Office Hours

CONTACT DETAILS

Coordinators:

Jody Pederson (Mentone)
Rachel Hamilton (Frankston)

Address:

PO Box 19
Highett VIC 3190.

Phone:

Mentone: 9584-6777
Frankston: 9783-5172
Narre Warren: 9704-1520

Fax:

Mentone: 9584-6577
Frankston: 9783-5218
Narre Warren: 9704-1655

Email:

Frankston: frankstonccs@gordoncare.org
Mentone: counselling@gordoncare.org

The Children’s Contact Service has three venues:

The venue funded by the Family and Community Services Department and the Attorney General’s Department, is located in Frankston.
The Tattersall’s Holdings venue is located in Mentone
The other philanthropically funded venue is located in Narre Warren.

CATCHMENT AREA FOR SERVICE – Geographical Spread & Demographics

The official catchment areas for the Frankston venue include the local government areas of Frankston City Council, the City of Greater Dandenong and the Shire of Mornington Peninsula.

The Narre Warren venue caters to families residing in the South Eastern, Outer Melbourne Region (City of Casey, Cardinia and City of Greater Dandenong areas).

The Mentone venue offers Services to the families residing in the Southern Melbourne Region (City of Kingston, City of Bayside, City of Glen Eira, and part of the City of Greater Dandenong), extending out to the Eastern Middle Melbourne region (City of Monash).

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE

Hours of operation – Office & Contact Service

Frankston:

FRIDAY: 4:00PM-6:00PM
SATURDAY: 9:00AM-5:30PM
SUNDAY: 12:00PM-5:30PM

Mentone:

FRIDAY: 10:30AM-6:00PM
SATURDAY: 9:00AM-6:00PM

Alternating with:

FRIDAY: 3:00PM-6:00PM
SATURDAY: 9:00AM-6:00PM
SUNDAY: 11:30AM-6:00PM

Narre Warren:

This Service is open every fortnight for contact visits.

FRIDAY: 4:00PM-6:00PM
SATURDAY: 9:00AM-5:30PM
SUNDAY: 12:00PM-5:30PM

The number of families we service at any time varies depending on the ratio of facilitated contact visits to changeovers and the number of facilitated contact visits that are weekly in ratio to fortnightly. Presently we have 34 active families at Frankston and a further 11 families at various stages at the intake process for that venue. At the Mentone venue, we have 21 active families and a further 7 families in various stages at the intake process. At the Narre Warren venue, we have 6 active families and a further 2 families at various stages in the intake process.

The Frankston venue generally provides equal Service provision of facilitated contact visits and changeover contact visits. At both the Mentone venue and the Narre Warren venues, more families utilise facilitated contact visits.

Premises

The Frankston venue is owned by Frankston City Council and is the site of their former, purpose-built, extended-day care centre. The venue is bright and modern and has the look, feel and amenity of a program facility. Tattersall’s House in Mentone is owned by the City of Kingston, a weatherboard house which has been adapted for the delivery of contact visits and consequently has a more ‘homely’ feel. Narre Warren is owned by the City of Casey and is a house which has been again, adapted for the delivery of contact visits.

Staff

A Coordinator and an Assistant Coordinator work office hours from Monday to Friday, supported by an Administrative Assistant. For Service delivery on the weekends, 2 members of a team of 6 Contact Workers (in each venue) facilitate contact visits over the course of the weekend. Staff members are tertiary qualified and have vast experience with working with children and families.

Fees Charged

Both of the parties pay a minimal fee to use the Contact Service. The fees are based on a sliding scale, depending on individual’s annual income.

Other Services Provided/Co-located Services

GordonCare provides the Contact Orders Program (COP), which is funded by the Attorney General’s Department. At this stage, the program operates in Highett and in Frankston, but we are looking to expand our Services to the Ringwood and Cranbourne areas. The Contact Orders Program is a complimentary Service to the Contact Services.

Through this program, the parents are able to attend a group entitled, “Stand By Me.” This program is offered to parents over an 8-week time frame for a period of 2 hours each week. The group operates in Highett on Tuesday mornings from 10:00AM-12:00PM and in Frankston on Thursdays from 7:00PM-9:00PM. Individual counselling sessions, are also provided to parents and children.

Additionally, the program offers group work for children entitled, “THRIVE.” This group runs for 2 consecutive days during school holidays, for a period of 4 hours/day. The children’s group work consists of different activities and discussions that focus on how families change and how separation impacts on children’s emotions and feelings. The program looks at ensuing children that they are not alone and that their parents both love them.

The idea of the Contact Orders Program is to help children develop better relationships with both parents following separation and divorce. Further, the aim is to help families to move from high levels of conflict around their separation parenting arrangements to insightful, sensitive and competent parenting, focusing on their children at all times.

We strongly recommend that all parties utilising the Children’s Contact Services participate in the Contact Orders Program. The program assists in moving the families towards managing their own contact arrangements.


