Offering a helping hand to those in need

Who can you turn to when you need support? Whether a person is facing illness, financial struggles, family violence or mental health challenges, Jewish Care would like to be the community’s first point of contact for those in need.

The AJN spoke with its director of strategy & engagement Yoni Paluch to understand its new approach. “Jewish Care has been around for a long time … We do a lot, from running aged care to in home care, disability services, social services … The question is, how do we bring more of that Jewish flavour into everything we do? And how do we bring back the idea of ‘we’re listening’? We want to co-design initiatives with the community. We want to understand what the community’s needs are and respond to those needs.”

For example, Jewish Care is currently co-designing a youth mental health survey for 16 to 24-year-olds to better understand their views on how they would like to be engaged.

Paluch notes that Melbourne in 2025 is very different to the past amid antisemitism post-October 7 and the cost-of-living crisis, and Jewish Care is seeking to adapt to meet the needs and expectations of the community.

He said Jewish Care would like to be the first call for anyone in need. “If we are able to support with a service we provide, we will, or we will hold their hand while working with other community providers to find that support. When one comes to Jewish Care, we will help you get back on your feet.” Jewish Care seeks to work in alignment with other community organisations including CCare for meals, and the Melbourne Jewish Charity Fund (MJCF) for emergency financial support. Paluch is a former CEO of the MJCF.

Discussing the collaboration, Paluch gave an example. “There may be a member of the community who says my family can’t afford our rent anymore … There’s over 140 members of the community that are living in Jewish Care housing and affordable housing. But you can’t just create a house out of nothing, so we’ll work with the MJCF who will offer the immediate rental assistance while they are on our wait list for housing, and that way we can help find them accommodation.” Though he said that the ultimate goal is to empower people to thrive on their own.

When asked if there was a perception that Jewish Care was inaccessible to those not receiving government welfare, Paluch said he understands that there is that view but that Jewish Care has made a conscious change.

“Anybody in the community should be able to reach out to Jewish Care for support, and we will help them.”

Paluch said that over 1000 families contacted Jewish Care for support last financial year, which is a 30 per cent increase on the previous year.

How will Jewish Care meet rising needs? “We will look at scaling up so we can meet that need, and then it comes back to the community support,” Paluch said. Jewish Care is also offering to share its resources with the community by providing spaces for events at its modern Windsor building.

So how does Jewish Care offer support to those in need? Jewish Care’s Rachel Ash explained: “Behind the scenes, Jewish Care provides what professionals call wraparound services. Holistic, tailored support that responds to the full reality of someone’s life, not just their diagnosis. That might include mental health counselling, help around the house, gardening, financial counselling or emotional support for partners and children. It’s not about ticking boxes; it’s about walking alongside people during their most vulnerable times.”

She said that this starts with the Front Door team – a service aptly named, because for so many, that first phone call is the gateway to feeling heard, understood, and no longer alone. The team will listen and connect people with the services they need.

“It’s a process grounded in empathy and backed by decades of experience. Once connected, Jewish Care’s social workers take the time to learn not just what’s hard, but also what’s working. They walk clients through their daily routines, uncovering where a little extra help could make the biggest impact. Importantly, this is done with a deep respect for personal choice and dignity.

“I’ve heard people in the community describe Jewish Care as a lifeline. After speaking to several families who’ve received support during illness, I understand why. This is care that transcends systems and forms. It’s human, thoughtful, and responsive. It’s also an embodiment of what we value as a community, that we don’t leave people to suffer in silence. That we show up. And perhaps most moving is the fact that Jewish Care doesn’t wait for publicity or praise. These stories often unfold quietly, between one phone call or counselling session at a time.”

To learn more visit: jewishcare.org.au or call the Front Door Team on (03) 85175999