Strengthening Emergency Relief across Knox

For over 34 years, Knox Infolink has provided wrap around Emergency Relief, Information & Referral Support to the Knox Community. 

Knox Infolink is passionate about supporting the Knox Community and ensuring those in our community doing it tough can access the support they need in their local area.

Towards strengthening Emergency Relief across Knox, Knox Infolink coordinates the Knox Emergency Relief Network and is piloting the Community Support Outreach project.

Knox Emergency Relief Network (KERN)

KERN is community network of Emergency Relief providers operating within Knox or providing services for those in Knox.

The KERN Terms of Reference are available for review here: KERN ToR

Groups, organisations or community members interested in joining KERN, can contact Anne via email: or phone: 9761 1325.

Community Support Outreach Pilot

Thanks to a 2024-25 Victorian Government Local Food Relief Grant, Knox Infolink has established a Community Support Outreach pilot - an initiative that places our trained Community Support Volunteers directly within food relief agencies across the Knox region.

The Knox area is home to many fabulous place-based food relief providers, that offer access to free food and community connection. But we know food insecurity is rarely a standalone issue. Broader challenges - like housing, financial stress, and health concerns - often contribute to the need for food relief.

Knox Infolink has over 34 years of experiencing providing comprehensive, wrap around emergency relief, information and referral support to the Knox Community. All our Community Support Volunteers have completed a 50-hour accredited Community Support Worker course and undergone a minimum 20-hours supervised interviewing.

We are passionate about ensuring our Community Support Workers are equipped and skilled – to provide the best possible support, information and referral - to any community member courageous enough to seek assistance.

The Community Support Outreach Pilot is designed to deliver wraparound Emergency Relief, Information and Referral support right where it’s needed most. By embedding our trained and experienced Community Support Workers onsite at food relief providers, we’re making it easier for individuals and families to access information, support, and referrals - helping them address the root causes of food insecurity.

The Pilot commenced supporting three of our incredible food relief partners:

• Scoresby Uniting Church Drop-in Centre

• Share Space Sanctuary

• Boronia Road Uniting Church Food Relief

Knox Infolink Community Support volunteers play a different role at each of the food relief partner agencies. Allowing partners to continue doing what they do best – engaging their local community and distributing much needed food relief – with the additional benefits of connecting to immediate, onsite, community information and referral support. Together, we’re creating a more connected, resilient Knox.

What’s next?

Due to the success of the pilot in 2025, Knox Infolink will continue to partner with the three existing food relief agencies in 2026.

Any other food relief agencies interested in partnering to host Knox Infolink Community Support Workers please contact      Anne Bowkett, Emergency Relief Coordinator on 9761 1325 or email:

Knox Infolink Emergency Relief

Knox Community Christmas Support Project

By Bank Transfer

Account Name: Knox Infolink Inc.

BSB: 063 199

Account Number:  00902872

Reference: Your Full Name

Knox Infolink is an organisation of volunteers and staff supporting the local community of Knox.

Supports include:

Emergency relief items: Food Parcels, Meat, Toiletries, Nappies, Pet  Food, Phone and MYKI top up, Chemist vouchers, Op Shop vouchers, Access to Showers, Education Assistance. 

Information and Referral: Chat with one of our skilled interviewers to discover what local services can best support you.  

Community Building and Support: Connecting Kids to Knox Project, Energy Assistance Project, Community Breakfast Program, Short term Case Work, Knox Community Christmas Support Project, Mail Holding Service, Tax Help project.  

Visit our Facebook page

Watch the latest Humans of Knox Infolink Episode

Meet Simon - Episode 8 of Humans of Knox Infolink

Watch previous Humans of Knox Infolink Episodes:HERE

Donate to Knox Infolink

Write your FREE Will in September, through Safewill

EVERY TUESDAY betwen 8:30am and 10:30am, the incredible Orange Sky team offers a FREE laundry service (wash and dry).

The free laundry service is offered during Knox Infolink's Breakfast Program (134 Boronia Road, Boronia).

Please come on a Tuesday morning for:

• Free laundry
• Good conversation;  and 
• A delicious breakfast meal (Toastie Tuesdays) nad cuppa at the Knox Infolink Breakfast Program.

All Welcome!  

Check out our '774 ABC RADIO' page to hear the impacting interviews with 774 Raf Epstein.

You can also listen to all the action from the ABC Melbourne live broadcast from Knox Infolink back in May 2025 - including photos and the interviews with breakfast volunteers, guests, and Denise, our Board Chair! 

Knox Infolink delivers a unique two-entry point service model enabling people facing crisis in Knox to find immediate support and help.

In 2025 Knox Infolink provided over 35,900 points of service to over 4800 Knox Community members who walked through our doors

47% of those seeking support in 2025 were doing so, for the very first time

Over the past two years, we are seeing the biggest growth in:

• Families/individuals facing mortgage stress (up by 72%).
• "Working poor" - households with members engaged in the workforce, but unable to make ends meet (up by 58%)
• People experiencing homelessness (up by 45%).

444 people experiencing homelessness walked through our Emergency Relief doors for support during 2025

Knox City is one of the top 10 Victorian LGAs where homelessness services were in the most demand by employed people in 2022-23.

DONATE: To support ending homelessness in the Knox area

Knox Infolink's acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government, in establishing our approach to ending homelessness in Knox.

Join us for a hot breakfast

Knox Infolink serves a hot breakfast on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays every week. We are closed on Wednesdays. 

Through the funding of the Victorian State Government this successful program is connecting with more than 40 people every day.