Community Information & Support Victoria

What Community Information & Support Victoria does

Community Information & Support Victoria (CISVic) is the peak body for the community information and support sector in Victoria, Australia, operating as a nonprofit charitable organization established approximately 50+ years ago. The organization functions as a coordinating body for a network of 55 member agencies operating 63 sites across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria (including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, and the Mornington Peninsula). CISVic also directly operates two branches—CIS Glen Eira and CIS Merri-bek—that serve as demonstration sites for the member agency model. In 2024–25, more than 725,000 Victorians accessed community information and support services through this network, totaling 541,939 individual episodes of support, representing a 15% year-over-year increase in service demand.

The organization's core products and underlying technology are limited and service-oriented rather than technology-oriented. CISVic's primary deliverables are the Member Agency Directory (a searchable online tool integrated with Google Maps for locating services by suburb or postcode), an accredited Community Support Worker (CSW) Training Course for member agency volunteers, a Volunteer Opportunities Portal built on the Better Impact volunteer management platform, and policy/research publications including the annual State of the Sector report. Operational technology consists of Better Impact for volunteer management, the Ask Izzy online service directory partnership, and standard website/digital infrastructure. The organization has no disclosed proprietary technology platform, no API or software-as-a-service offering, and no data or AI-driven product layer.

The revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit funding stack composed of three streams: (1) government funding and grants from federal and state sources (described as the primary funding source), (2) annual membership fees from Full, Associate, and Individual member categories, and (3) donations from individuals and organizations. All community-facing services delivered through member agencies are free and confidential to end users; there is no transactional revenue, no pricing model, and no disclosed revenue figure. The go-to-market motion is community-led and referral-driven: clients reach services through walk-ins at member agency sites, government and cross-sector referrals, the statewide Opening Doors helpline (1800 825 955, 24/7) for homelessness entry, the Ask Izzy online directory, and outreach to volunteers and donors. CISVic's customer base is therefore bifurcated: end users are diverse vulnerable community members (no commercial customer concentration), while funding sources are concentrated in government and institutional grant-makers.

Name

Community Information & Support Victoria

Legal name

Community Information & Support Victoria

Website

https://cisvic.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community Information & Support Victoria (CISVic) is a nonprofit peak body coordinating a network of 55 member agencies across 63 sites in Victoria, Australia, delivering free emergency relief, financial counselling, housing support, and advocacy services to vulnerable community members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Support Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)

Keywords

• Community support services
• Emergency relief services
• Financial counselling
• Housing support
• Volunteer coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Glen Huntly

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Grants: Primary funding source from federal and state government grants and contracts to sustain operations and support member agencies.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from member agencies (Full, Associate, and Individual memberships) provide operational support revenue.
3. Donations: Donations from individuals and organizations supporting advocacy campaigns and community support services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CISVic operates as the peak body for the community information and support sector in Victoria, coordinating a network of 55 member agencies across 63 sites that deliver free, confidential services including emergency relief (food, vouchers, utility assistance), financial counselling and No Interest Loans (NILS), housing support and homelessness referrals, and advocacy for vulnerable community members. The organization also provides sector training, volunteer management support, policy research, and direct service delivery through two own branches (CIS Glen Eira and CIS Merri-bek).

