Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services refers to all the mental health programs and services provided for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders in the region. In the Nepean Blue Mountains Region there is an Aboriginal access and assessment team that provides homecare services, as well as a number of Aboriginal centres, general Aboriginal programs, services and workers that aim to improve the mental health of Indigenous Australians in the region.
The Aboriginal Access and Assessment Team is the first point of call to help frail aged Aboriginal people, indigenous people with a disability and their Carers to stay in their home.
Address
Level 3, 93 George St, Parramatta, NSW, 2150
Target Audience
Aborigines 50 years and over if frail, or any age for disabled services.
Cost
No cost for people with a pension, however fees apply if you don't have a pension card. Minor fees may apply for non core programs.
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri: 9:00am-4:00pm
Referral
Anyone can contact the service.
Additional Information on COVID-19
Service is still operating. Click here for more information.
The Aboriginal Blue Mountains Website provides information for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the Blue Mountains City Council area.
Local Areas
Blue Mountains
Postal Address
Locked Bag 1005, Katoomba NSW 2780
The Aboriginal Contact Line is a phone service for Aboriginal people who are victims of violent crime in New South Wales and who would like information about counselling and/or compensation. The Aboriginal Contact Officer gives information about Victims Services and refers them to the best person that can help them.
Target Audience
Aboriginal people who are a victim of violent crime in New South Wales.
There are a number of Aboriginal health workers in the Nepean Blue Mountains region including:
Aboriginal Mental Health Worker: (02) 4734 2660
Aboriginal Health Worker: Centre for Addiction Medicine (02) 4734 2129
Aboriginal Liaison Officer: Primary Care and Community Health (Lithgow and Lawson) (02) 6350 2750
Aboriginal Health Worker: Mootang Tarimi (02) 4734 4836
Aboriginal Family Health Worker: Aboriginal Maternal Child and Family Health Service Cranebrook (02) 4730 5100
Social Worker: Aboriginal Maternal Child and Family Health Service - Building Stronger Foundations Lithgow (02) 4730 5100
Social Worker: Aboriginal Maternal Child and Family Health Service - Building Stronger Foundations Lithgow (02) 6350 2750
Aboriginal Liaison Officer: Nepean Hospital Aboriginal Patient Liaison Officers (02) 4734 2670
Aboriginal Liaison Officer: Nepean Hospital Aboriginal Patient Liaison Officer (02) 4734 2669
Local Areas
Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Lithgow, Penrith
A housing accommodation support initiative for Aboriginal people.The program provides low to very high-level accommodation support for Aboriginal people with a diagnosed mental illness, who are living in, or eligible for, public housing. There is a range of cultural services, healing groups, doctor/health specialist and community involvement initiatives that support this program.
Address
252 Great Western Highway, Kingswood NSW 2747
Target Audience
Aboriginal people diagnosed with a mental illness who are living in or eligible for public housing.
Cost
Free
Local Areas
Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Lithgow, Penrith
The Aboriginal Legal Access Program (ALAP) is a strategy to increase access to legal services for the Aboriginal communities. An Aboriginal worker works alongside Aboriginal workers in the area to enable local Aboriginal people to:
- Provide better access to legal services for Aboriginal people
- Increase the number of Aboriginal people receiving legal services
- Improve and enhance the capacity of community legal centres (CLCs)
- Provide effective and culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal people and
- Increase awareness among Aboriginal people of their legal rights and the legal services available to them
Address
Unit 2, 299 George Street, Windsor NSW 2756
Target Audience
Aboriginal people
Local Areas
Hawkesbury, Penrith
Postal Address
PO Box 736, Windsor NSW 2756
The Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer is employed by the Hawkesbury District Health Service to assist the Aboriginal community to access appropriate health services and to help the community understand the cultural needs of those utilising the health service.
Address
2 Day St, Windsor NSW 2756
Email
hdhsenquiries@chcs.com.au
Local Areas
Hawkesbury
A service working towards a culturally safe service which considers a person's or family's cultural values and beliefs. The Aboriginal Liaison Officer supports people and their families in the community with their illness or conditions.
A self-help group that assists people recovering from addictive behaviours including alcohol and other drugs, gambling, food, shopping etc. The program teaches practical skills to help Aboriginal people deal with their problems so that they can live a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.
Address
79-81 Jersey Rd, Blackett NSW 2770
Email
info@marrinweejali
Hours of Operation
Meets Tues 12:00pm-1:00pm
Local Areas
Penrith
The Blue Mountains Aboriginal Culture and Resource Centre (ACRC) provides all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents of the Blue Mountains Local Government Area a place to:
- Access services
- Support and assist in overcoming physical and cultural isolation
- Share, learn and develop Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, arts, history and heritage
- Create opportunities to empower the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community through economic development
- Build cultural relations between the non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal communities and
- Be proactive in addressing racism and discrimination
Address
14 Oak St, Katoomba NSW 2780
Target Audience
Indigenous Australians in the Nepean Blue Mountains Region.
