Transport service a vital link for Zoe Support Australia

Through a 2024 Community Grant, Zoe Support Australia in Mildura, Victoria has been able to provide a vital transport service with the purchase of three Butterfly Buses equipped with car seats to transport mothers and children to attend a range of education, training, activities and appointments.

Zoe Support Australia is a place-based community service organisation in Mildura helping young mothers aged up to 25 on their parenting and education journeys. Offering a culture of Connecting, Inspiring, Learning, they support mothers and children to thrive in safe and healthy families.

Zoe Support are focussed on breaking cycles of welfare-dependence, increasing family stability, improving mental health and physical wellbeing, decreasing incidents of family violence and substance use, and helping mothers to engage in higher education, and find employment. Their wraparound services include Integrated Family Services, family day care, transport, pre-accredited courses, practical support, social programs, playgroup, and study hubs.

The Butterfly Buses purchased by Zoe Support Australia with the support of a 2024 CVGT Employment Community Grant, support their daily transport program. There are three Butterfly Buses equipped with car seats to transport mothers and children together. Many of their clients do not have their license, the means to purchase a car or support to complete hours to gain their license. Zoe Support transport directly to childcare, kindergarten, social programs, onsite pre-accredited skills-based programs, accredited education, medical and housing appointments, job agency appointments and case management appointments. Through this transport program, young mothers gain access to services which build their skills and confidence to continue into education and employment and improve social wellbeing and peer connection. The transport program also ensures vulnerable children can access childcare, particularly crucial as mothers re-enter the workforce.

In the 23/24 financial year, Zoe Support Australia supported 113 mothers with 157 children and provided upwards of 2716 individual transports, enabling families to achieve the following:

• 48% attended their Supported Playgroup program
• 40% engaged in onsite Learn Local pre-accredited courses (cooking, baking, art, job readiness)
• 29% enrolled in accredited education
• 9% completed an accredited certificate while engaged with Zoe Support
• 27% were employed
• 26% of children utilised their onsite Family Day Care program, enabling engagement in education and employment.

CVGT Employment – Mildura, through Workforce Australia services, currently refer Participants who are young pregnant or parenting mothers to Zoe Support Australia to access their programs and services. This means they can provide wraparound practical and emotional support to these mothers while they build their employability skills or seek employment through CVGT Employment. 

Get involved

Through supporting organisations such as Zoe Support Australia, the CVGT Community Grants Program is helping mothers and children shape a brighter future for themselves.

If you live in Mildura and are interested in finding out more about their services, find out more here.

For more information on the CVGT Employment 2024 Community Grants program and full list of Grant Recipients , visit our 2024 Community Grants page.