Product overview

Community Information & Support Victoria (CISVic) operates as a peak body for the community information and support sector in Victoria, offering a network-based platform of services. The core offering is a member agency directory and referral system enabling Victorians to access local support services. Supporting this are the Community Support Worker (CSW) Training Course, student placement programs, volunteer opportunity portal, advocacy campaigns, policy and research services, and various publications. CISVic also operates two direct service branches (CIS Glen Eira and CIS Merri-bek) demonstrating member agency best practices. The products work together as an integrated support ecosystem connecting people in need with local services while building sector capability through training, advocacy, and peer networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Information and Support Services (via Member Agency Network) Free, confidential community support services delivered through 55 member agencies across 63 sites in Victoria, including emergency relief (food parcels, vouchers, utility bill assistance, rent support, petrol/public transport, essential medicines), financial counselling, No Interest Loans (NILS), housing support, information and referrals, advocacy, and case support.
• Opening Doors Statewide Helpline Statewide homelessness helpline (1800 825 955, free call, 24/7) connecting people experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness to local housing and support services across Victoria.
• Member Agency Directory (Find Local Help) Online searchable directory enabling users to find local Community Information and Support services across Victoria by suburb or postcode, filterable by service type including budgeting, emergency relief, housing support, legal services, and more.
• Community Support Worker (CSW) Training Course Accredited training program delivered to volunteers and staff of member agencies to equip them with knowledge and skills to work with people experiencing personal and financial hardship, assess diverse needs, and determine appropriate responses.
• Volunteer Opportunities Portal Portal connecting volunteers with member agencies throughout Victoria, featuring various roles including Community Support Workers, Specialist Volunteers, Reception/Administration, and Helping Hands volunteers, supported by the Better Impact volunteer management system.
• CISVic Branches (CIS Glen Eira and CIS Merri-bek) Direct service branches operated by CISVic providing community information and support services to residents of Glen Eira City Council and Merri-bek City Council, serving as direct delivery arms of the peak body.
• Policy and Research Services Evidence-based policy development and research services grounded in real community experiences, informing advocacy and contributing to policy and system reform through collaboration with government and sector partners.
• Student Placement Program Structured placement opportunities for tertiary students within selected member agencies and CISVic-operated services, including an established partnership with RMIT School of Social Work for social work student placements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 725,000+ Victorians accessed services in 2024-25 with 541,939 individual episodes of support
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RMIT UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCISVic has an established partnership with the RMIT School of Social Work, supporting structured placement opportunities within selected member agencies and CISVic-operated services. Through this partnership, eligible RMIT social work students are placed with agencies where they are supported by experienced staff and supervised by CISVic's Field Educator.
• Ask IzzycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAsk Izzy is a free online directory that helps people find nearby services for food, emergency relief, housing, health, wellbeing, and family violence support. CISVic promotes and refers people to this service as part of their support pathways.
• Foodbank VictoriaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFoodbank Victoria provides food relief services that CISVic member agencies connect clients to for food parcels, free groceries, and prepared meals.
• Services Australia (Centrelink)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernment agency providing income support payments including JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment and Crisis Payments. CISVic member agencies help clients navigate and access these services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army Australia (Southern Territory): Major national provider of emergency relief, homelessness, and family services with significant Victorian presence. Comparable as a deliverer of the same services CISVic member agencies offer, including financial counselling and material aid.
• Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS): National peak body for the social and community services sector. Comparable in advocacy and sector-development role but operating at the federal level rather than state-specific, with a wider remit that subsumes CISVic's policy work.

Regional players

• Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS): State peak body for social services in Queensland. Comparable in role and operating model to CISVic, including advocacy, training, and member-agency support, but serving a different geography.
• NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS): Peak body for community services in New South Wales. Highly comparable structurally to CISVic as a state-level umbrella organization for social services, but operating in a different jurisdiction with no direct competition.

Direct peers

• Uniting (Victoria and Tasmania): Large community services provider across Victoria delivering emergency relief, financial counselling, family services and housing support. Comparable as both a peer deliverer of CISVic-type services and an organization operating within the same Victorian funding and policy environment.
• Anglicare Victoria: Large Victorian community services provider delivering emergency relief, financial counselling, housing support and family services. Comparable because it both delivers CISVic-type services directly and is part of the broader Victoria network CISVic coordinates.
• Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS): Victoria's broader peak body for the social and community services sector. Highly comparable to CISVic as both serve as advocacy, training, and capacity-building umbrellas for member organizations operating across Victoria, with overlapping policy and government-relations mandates.
• Brotherhood of St Laurence: Victoria-based social justice organization focused on disadvantage, including emergency relief research and delivery. Comparable for its advocacy, research publications, and service-delivery footprint within the same vulnerable-population segments.
• Council to Homeless Persons (CHP): Victoria's peak body for homelessness services and the body that operates Opening Doors infrastructure in partnership with CISVic. Comparable as a sector peak body advocating for funding, training member agencies, and coordinating service delivery across Victoria for a vulnerable population.

Others

• Foodbank Victoria: Major food relief provider that CISVic member agencies refer clients to and partner with. Comparable as part of the same emergency-relief ecosystem serving financially vulnerable Victorians, though specialized to food versus CISVic's broader information-and-support remit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CISVictoria
• Facebookfacebook.com/CISVictoria
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-information-support-victoria

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Information & Support Victoria