Cost
Free
Hours of Operation
Fri 9:00am-12:00pm
Local Areas
Blue Mountains
Butucarbin is a nonprofit Aboriginal organisation that facilitates and coordinates a range of community programs to strengthen Aboriginal individuals, families and communities. They do this through accredited and non-accredited group programs, as well as support services that are tailored to meet individuals' and families' needs.
Address
28 Pringle Rd, Hebersham NSW 2770
Target Audience
Aboriginal families
Email
koori@ozemail.com.au
Local Areas
Penrith
Postal Address
PO Box E18, Emerton NSW 2770
The Centrelink Indigenous Phone Line is a national phone service that allows Indigenous Australians to talk about their specific Centrelink payments and services.
Eligibility
Must identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian.
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:30pm
The Closing the Gap Program is a health program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to access better health care. Dedicated care coordinators and support workers aim to provide better healthcare and access to cheaper medicines for Aboriginal clients. If an individual suffers from a Chronic Disease they are entitled to up to 10 subsidised referrals to an Allied Health Provider including an audiologist, chiropractor, diabetes educator, physiologist, occupational therapist, podiatrist, speech pathologist, dietitian, mental health worker, osteopath, Aboriginal worker and physiotherapist.
Target Audience
Aboriginal people with a range of chronic illnesses.
Eligibility
Identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; have a yearly health check with your doctor; if a person needs to use the subsidised Allied Health Services that are available to them.
Email
info@nepeancommunity.org.au
Local Areas
Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Lithgow, Penrith
Referral
Someone can enter the program through self-referral via a General Practitioner.
DV West Services for Aboriginal Women and Children provides sensitive and culturally appropriate services to women and children. This includes a purpose-built Aboriginal refuge (Wirrawee Gunya) and the Wirrawee Gunya Community Outreach Team.
Target Audience
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children.
Local Areas
Penrith
An Aboriginal centre that provides home and community care services to older persons and persons with a disability. Activities provided include:
- Transport
- Respite for carers
- Disability family support
- Cultural awareness about Aboriginality
- An aged care centre
- Aged care packages
- A disability family support coordinator and
- A carers support service
Address
2 Bindaree St, Hebersham NSW 2770
Local Areas
Penrith
GWAHS is a health service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The following services are provided:
- Transport
- Social Emotional Wellbeing
- Child & Maternal Health
- Health Checks
- GP Management Plans
- Women's Health
- Men's Health
- Immunisations
- Speech Therapy
- Psychology
- Dental Clinic
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry
- Wound Care
- Pathology Services
- ECGs
- Paediatrician
- Chronic Disease Education/Support Groups
- Integrated Team Care Program
- Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program
Eligibility
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
Email
enquiries@gwahs.net.au
Address
27-29 Lawson St, Penrith NSW 2750
Local Areas
Penrith
iBobbly is a social and emotional wellbeing self-help app for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians aged 15 years and over. Completely private and confidential, it helps by showing you ways to manage your thoughts and feelings, as well as how to decide what is important in your life. The app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.
Target Audience
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 15 years and over.
Email
info@ibobbly.org.au
The Indigenous Disability Advocacy service assists Indigenous people with most types of disabilities, their families and carers. This service is most effective when the person a carer is looking after needs help, especially if they have been unfairly treated or are confused about a big decision.
Address
127 Lethbridge St, Penrith NSW 2750
KARI is a community service for Aboriginal children. It provides an out-of-home care model that delivers case management for children and young people in care to be more effective in assuring Aboriginal culture.
Address
Suite 10, 308 High St, Penrith NSW 2750
Local Areas
Penrith
Postal Address
PO Box 442, Penrith NSW 2750
Link-Up NSW provides assistance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been fostered, adopted or raised in institutions in the Stolen Generations. Services include:
- Reunification
- Hidden carers program
- The family link program
- Community builders and
- The Royal Commission counsellor
Target Audience
Aboriginal people who have been fostered, adopted or raised in institutions.
