Community
20 September, 2026
New renter rights service launched
WARRNAMBOOL-based community support organisation, Meli, will now offer assistance to renters across Wimmera South West.
Renters across the region will have access to a new free renter rights service, with Meli appointed to deliver the service from early next year.
Based in Warrnambool with outreach across Wimmera, the service will provide advice, advocacy and practical assistance to help renters understand their rights and resolve tenancy issues before they escalate.
Support will include assistance with disputes involving rental providers and agents, urgent repairs, tenancy matters, and navigating Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria and Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) processes.
Priority support will be available to renters experiencing financial disadvantage, family violence, housing insecurity or risk of homelessness.
Meli executive director community services Bernadette McCartney said the new service would give renters a dedicated source of support when they needed it most.
“Having a safe and secure home is fundamental to people’s wellbeing, but tenancy issues can be stressful, complex and difficult to resolve without targeted support,” Ms McCartney said.
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“This service will help renters understand their rights, address problems earlier and access practical advocacy to resolve issues before they escalate into a housing crisis.”
Meli has delivered the Tenancy Assistance and Advocacy Program across the region since 2017 and will build on that experience through the new Renter Rights Service.
Dedicated intake and triage will help identify urgent matters and connect renters to the right support sooner, while the team works with rental providers and agents to resolve disputes wherever possible.
Meli will continue its monthly in-reach service at The Orange Door in Raglan Parade, Warrnambool.
The Renter Rights Service is part of the state government’s five-year Victorian Renter Rights Program.
Once fully operational, the program is expected to support more than 25,000 renters each year across the state.