HOME OUR STORY What's New History Mission Committee of Management Organisational Chart Annual Report OUR SERVICES Residential Services Programs Brochures Testimonial Services for Separated Families Programs Brochures Flow Chart Application Forms Program Calendar Office Hours Service Fees Testimonial Court Information OPPORTUNITIES Employer Statement Positions Vacant GET INVOLVED Donation Volunteers CONTACT US

Services for Separated Families Residential Services Office Hours CONTACT DETAILS Coordinators: Jody Pederson (Mentone) Rachel Hamilton (Frankston) Address: PO Box 19 Highett VIC 3190. Phone: Mentone: 9584-6777 Frankston: 9783-5172 Narre Warren: 9704-1520 Fax: Mentone: 9584-6577 Frankston: 9783-5218 Narre Warren: 9704-1655 Email: Frankston: frankstonccs@gordoncare.org Mentone: counselling@gordoncare.org The Children’s Contact Service has three venues: The venue funded by the Family and Community Services Department and the Attorney General’s Department, is located in Frankston. The Tattersall’s Holdings venue is located in Mentone The other philanthropically funded venue is located in Narre Warren. CATCHMENT AREA FOR SERVICE – Geographical Spread & Demographics The official catchment areas for the Frankston venue include the local government areas of Frankston City Council, the City of Greater Dandenong and the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. The Narre Warren venue caters to families residing in the South Eastern, Outer Melbourne Region (City of Casey, Cardinia and City of Greater Dandenong areas). The Mentone venue offers Services to the families residing in the Southern Melbourne Region (City of Kingston, City of Bayside, City of Glen Eira, and part of the City of Greater Dandenong), extending out to the Eastern Middle Melbourne region (City of Monash). DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE Hours of operation – Office & Contact Service Frankston: FRIDAY: 4:00PM-6:00PM SATURDAY: 9:00AM-5:30PM SUNDAY: 12:00PM-5:30PM Mentone: FRIDAY: 10:30AM-6:00PM SATURDAY: 9:00AM-6:00PM Alternating with: FRIDAY: 3:00PM-6:00PM SATURDAY: 9:00AM-6:00PM SUNDAY: 11:30AM-6:00PM Narre Warren: This Service is open every fortnight for contact visits. FRIDAY: 4:00PM-6:00PM SATURDAY: 9:00AM-5:30PM SUNDAY: 12:00PM-5:30PM The number of families we service at any time varies depending on the ratio of facilitated contact visits to changeovers and the number of facilitated contact visits that are weekly in ratio to fortnightly. Presently we have 34 active families at Frankston and a further 11 families at various stages at the intake process for that venue. At the Mentone venue, we have 21 active families and a further 7 families in various stages at the intake process. At the Narre Warren venue, we have 6 active families and a further 2 families at various stages in the intake process. The Frankston venue generally provides equal Service provision of facilitated contact visits and changeover contact visits. At both the Mentone venue and the Narre Warren venues, more families utilise facilitated contact visits. Premises The Frankston venue is owned by Frankston City Council and is the site of their former, purpose-built, extended-day care centre. The venue is bright and modern and has the look, feel and amenity of a program facility. Tattersall’s House in Mentone is owned by the City of Kingston, a weatherboard house which has been adapted for the delivery of contact visits and consequently has a more ‘homely’ feel. Narre Warren is owned by the City of Casey and is a house which has been again, adapted for the delivery of contact visits. Staff A Coordinator and an Assistant Coordinator work office hours from Monday to Friday, supported by an Administrative Assistant. For Service delivery on the weekends, 2 members of a team of 6 Contact Workers (in each venue) facilitate contact visits over the course of the weekend. Staff members are tertiary qualified and have vast experience with working with children and families. Fees Charged Both of the parties pay a minimal fee to use the Contact Service. The fees are based on a sliding scale, depending on individual’s annual income. Other Services Provided/Co-located Services GordonCare provides the Contact Orders Program (COP), which is funded by the Attorney General’s Department. At this stage, the program operates in Highett and in Frankston, but we are looking to expand our Services to the Ringwood and Cranbourne areas. The Contact Orders Program is a complimentary Service to the Contact Services. Through this program, the parents are able to attend a group entitled, “Stand By Me.” This program is offered to parents over an 8-week time frame for a period of 2 hours each week. The group operates in Highett on Tuesday mornings from 10:00AM-12:00PM and in Frankston on Thursdays from 7:00PM-9:00PM. Individual counselling sessions, are also provided to parents and children. Additionally, the program offers group work for children entitled, “THRIVE.” This group runs for 2 consecutive days during school holidays, for a period of 4 hours/day. The children’s group work consists of different activities and discussions that focus on how families change and how separation impacts on children’s emotions and feelings. The program looks at ensuing children that they are not alone and that their parents both love them. The idea of the Contact Orders Program is to help children develop better relationships with both parents following separation and divorce. Further, the aim is to help families to move from high levels of conflict around their separation parenting arrangements to insightful, sensitive and competent parenting, focusing on their children at all times. We strongly recommend that all parties utilising the Children’s Contact Services participate in the Contact Orders Program. The program assists in moving the families towards managing their own contact arrangements.
home \| our story \| our services \| opportunities \| get involved \| contact us