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.
SEMPHN’s appointment as the lead primary health network (PHN) coordinating support services across Victoria acknowledges that approximately 85% of the state’s Jewish population resides in south east Melbourne.
As part of the Bondi Support initiative, SEMPHN will commission targeted mental health and wellbeing support for the Victorian Jewish community, and support primary mental health care for impacted south east Melbourne residents, regardless of their faith.
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 south east Melbourne residents
Primary mental health care for any south east Melbourne resident impacted by the Bondi Beach attack.
In April 2026, SEMPHN commissioned Relationship Matters and Connect My Mind to provide primary mental health care to any south east Melbourne resident 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 for the local government areas of Glen Eira and Frankston, 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 service providers already commissioned by SEMPHN to deliver Accessible Psychological Interventions (API) in the south east Melbourne region. API is a free mental health service offering short-term counselling and psychological therapy to individuals, families, and groups.
Commissioned services
Relationship Matters
Short-term, face-to-face mental health support for those who live, work or study in the Frankston or Glen Eira local government areas.
Service begins in June 2026. More information coming soon.
Connect My Mind
Short-term, telehealth (phone, video or chat) mental health support for south east Melbourne residents experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns.
Service begins in June 2026. More information coming soon.
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.
In April 2026, SEMPHN provided additional funding to Jewish Care to strengthen mental health and wellbeing support for the Victorian Jewish community following the Bondi Beach attack and rising antisemitism.
The additional funding 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
Mental health and wellbeing services, including telehealth and outreach support, for the Victorian Jewish community.
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.
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.
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:
o longer-term outcomes, including stronger feelings of cultural, emotional and social wellbeing
o better coordination of crisis and wellbeing responses
o greater confidence in help-seeking
o 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.
• See the reference documents in the grant application portal for further details of what the grant can and cannot be used for.
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.
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.
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 not eligible to apply for a grant.
Grant applications will be open until 11:59pm Friday 19 June 2026.
For full details of the grant and eligibility requirements, visit [insert grant webpage URL]
If you have a question, contact communitygrant@semphn.org.au by 11:59pm Friday 12 June 2026.
We will publish responses to any questions received in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) reference document located in the grant application portal.
The FAQ document will be updated throughout the grant question period. Please check it regularly for new information.
More information
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 aimed to understand the most effective services currently available and identify opportunities to further build capacity and boost resilience within the Victorian Jewish community.
This consultation has informed the Victorian Jewish Community Wellbeing Grant program.
The consultation took place from February to April 2026.
It 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 the Impact Co. Final Commissioning Report on the SEMPHN website.
