation services, as needs evolve
Every placement is different, and our team works closely with DFFH, case workers and families to make sure the right combination of support is in place from day one, and adjusted as circumstances change.
Out of Home Care Services Across Melbourne
Ability Assist operates out of home care homes across Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs, including Sunbury, Craigieburn, Broadmeadows, Werribee, Wyndham Vale, Tarneit and Melton, as well as the broader metropolitan area. Each home is chosen for its safety, stability and proximity to schools, healthcare and community services, so that a change of address does not mean a young person loses access to the things that matter to their day-to-day life. Wherever a placement is needed across Melbourne, our team can talk through the options available.
Proudly partnered
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Why Choose Ability Assist For Out of Home Care
Ability Assist has been operating in Melbourne for over 30 years, and out of home care is one of the most important services we provide. We understand that every child or young person referred to us has already been through significant disruption, and our goal is to make sure their experience with us is defined by safety and consistency, not more uncertainty.
Our carers are trained specifically in trauma-informed practice, and every staff member meets NDIS worker screening and working with children requirements before they support a young person. As a certified Child Safe Organisation, child safety is built into every part of how we operate, not treated as a separate policy.
We work closely with the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, case workers and other professionals involved in each young person’s care, so that everyone supporting a placement is working from the same information and the same plan.
Above all, our approach is guided by the values that have shaped Ability Assist for 30 years: advocacy, social inclusion, participation, integrity, respect and empowerment. For a young person in out of home care, that means being treated as an individual with their own needs, strengths and goals, not just a placement to be managed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is out of home care?
Out of home care is a temporary, medium or long-term living arrangement for children and young people who cannot safely live with their families. It can include residential care, like the homes Ability Assist operates, as well as foster and kinship care arrangements provided by other organisations.
Who can be referred to out of home care?
Children and adolescents are usually referred to out of home care following an investigation by Child Protection, often through a court-mandated order. Referrals are generally made by DFFH or another authorised agency rather than directly by families.
Is Ability Assist a certified Child Safe Organisation?
Yes. Ability Assist is a certified Child Safe Organisation, and every member of our team meets working with children and NDIS worker screening requirements before supporting a young person in our care.
Do you work with DFFH?
Yes. We partner with the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing to support at-risk children and young people, and we work closely with case workers throughout a placement.
What kind of support do children in your care receive?
Children and adolescents in our care receive support tailored to their behavioural, emotional, medical, educational, nutritional, mental and physical needs, including coordination with doctors, nutritionists, counsellors, psychologists and educators.
Which areas of Melbourne do you provide out of home care in?
We operate homes across Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs, including Sunbury, Craigieburn, Broadmeadows, Werribee, Wyndham Vale, Tarneit and Melton, as well as the broader metropolitan area.
What should I do in an emergency involving a child in out of home care?
In an emergency, please contact the police or the After-Hours Child Protection Phone Line on 131 278. A young person’s safety is always the first priority.
How do I make a referral or ask about a placement?
Case workers, DFFH representatives and other referring professionals can contact our team directly to discuss a potential placement and the support we have available.
Get In Touch
Getting Started With Ability Assist
- Tell us about the child or young person’s situation and needs;
- Let us know if a referral, court order or DFFH contact is already in place;
- Our team will talk you through how our out of home care service works;
- We will explain how the placement is coordinated with DFFH and other agencies;
- You decide what to do next, with no obligation and no pressure.
What Happens Next?
Getting started with Ability Assist is simple, and you do not need a finished plan to reach out.
If you are a case worker, DFFH representative, family member or other professional looking for out of home care in Melbourne, get in touch. Our friendly team will get back to you by the next business day to talk through the situation and what support is available.
How Are Out Of Home Care Placements Arranged?
Out of home care placements are arranged through DFFH or another authorised agency, not purchased directly, so there is no out of pocket cost to families for the placement itself.
Our team works alongside DFFH, case workers and other professionals from the referral stage onward, so everyone involved understands the plan and what to expect.
