Thread Together
Where dignity meets practical support
Everyone deserves the empowerment achieved through new clothes and a welcoming experience. We make that possible in the mobile van as we travel around the Central Highlands region.
Thread Together is changing in 2027
After five years of delivering Thread Together from our Grenville Street Clothing Hub, Cafs is moving to a new, more sustainable service model. The Grenville Street Clothing Hub will close on 26 November 2026, and Thread Together services will pause during December 2026 and January 2027. Thread Together will reopen in February 2027 with a new service offering.
From February, clothing support will be provided through a combination of:
- our mobile wardrobe van
- clothing packs
- pop-up shops.
What happens next?
We are currently developing the details of the new model, including how people will access the service and how referrals and bookings will be managed. We will update this page in the New Year with information about the February 2027 reopening and how to access Thread Together. Information will also be provided to our referring agencies.
We are incredibly grateful to the volunteers, community organisations and referral partners who have supported Thread Together over the past five years and helped people across our community access quality clothing.
We look forward to continuing Thread Together in a new, more sustainable way in 2027.
Thread Together at Cafs
Brand new clothing. Restoring dignity. Reducing waste.
New clothing can mean everything. It helps people stay warm, feel confident, attend job interviews or rebuild after a crisis. Cafs delivers this service across the Victorian Central Highlands region by providing brand-new, unworn clothing to people in need through our partnership with the national not-for-profit organisation, Thread Together.
Thread Together helps the environment by ensuring that clothes that once went to landfill are now distributed to people in need.
With clothing donated by leading Australian retailers, we support individuals and families experiencing vulnerability. Every item is brand new, never worn, never second-hand.
Financial hardship or sudden income loss
Homelessness or housing instability
Family violence or fleeing unsafe environments
Crisis, disadvantage or other personal struggles
Who is it for?
Clothing with dignity for those facing life’s challenges.
The Thread Together program is designed to support people who are experiencing hardship, offering them new clothes to restore comfort and confidence during tough times. You may be eligible if you are facing:
A simple referral opens the door
With a referral and a scheduled appointment, Cafs can help you access quality, new clothing in a safe, welcoming space.
Thread Together at Cafs is a referral and appointment-based service only. This helps us make sure each person gets the time, privacy and care they deserve.
Here's how to get started
If you or someone you know needs new clothing, here’s how to get started:
- If you’re already receiving support from Cafs or another community organisation, ask your support worker to refer you.
- If you’re not currently connected to a service, call Cafs on 1800 692 237 to discuss how we can help.
Please note: This is not a walk-in service. Appointments are required to ensure a calm, dignified experience for every client.
Refer your clients to Thread Together
Support your clients with access to new clothing
Community agencies can refer individuals and families in need to Cafs' Thread Together program for free, brand new clothing delivered with care and dignity. Click below to contact Thread Together.
Contact Thread Together
How we deliver our service
Clothing Hub Ballarat
A welcoming, boutique-style experience where individuals and families can choose brand-new clothing items. Appointments are essential to ensure privacy, choice and a warm, respectful environment.
Pick and Pack
When visiting the hub isn’t possible, we pack and prepare personalised clothing bundles. Referring agencies provide details on size, style and need so we can tailor items with care.
Mobile Wardrobe Van
Cafs operates Victoria’s only Thread Together van. We visit towns, services and groups across the Central Highlands, providing clothing within communities that might otherwise go without.
Whether you're visiting us at our clothing hub in Ballarat or coming to a mobile van in your area, we ensure people in need can access new clothing.
Make a real difference in your community
Volunteer at Cafs’ Thread Together program. Your time and compassion can make a lasting impact.
Join our team and make a meaningful impact in the community. As a Thread Together volunteer, you’ll help provide essential clothing to those in need while offering a warm, respectful experience. Flexible shifts are available, and no prior experience is required – just a passion for helping others.
If you're committed to making a difference and want to get involved, contact Sally Bennett, Program and Volunteer Lead, for more information.
Together, we keep the wardrobe rolling
Your support helps deliver warmth, dignity and choice to people doing it tough across our region.
Thread Together with Cafs is powered by our local community and receives no government funding. It continues thanks to local fundraising, donations and philanthropic support, including family trust funds. Contributions help cover staff coordination, boutique logistics and mobile van maintenance.
Whether you give $20 or $500, your donation helps us clothe people facing crisis or hardship. Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible, and you’ll receive a receipt immediately. Every contribution stays local and makes a real difference to our community.
Why this initiative matters
Helping people feel seen, supported and ready – while reducing fashion waste.
Thread Together creates moments of care, choice and confidence for people going through tough times.
Clients select brand-new clothes in a calm, boutique-style setting. This is a small yet powerful step toward rebuilding self-esteem. At the same time, the program diverts high-quality fashion from landfill, putting excess to meaningful use.
It’s a simple idea with a big impact: restoring hope while protecting the planet.
Contact Cafs
Cafs Thread Together enquiry
Discover more
Our Services
Discover how Cafs supports children, families and individuals across the Central Highlands of Victoria with local, trauma-informed services in family safety, housing, youth care and more.
Foster Care
At Cafs, we believe every child deserves a safe, nurturing home – somewhere they feel seen, heard and valued. Foster care provides that sanctuary, offering children and young people stability when their own home is no longer safe.