CISVic publications provide evidence of the scale, impact and growing demand for Community Information and Support services across Victoria.
Together, they demonstrate the critical role our sector plays in supporting Victorian people experiencing financial hardship, crisis and complex disadvantage.
State of the Sector reports
Our annual State of the Sector reports provide a comprehensive, evidence-based snapshot of the Community Information and Support sector across Victoria. Drawing on data from our network of 52 member agencies, these reports highlight the scale, reach and impact of services supporting Victorians experiencing financial hardship, crisis and disadvantage.
Together, our members operate across dozens of communities, delivering essential frontline support and responding to increasingly complex needs with professionalism, compassion and local knowledge.
The reports show not only the breadth of services provided—including emergency relief, financial support, housing assistance and referrals—but also the growing demand being experienced across the sector.
In the most recent reporting period, almost 725,000 Victorians turned to Community Information and Support services for help—demonstrating the critical role the sector plays as part of Victoria’s social infrastructure.
At the same time, the findings highlight an ongoing challenge: demand is rising faster than available funding. Despite this, services continue to innovate, collaborate and stretch limited resources to ensure people can access support when they need it most.
These reports provide an essential evidence base for government, funders and partners—demonstrating the value of investing in a community‑embedded, place-based sector that delivers meaningful impact across Victoria.
Available reports
- 2025 State of the Sector Report– A snapshot of rising demand, innovation, workforce pressures and the gap between need and funded capacity
- 2024 State of the Sector Report – A detailed overview of the sector’s reach, services, funding landscape and collective impact
CISVic Annual Reports
Annual Report 2024 – 2025
Read the 2024–2025 CISVic Annual Report using the link below.
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Read the 2023–2024 CISVic Annual Report or our 2023–2024 Financial Report using the links below.
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Read the 2022–2023 CISVic Annual Report or our 2022–2023 Financial Report using the links below.
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Read the 2022–2023 CISVic Annual Report or our 2022–2023 Financial Report using the links below.
Publications
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Research Reports
As the peak-body for the Community Information and Support sector, our reports are informed by the experiences and knowledge of our member agencies and the communities that they support.
- A Decade of Impact – CISVic’s Emergency Relief Report – 2024
- CISVic’s Energy Hardship Partnership’s Power Saving Bonus Evaluation – 2023
- Emerging Stronger Volunteer Research Summary – 2023
- More than a band-aid: Emergency Relief in Victoria (joint report prepared by VCOSS and CISVic) – 2021
- Implications of COVID-19 for CISVic member agencies and communities – 2020
- Emergency Relief: helping people in need – 2020
- The Stress, the Strain & the Pain: The impact of school costs on families in the CISVic sector – 2020
- Ending the Stopgap: Casework in Emergency Relief Services – 2011
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Volunteer Census Reports
At CISVic, we understand the vital role that volunteers play in our sector. Every day, our members are supported by volunteers who generously give their time, knowledge, and compassion to assist those seeking support during difficult times. Our third volunteer census aims to ensure that the volunteers who significantly impact our sector receive the recognition they deserve. It also serves as a platform to highlight their strengths as volunteers, hear their voices, and learn how we can best support them.
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Submissions
- Victorian Budget Submission 2025
- Food Insecurity Submission Jul 24 – July 2024
- Financial Wellbeing and Capability Program Review – Feb 24
- Cost of Living Inquiry – Feb 23
- Productivity Commission National Housing and Homelessness Agreement Review – Mar 22
- Response to Health Department Survey – Mar 22
- Response to Social Housing Regulation Review Interim Report – Feb 22
- Essential Services Commission’s Energy payment difficulty framework implementation review – Nov 21
- Victorian Budget 2022-2023 – Oct 21
- Independent Review of the Regulation for Social and Affordable Housing – Sep 21
- National Plan feedback – July 21
- Victorian Government 10 YEAR Housing Consultations – Apr 21
- Federal Income Support Bill – Mar 21
- Inquiry into Homelessness in Australia – June 20
- Federal Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Response to COVID-19 – May 20
- Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Homelessness – Jan 20
- Adequacy of Newstart and Related Payments… Senate Inquiry – September 2019
- Mental Health Royal Commission – July 2019
- Social Security Commission Bill 2018 – March 2019
- Support for Marriage Equality – September 2017
Please contact CISVic to request a copy of the following items:
- Essential Services Commission, Payment Difficulty Framework – June 2017
- DSS Data Exchange Client Survey Discussion Paper – March 2017
- DSS, FWC Redesign – March 2017
- Independent Review of the Victorian Energy Markets – March 2017
- Transition to Metering Competition in Victoria Options Paper – November 2016
- RTA Review, Dispute Resolution Issues Paper – June 2016
- Gender Equality Strategy – February 2016
- Inquiry into Portability of Long Service Leave Entitlements – August 2015
- Residential Tenancies Act Review – July 2015
- The Education State – July 2015
- Government School Funding Review – July 2015
- Marriage Equality – June 2015
- Inquiry into the Financial Hardship Arrangements of Energy Retailers, Endorsed by CISVic – May 2015
- Verbal Submission to the Essential Services Commission Hardship Review – April 2015
- Universal Periodic Review of Australia 2015, Endorsed by CISVic – March 2015
- EWON Prepayment Meter Discussion Paper – August 2014
- ACNC Replacement Arrangements, Endorsed by CISVic – August 2014
- Welfare Reform Interim Report – August 2014
- ESC Harmonisation Energy Retail Code & Guidelines – August 2013
- National Financial Literacy Strategy – June 2013
- Price Review 2013 – May 2013
- Victoria Service Sector Reform – April 2013
- ESC Victoria Harmonised Energy Retail Code – February 2013
- ESC Customer Services Code Review – November 2012
- Senate Inquiry into the Allowance Payment System for Jobseekers and Others – August 2012
- Proposed Reforms to Small Credit Contracts – May 2012
- Draft Telecommunications Consumer Protection Code – November 2011
- ACMA regarding Calls to freephone and local rate numbers – November 2011
- Letter to federal government for Equal Pay Funding Commitment – June 2011
- PILCH Submission to Inquiry into the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities; CISVic Endorsement – June 2011
- FaHCSIA regarding review of Financial Management Program – November 2010
Where to next?
If you have any questions about CISVic and the work we do, please get in touch. Alternatively, you can continue to explore our website for the resources you need.