Email
linkup@nsw.link-up.org.au
Address
4/2 Central Place, Ropes Crossing NSW 2760
Local Areas
Penrith
Postal Address
PO Box 185, St Marys NSW 2760
Merana Aboriginal Community Association is an Aboriginal organisation that develops support and implements programs to meet the needs identified by Aboriginal people residing in the Hawkesbury LGA. They provide a number of services including:
- A resource centre
- Outreach
- The Kurigarang Gnorang Playgroup (ACYFS)
- A community directory
- Richmond Hill Memorial
- A Bush Regeneration Group
- Better Future Program and
- An Aboriginal Domestic/Family Violence Worker
Address
20 West Market St, Richmond NSW 2753
Local Areas
Hawkesbury
Muru Mittigar is a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to advance Aboriginal Culture amongst the Durug people, improve economic and social capacity and to empower meaningful participation. Muru Mittigar has:
- An early childhood program
- Teachers' professional learning development programs
- A school program and
- A travellers program
Address
Gate 1, 89-151 Old Castlereagh Rd, Castlereagh NSW 2749
Email
info@murumittigar.com.au
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm
Local Areas
Hawkesbury, Penrith
Postal Address
PO Box 135, Cranebrook NSW 2749
Nepean Community Neighbourhood Services (NCNS) provides quality programs to support disadvantaged and vulnerable members of the local community to enable strength, inclusion and respect. Programs offered at NCNS include:
- Child and Family Programs
- Closing the Gap
- The Koolyangarra Aboriginal Family Centre
- Casework and Family Support
- Parenting programs
- Community Development
The Koolyangarra Aboriginal Family Centre in Cranebrook is the hub for a large range of Aboriginal support and community programs offered by NCNS. Youth, family support and community programs are run through centres at Glenmore Park, South Penrith, Kingswood Park & Cranebrook.
Locations
South Penrith
3 Trent Street, South Penrith NSW 2750
(02) 4721 8520
Cranebrook
Hosking Street, Cranebrook NSW 2749
(02) 4729 0442
Kingswood Park
66B Illawong Avenue, Penrith NSW 2750
(02) 4721 0507
Koolyangarra
1 Kington Place, Cranebrook NSW 2749
(02) 4729 3907
Impingar
71 Henry Lawson Ave, Werrington County NSW 2747
(02) 4702 6488
Email
info@nepeancommunity.org.au
Postal Address
PO Box 7599, South Penrith NSW 2750
The ‘Stronger Together’ campaign was developed after Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from urban, regional and remote communities across the country repeatedly asked R U OK? if there could be work done to create a culturally appropriate R U OK? campaign. An advisory group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and influencers was formed to develop this.
The website contains videos, posters, a conversation guide and more to remind everyone in every community to ask someone in their mob who might be struggling, "Are you OK?".
A health service to meet local health needs of Aboriginal populations in Western Sydney. Health services include:
- Mental health
- In-reach services on site and
- Access to specialist psychiatry services as required
Address
2 Palmerston Rd, Mt Druitt NSW 2770
A confidential helpline for Indigenous Australians running into trouble because of gambling. This number can also be used to contact facilitators to run workshops in the community to lend a hand.
Target Audience
Indigenous Australians, people with a gambling problem
Eligibility
24 Hours, 7 Days a Week
Cost
Phone line
Hours of Operation
Free
Wimlah provides short-term refuge accommodation and medium-term supported housing for women experiencing domestic violence. Wimlah provides individual self-contained units in a complex attached to a common-room where women and staff can meet. Wimlah also provides a children's play/activities room on-site and includes:
- Crisis and outreach support
- Short term refuge accommodation
- Medium term supported housing options
- Groups for women and children
- A mentoring program for school aged children
- Advice, referrals, safety planning and advocacy
- Community education
- A drop-in space at Springwood and Katoomba
Target Audience
Women with or without dependent children; indigenous
Email
wimlah@bigpond.net.au
Eligibility
Any woman, with or without children, regardless of her ethnicity, age, sexuality or gender that identifies she is currently escaping or has ever been at risk due to domestic and family violence.
Cost
Free services but women pay a percentage of income to the refuge.
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri 9:00am-4:30pm
Local Areas
Blue Mountains
Postal Address
PO Box 55, Penrith NSW 2750
Referral
Clients can call directly, however referrals will come from police, GPs, counsellors or women's centre where the situations taken into consideration during assessment.
Wirrawee Gunya is a women's shelter for local Aboriginal people in the Nepean area. It attempts to meet the specific needs of Aboriginal women and children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It is staffed by skilled, trained Aboriginal support workers with an outdoor activities room and children's play and program building as well as play equipment.
Target Audience
Women with or without dependent children; indigenous
Eligibility
Any woman, with or without children, regardless of her ethnicity, age, sexuality or gender that identifies she is currently escaping or has ever been at risk due to domestic and family violence
Cost
Free services but women pay a percentage of income to the refuge
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri 9:00am-4:30pm
Local Areas
Penrith
Postal Address
PO Box 55, Penrith NSW 2750
Referral
Clients can call directly, however referrals will come from police, GPs, counsellors or women's centre where the situations taken into consideration during assessment.