Crisis and Emergency Support

The City of Newcastle is committed to strengthening and streamlining access to information and connections for all Novacastrians.

We have created this quick link web page to help you find up to date information and links to vital support resources during this challenging time.

Essential links and contacts

Awabakal Medical Service 

Denison Street, Hamilton    

P 1800 292 225  

W Awabakal.org   

Providing primary health care, aged care, children, and family services to Aboriginal people living throughout the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and Hunter Valley regions. 

Brother to Brother 

A 24 hour hotline supporting Aboriginal men.

T 1800 435 799

Durungaling Hostel  

19 Spruce Street NEWCASTLE NSW 2299 

P 02 9043 9540 

W ahl.gov.au    

Accommodation for Indigenous people who need to be away from home for a range of reasons. Our hostels are safe, comfortable, affordable and offer three meals each day during your stay. 

Financial Support and Counselling for Victims

Financial support and counselling is available if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island person who is a victim of crime such as family violence or sexual assualt.  Call the Victims Services Aboriginal Contact Line and ask to speak to the Aboriginal Contact Officer 

T 1800 019 123 

Wandiyali  

P 02 4957 5900 

Wandiyali is a Newcastle-based Indigenous community organisation. Each year Wandiyali assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members through the delivery of its many services. Our services cater for various ages, ranging from birth to elders. 

Muloobinba Family Support Services 

P 02 4969 5299 

Child and family support Referrals by phone only. No walk-ins

Northern NSW Aboriginal Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service  

P (02) 49677756

Tenancy Advice: By telephone Representing tenants before the tribunal If you are having problems with your landlord regarding: Eviction prevention; Tenancy Agreements; Bond Claims; Repairs/Maintenance; Residential Tenancies Tribunal. Community awareness workshops 

Yarn Safe (Ages 12-25)

Mental Health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 12 to 25 

W Headspace Yarn Safe

T 1800 435 799

RSPCA NSW – Community Domestic Violence Program 

P (02) 9782 4408  

Assists families with temporary housing for pets of people who are seeking refuge from domestic violence,  and helps to address the link between animal and human abuse and child protection.    

RSPCA NSW - Community Homelessness Program  

P (02) 9782 4408 

Alcohol and Other Drugs Information Service

24 hour 7 day a week telephone counselling, support, referrals adn information for those affected by alcohol adn other drugs.

P 1800 250 015

Family Drug Support

24 Hours a day 7 day a week telephone support to families and carers in crisis due to alcohol and other drug issues.

P 1300 368 186

Lifeline Australia  

24 hour telephone crisis support and suicide prevention 

T 131114

W lifelinedirect.org.au/hunter

T 1300 659 467 

Ask Izzy

A mobile website that connects people with services they need straight away such as housing, a meal, money, counselling and much more. If you are with Telstra you can access Ask Izzy without phone credit/

Headspace Newcastle

T (02) 4949 4201

Online and telephone counselling for young people  

1800 551 800  

kidshelpline.com.au

Beyond Blue 

24/7 support line and chat line 

T 1300 224 636  

SANE Australia 

W Sane Australia 

T 1800 187 263 

Transcultural Mental Health Service 

LGBTIQ Support and Referral Service 

T 1800 184 527  

Newcastle Family Support Service

Support for families seeking support (including fathers) during difficult times

T (02) 4926 3577

M 0490 331 617

Mental Health Line 

T 1800 011 511 

Reach Out  

Residential Tenancy Support Package 

E-Safety 

Volunteering NSW 

Pharmacy Home Delivery - Call your local pharmacy to arrange via Australia Post

Job Seekers Hotline

P 132 850

Older Australians Commonwealth Hotline

P 132 300

Disability Support Pension

P 132 717 

Multilingual Phone Service

P 131 202

Head to Health Clinic for Australians in Lockdown

Pop up clinic in the Hunter offering COVID-safe face-to-face, as well as video and phone supported mental health and assessment services ensuring people can acces services from their own homes if they cannot travel

W Head To Health Pop Up Clinic

Headspace  - Coping with stress related to COVID-19 

Support resource for young people during lockdown

Australian Red Cross Lockdown Wellness Kit

Lockdown Wellness Kit

1800 RESPECT  

A confidential national helpline for anyone in Australia who has experienced or been affected by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, and their non-offending supporters.  

Mens Line Australia

A telephone and online counselling service offering support for Austalian men anywhere, anytime

P 1300 789 978 

 Jenny's Place  

63 Scott Street Newcastle  

P (02) 49278529 

Emergency crisis accommodation, supported crisis accommodation and assistance to find longer term accommodation. 

NSW Rape Crisis Centre  

T 1800 424 017 

NSW Rape Crisis is the 24/7 telephone and online crisis counselling service for anyone in NSW - men and women - who has experienced or is at risk of sexual assault. 

