South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN) has received funding from the Australian Government to support Victorians affected by the Bondi Beach attack that occurred on 14 December 2025.
The funding is part of the Australian Government’s Bondi Mental Health Support Package, a $42.6 million national investment to support the mental health needs of those impacted.
As part of the Bondi Support initiative, we will support primary mental health care for impacted people in south east Melbourne, regardless of faith or background, and commission mental health and wellbeing support for the Victorian Jewish community.
SEMPHN's appointment as the lead Victorian primary health network (PHN) coordinating support services for the Jewish community across the state acknowledges that approximately 85% of the state’s Jewish population resides in south east Melbourne.
As the Victorian lead PHN for this initiative, SEMPHN is working in partnership with all Victorian PHNs. In addition, SEMPHN is engaging with Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network (CESPHN), the PHN leading the initiative nationally.
The initiative is funded until 30 June 2027.
PHNs are committed to the fundamental principle of health equity. We recognise that the impacts of the Bondi Beach attack have been felt across communities, beyond any one nationality, faith or cultural group. See broader mental health support available.
Funded activities
Support for the south east Melbourne community
Primary mental health care for anyone who lives, works or studies in south east Melbourne impacted by the Bondi Beach attack.
In April 2026, SEMPHN commissioned Relationship Matters and Connect My Mind to provide primary mental health care to people in the south east Melbourne affected by the Bondi Beach attack, regardless of faith or background.
The funding aims to provide timely, accessible psychological support, including help navigating available mental health services, to individuals impacted by the Bondi Beach attack, the Middle East crisis, and broader community trauma.
The combination of Relationship Matters’ established, face-to-face services and the flexible telehealth services offered by Connect My Mind aims to provide broad and comprehensive mental health support across the entire south east Melbourne region.
Both Relationship Matters and Connect My Mind are experienced service providers with an established footprint in the south east Melbourne region.
Eligibility
Anyone who lives, works or studies in south east Melbourne.
How to refer
SEMPHN’s Access & Referral team accepts referrals from general practitioners, other health professionals, schools, and directly from individuals.
Interpreter services are available for people who prefer to communicate in a language other than English.
Commissioned services
Connect My Mind
Free telehealth (phone, video or chat) mental health support for people experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns.
Support for the Victorian Jewish community
Mental health and wellbeing services for members of the Victorian Jewish community.
In August 2024, SEMPHN commissioned Jewish Care to provide culturally-appropriate mental health support to Victorian Jewish community members affected by the Middle East crisis.
SEMPHN is now providing additional funding to Jewish Care to strengthen mental health and wellbeing support for the Victorian Jewish community following the Bondi Beach attack and the harm caused by antisemitism.
The Mental Health and Wellbeing (MH&W) Program for the Jewish Community aims to:
- enhance the direct mental health and wellbeing support Jewish Care already provides to the Jewish community, with a focus on trauma-informed care and recovery
- increase access to mental health and wellbeing support via telehealth and outreach support to meet local needs
- boost awareness to the Jewish community around mental health and wellbeing, and available supports.
Commissioned service
Jewish Care
Free mental health and wellbeing services, including telehealth and outreach support, for the Victorian Jewish community through the MH&W Program – Jewish Community.
Service begins in July 2026. More information coming soon.
Victorian Jewish Community Wellbeing Grant
Grants to support activities that build the Victorian Jewish community's resilience, wellbeing, and social cohesion.
The Victorian Jewish Community Wellbeing Grant program offers one-off grants to deliver activities that build community resilience, wellbeing, and social cohesion.
It responds to the impacts of the Bondi Beach attack and the lived experience of antisemitism on the Victorian Jewish community.
The grant program is led and administered by SEMPHN with support from Victoria’s primary health networks and in partnership with CESPHN.
It is based on active engagement and meaningful dialogue between SEMPHN and Victorian Jewish community organisations facilitated by Impact Co. Learn more about the consultation process.
Key dates
Questions period close – 11:59pm (AEST), Thursday 2 July 2026
Applications close – 11:59pm (AEST), Thursday 9 July 2026
Purpose of the grant
The grant funds activities that will make practical improvements to the wellbeing, safety and resilience of the Victorian Jewish community, improvements that, over time, contribute to:
- longer-term outcomes, including stronger feelings of cultural, emotional and social wellbeing
- better coordination of crisis and wellbeing responses
- greater confidence in help-seeking
- lasting psychological and physical safety.
This grant is not for the delivery of mental health and wellbeing treatment or clinical support services.
Grant funding must only be used to deliver Jewish community activities within Victoria.
Eligibility
This grant is only eligible to:
- Victorian Jewish community organisations*
- organisations that can partner with a Victorian Jewish community organisation that will act as the partnership’s lead.
Organisations must be registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) or be incorporated not-for-profit entities.
Organisations already receiving funding from the Australian Government’s Bondi Mental Health Support Package are eligible to apply where the proposed activity is:
- not a duplication of existing services already being delivered in the proposed primary activity location(s) in Victoria
- designed to address identified gaps and unmet needs.
*For the purposes of this grant, a Victorian Jewish community organisation is an organisation whose primary purpose is to serve, support or represent the Victorian Jewish community.
Questions and technical help
If you have a question, contact communitygrant@semphn.org.au by 11:59pm (AEST), Thursday 2 July 2026.
We will publish responses to any questions received in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) reference document located in the grant application.
The FAQ document will be updated throughout the question period. Please check it regularly for new information.
If you experience any technical difficulties, please email communitygrant@semphn.org.au before the grant closing date.
How to apply
All proposals must be submitted through the grant application, which you can access below. Proposals submitted any other way will not be accepted.
Organisations can only submit one proposal.
Please allow time to prepare your submission and ensure you have thoroughly read all reference documents, including the FAQ which will be regularly updated throughout the question period.
Consultation
To ensure a community-driven approach to supporting the wellbeing of the Victorian Jewish community, SEMPHN commissioned Impact Co. in early 2026 to consult with 17 organisations. This included Jewish organisations as well as mainstream mental health and community health organisations.
The consultation informed the our approach to the Victorian Jewish Community Wellbeing Grant by identifying the most effective services currently available and opportunities to further build capacity and boost resilience within the Victorian Jewish community.
The consultation took place from February to April 2026 and involved individual interviews and focus groups with the 17 organisations followed by 2 Community Validation Forums where all 17 organisations were brought together to validate and provide feedback on Impact Co.’s findings.
For more details on Impact Co.’s consultation and findings, read Impact Co.'s final reports:
