NSW Ageing and Disability Abuse Helpline
phone-numbers
Launched in July 2019, you now have an opportunity to raise concerns about your own wellbeing or of any older person or adult with disability currently being mistreated by someone they know in their home or in the community.
Call 1800 628 221 (Mon-Fri, 9-5) or visit ageingdisabilitycommission.nsw.gov.au to:
- Get information on what services are available to help
- Speak with a trained professional about your concerns
- Be supported to make an anonymous report, and be heard without judgement
Financial Wellbeing Service – Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Nambucca, Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Taree and Great Lakes areas of NSW
phone-numbers
This confidential and free service is available to people who are in financial hardship and either unable to pay their bills or at immediate risk of not being able to pay their bills.
For more information about this service, please call (02) 6651 1788, email financialwellbeing@midcc.org.au or visit the Mid Coast Communities website.
read moreYoung ARAFMI – Central Coast
websites
ccarafmi.org.au/our-services/young-arafmi
This service supports young carers living on the central coast who have a parent or sibling living with a mental illness. They offer:
- Assessment of child and family needs
- Individual and family consultations
- Child and adolescent counselling around mental health issues
- Sand play therapy
- Advocacy
- Liaison with and referral to other services
- Information and education relating to mental illness
- Kids connecting- a weekly support group for young mental health carers
For more information, call (02) 4323 7731 or visit their website.
read moreWesley Aunties and Uncles
websites
This program offers children up to 12 years old an extra family environment through ‘aunties’ and ‘uncles’ who invest in their lives and provide mentoring, care, and guidance.
For more information and to refer a child, please visit the Wesley Mission website.
read moreLegal Aid NSW
phone-numbers
Call 1300 888 529 or visit www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au for help with legal problems.
read moreMindGuide – Western Sydney
apps
MindGuide is a free online database for consumers and carers in Western Sydney to find information, support and services for mental health.
Visit www.mindguide.org.au or download the app on your phone through the Apple Store or Google Play.
read moreResourcing Parents by Families NSW
websites
This website contains some fantastic information, resources and events for parents and carers of children and young people 0 to 18 years of age.
Check out www.resourcingparents.nsw.gov.au!
read moreSkillsLink2Work – carer toolkit for employment
websites
Visit the website, skillslink2work.com.au, for more information.
read moreTranscultural Mental Health Centre – resources in your language
websites
Have a look at the Transcultural Mental Health Centre website to access some wonderful resources around mental health and well-being in different community languages.
read moreMulticultural LGBTQIA+ Support Directory (Sydney)
websites
This support directory has been compiled to provide information for the LGBTQIA+ community and contains information related to religious groups, cultural groups and sporting groups that are specifically for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
read moreSt Vinnies Kids Camps
websites
Check out the awesome kids camps run by St Vincent de Paul Society, for young people aged 5-12 years of age from families experiencing hardship or disadvantage.
You can find out more information on their website, including how to volunteer to help at these programs.
read morereimagine | Mental health, my recovery and the NDIS
websites
reimagine supports people living with mental health conditions to navigate the NDIS. Their website has some fantastic resources, please visit https://reimagine.today/ for more information.
read moreThe Butterfly Foundation Carer Support Groups
websites
The Butterfly Foundation runs different face-to-face and online carer support groups for parents, siblings, partners and friends who are caring for a loved one with an eating disorder.
For more information check out their website or call the Butterfly Foundation’s National Helpline on 1800 33 4673.
read moreOmbudsman New South Wales
phone-numbers
If you are unhappy about the way you have been treated by a NSW government agency or a community or disability service provider, you can complain to the Ombudsman. Click here to view the youth brochure or call the inquiries team on 02 9286 1000 or the youth liaison officer on 02 9286 1056 for information and advice.
read moreWayAhead Directory
websites
This online resource is a free, searchable database that anyone in the community can access if they are looking for mental health and related services. There is currently information listed for more than 5,600 mental health and other services, with search results determined by location and filtered by demographic subgroups, types of services and more.
Visit the directory here: https://directory.wayahead.org.au/
read moreWestern Sydney Local Health District – Youth Health teams
phone-numbers
High Street Youth Health Service (HSYHS)
65 High Street – Harris Park
Phone: 8860 2500
Fax: 9687 2731
Email: wslhd-HighStreet@health.nsw.gov.au
Mon-Fri 9:00am-5:30pm
Closed Wed 9:00am- 1:45pm
Closed for lunch @ 1pm-1:45pm
Western Area Adolescent Team (WAAT)
Buran Close – Mt Druitt
Phone: 9881 1230
Fax: 9625 9110
Email: wslhd-waat@health.nsw.gov.au
PO Box 47, Mt Druitt NSW 2770
Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:00pm
Closed Wed 8:30am- 1:30pm
Closed for lunch @ 12:45pm -1:30pm
Both teams offer information, referral and support, basic needs including shower facilities and food, health care coordination, youth friendly GPs, immunisations and more.
For more information, check out the Youth Health flyer.
read more
Inner West Youth Homelessness Service – Youth Off The Streets
phone-numbers
There are two crisis accommodation centres in the Inner West for young people aged 16 to 21 years.
Visit the Housing NSW website or the Youth Off The Streets website for more information.
Intake line: (02) 8217 4700
After hours line: (02) 8217 4702
read moreWay2Wellness (Lifeline)
phone-numbers
If you are feeling anxious or stressed about work or day-to-day life, worried about something, losing sleep or just not feeling yourself, call 1300 120 446 (Monday to Friday, 11am to 7pm) and talk confidentially to an online supporter. This service will help link you in with online support tools and local services and will follow-up with you one week after your initial chat.
For more information, visit way2wellness.org.au.
read moreParent’s guide to online safety – Office of the eSafety Commissioner
websites
This toolkit has been prepared by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner and provides parents with a variety of strategies covering online safety issues including:
- Cyberbullying
- Social networking
- Unwanted contact
- Sexting
- Inappropriate content; and
- Online safeguards
Visit the website to access this document, now available in 15 different languages.
read moreDementia In My Family Website
websites
This interactive site gives children and young people the opportunity to learn more about dementia, watch other children share their experiences in videos, play games and share their own stories.
read more1 Giant Mind Learn to Meditate App
apps
The 1 Giant Mind Learn to Meditate app teaches you how to meditate so you feel calmer, more rested and present. It offers three levels of instruction that can be practiced anywhere, at any time.
read moreThe Carer Line
phone-numbers
1800 242 636
(Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm Free call)
Speak with the young carer team to find out about young carer support services. If you need an interpreter call 13 14 50.
read moreReach Out
websites
ReachOut.com has lots of useful information for young people about all those topics that are hard to talk about, for example, drugs & alcohol, friends, family issues, bullying.
read moreHeadspace
websites
Headspace is the national youth mental health foundation. They help young people who are going through a tough time. If you’re 12-25, you can get health advice, support and information from headspace.
read more
SuperBetter – Resilience game & iPhone app
apps
SuperBetter is an online game and iPhone app designed to help young people recover from major health and wellbeing setbacks. The game allows you to embark on a series of missions that aim to help you stay motivated and develop resilience.
read moremyCompass
websites
myCompass is a new online program to help you manage your emotions. Nearly half of all Australians aged 16 and over will suffer from some form of stress, anxiety or depression in their lifetime. A new, free online service has been released to help you manage mild to moderate stress, anxiety and depression. MyCompass is an interactive self-help service, developed by the Balck Dog Institute that aims to promote resilience and wellbeing for all Australians. You can track your moods, write about them and view information and tips.
read moreThe Fifth Army App!
apps
Headspace has joined forces with The Cotton on Foundation for an innovative new campaign: The Fifth Army. The campaign uses a mobile app to engage users on three of the biggest issues affecting young Australians – bullying, depression and homophobia. Download today and start earning Cotton On rewards!
read moreSmiling Mind Website
websites
Smiling Mind is a free tool that will assist in improving the lives of young Australians. It provides easily accessible, age appropriate meditation tracks for children, teenagers and young adults. Smiling Mind is available online or as a smartphone App and the aim is to help you feel clearer, calmer and more content. Try it today – switch off from the hassles of daily life and let your mind smile!
read moreWork Out for Young Men – A Mental Health App
apps
Work Out is an online program for young men who want to develop positive life skills. A joint project between the Inspire Foundation and The Brain and Mind Research Institute, Work Out enables the young user to tackle their thoughts and attitudes, one activity at a time!
read moreiPhone App Helps Brain Injury Survivors
apps
‘It’s Done!’ is an app that helps people with a short term memory loss to remember whether they have completed everyday routine tasks. The app can also let family members know when you have completed certain tasks, so that they can rest easy knowing everything has been taken care of.
read moreDrugInfo Clearinghouse
websites
This website is run by the Australian Drug Foundation which has lots of information about drugs & alcohol – what they are, effects and risks.
read moreCounselling Online
websites
An anonymous, free online counselling service (24 hrs, 7days) for those living with an alcohol or drug dependency and their family members.
read moreAl-anon/Alateen
websites
Alateen is a part of Al-anon – a worldwide program that supports people whose lives are affected by a family member living with an alcohol dependency. Alateen is for teenagers aged between 12 to 18 years. They have meetings, books and a newsletter.
read moreFamily Drug Support
websites
fds.org.au – 1300 368 186 (local call)
If you have a family member living with a drug or alcohol dependency – Family Drug Support can help. They run workshops, have a newsletter and can get you in touch with support groups.
read moreMulticultural DrugInfo
websites
NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care
websites
This website has information in different languages for older people, young people with disabilities and carers.
read moreMental Health in Multicultural Australia
websites
This website provides a range of multilingual information on mental health related topics. The materials come from across Australia, and sometimes internationally.
read moreNSW Multicultural Health Communication Service
websites
Find information about health issues in different languages. The website is a good starting point for finding out more information about a wide range of illnesses and tips on how to use the health system.
read moreCALD Cancer Resource Directory
websites
www.cancerdirectory.com.au/resource/search
Cancer Council Australia has launched an online initiative to assist Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse communities to access cancer information in their own language. The CALD Cancer Resource Directory, a searchable online library of 600 publications, videos and websites, provides a wide range of translated cancer information including prevention, treatment and support.
read moreSiblings Australia
websites
This organisation supports siblings from around Australia. They have lots of useful information on their website.
read moreLawstuff
websites
Do you have any questions about the law? You can find out everything you need to know on this site for under 18s.
read more
Mental Health Carers NSW
websites
Do you know someone who has a mental illness? This website has great information about caring for someone with a mental illness and it also has interesting information.
read moreIt’s All Right
websites
Do you have a family member or friend with a mental illness? You can find out much more about what it’s all about by reading the diaries of four fictional teenagers touched by mental illness.
read moreBeyond Blue
websites
One in five young people in Australia experience depression each year. Beyond Blue is about getting the message out there that it’s okay to talk about depression and get help when it’s needed.
read moreRedkite
websites
Redkite supports children and young people with cancer (up to the age of 24), and their siblings and parents. Visit their website for more info on the supports they provide.
read moreNow What?
websites
Caring for a parent or a sibling with cancer can be scary, upsetting and confusing. Now What? gives young carers a space to get information, share stories and feel less alone as they go through the cancer journey with their loved one.
read moreKids Helpline
websites
If you are feeling down you can talk to a counsellor on the web for free (5 – 25yr olds). Visit their website to find out about web counselling times.
read moreAfter Hours GP Helpline
phone-numbers
1800 022 222
Operating times:
6pm to 8am Monday to Friday
6pm Friday to 8am Saturday
12 noon Saturday to 8am Monday
Public holidays
If you or someone you care for has an urgent health concern at night or over the weekend and you are not sure what to do, there is an afterhours GP helpline that can give you the reassurance and practical medical advice you need. Calls from landlines are free. Mobile charges may apply.
read moreCancer Council NSW Helpline
phone-numbers
13 11 20
(Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm)
Ring the helpline for information and support about cancer and/or caring for someone with cancer.
read moreMental Health Line
phone-numbers
1800 011 511
(24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all residents of NSW)
Expert mental health advice for people with a mental health illness, their families and carers.
read moreSalvo Care Line
phone-numbers
1300 36 36 22
(24 hours, every day, all ages)
Ring the Salvo Care Line to chat with a counsellor for free anytime of the day or the night
read moreLifeline
phone-numbers
13 11 14
(24 hours, every day, all ages)
Ring Lifeline to chat with a counsellor for free anytime of the day or night.
read moreKids Helpline
phone-numbers
1800 551 800
(24 hours, every day, 5 – 25yr olds)
Ring Kids Helpline to chat with a counsellor for free anytime of the day or night. You can also have a web counselling session by visiting www.kidshelp.com.au
read moreCommonwealth Respite & Carelink Centres
phone-numbers
1800 052 222
(24 hours a day, seven days a week)
The Commonwealth Respite & Carelink Centre can let you know about respite services that are available to help you in your caring role. Respite is a break from the responsibility of looking after someone. It might be for a few hours, a day, a night or longer. If you need an interpreter call 13 14 50.
read morePenzu – Private Journal Online!
websites