Nova for Women and Children 

558 Hunter Street Newcastle 

T (02) 40235620 

Supports women who are at risk of homelessness to remain safely in their home and assists women who are homeless or in crisis to be housed. Case management assistance available.   

Baptist Care Hope Street – Mayfield 

88 Hanbury Street, MAYFIELD 

P (02) 4032 5288 

Emergency relief by appointment only 

Baptist Care Hope Street – Wallsend 

58 Cowper Street, WALLSEND 

P (02) 4032 5224  

CatholicCare Hamilton South Community Kitchen 

29 Fowler Street, HAMILTON SOUTH 

P (02) 4979 1339  

Provides hot, nutritious meals across the region. 

Broadmeadow Assistance Centre  

32 Brunker Road, BROADMEADOW 

P (02) 4922 1540 

Help with food and utility assistance. Appointment only - please phone. Current Centrelink Income. Statement required. 

Grainery Care 

58 Maitland Road, MAYFIELD  

P (02) 4967 4777  

Foodbank Shop - 58 Maitland Rd, Mayfield 

Newcastle Meals on Wheels

A program that delivers meals to individuals at their homes who are unable to purchase or prepare thier own meals.

P 02 4957 7097 

E info@mow.net.au

W Find your local branch in Newcastle 

W https://mow.net.au/about-our-service/

Jesmond Neighbourhood Centre

T 4979 8555

E administration@jesmond.org.au 

Information and referral service, emergency relief support, photocopy, fax and printing support, personal items and community programs. Download a brochure

Newcastle Care - Hope Café 

85 Tudor Street, HAMILTON  

P (02) 4969 2799  

HAMILTON SDA Pantry  

P 0438 474 008  

LIVEfree Project  

486 Glebe Road, ADAMSTOWN 

P 0412 429 193  

Doorstep Deliveries of Essential Goods, RUOK Check Conversations - via the phone NDIS individual mentoring Medical Advocacy Crisis Relief Food parcels from Oz Harvest Transport assistance, Online Wellbeing Resources. 

Soul Café 

2/49 Hunter Street, NEWCASTLE 

P (02) 4926 1758  

Soul Cafe serves hot meals free of charge to the highly disadvantaged of the Newcastle region.  

Housing NSW Contact Centre Newcastle 

P 1300 305 667 

Rental assistance, Private rental subsidies, Temporary Accommodation, Emergency temporary accommodation, Supported and Crisis accommodation  

Jesmond Neighbourhood Centre

P 4979 8555 

E kikki@conectabilityaus.org.au 

Emergency Relief such as food, personal items, information and referral support, No Interest Loan Applications, Photocopying, printing and faxing for low income households.

Link2home 

P 1800 152 152 

Provides 24/7 referral to accommodation and services 

Matthew Talbot Homeless Service  

82 Hannel Street WICKHAM 

P (02) 4961 1411  

Supports men and men with children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas. 

Samaritans Specialist Homelessness Service  

P (02) 4960 7280 

Intake and Community Engagement is the first link to assistance for young people aged 12 to 24 who are at risk of homelessness in the Newcastle & Lower Hunter areas. 

St Vincent De Paul Society NSW  

956 Hunter Street NEWCASTLE 

P (02) 4967 6277  

Hunter Homeless Connect 

Hunter Homeless Connect Inc. is a volunteer not for-profit organisation that connects vulnerable people in the community with vital services, via our annual Hunter Homeless Connect Day event, Connecting the Hunter Program and the Community Connections Directory. 

Reach Homeless Services 

P 0435 828 410  

Provides free clothing, blankets, hygiene bags, weekend survival packs and referrals to other health and welfare organisations.  

Jenny's Place  

63 Scott Street Newcastle  

P (02) 49278529 

E info@jennysplace.org 

Emergency crisis accommodation, supported crisis accommodation and assistance to find longer term accommodation. 

Nova for Women and Children 

558 Hunter Street Newcastle 

T (02) 40235620 

Supports women who are at risk of homelessness to remain safely in their home and assists women who are homeless or in crisis to be housed. Case management assistance available.   

Hunter Community Legal Centre 

Level 2, 116 Hunter Street, NEWCASTLE 

P (02) 4040 9120 

W hunterclc.com.au 

Migrant Employment Legal Service 

P (02) 8002 1203  

W mels.org.au  

Migrant Employment Legal Service (MELS)is state-wide service offering FREE and CONFIDENTIAL employment legal advice and representation to migrants, temporary visa holders and people from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds in NSW 

University of Newcastle Legal Centre – Older Persons Legal Clinic 

NeW Space, 409 Hunter Street NEWCASTLE 

P (02) 4921 8666 

Free legal advice and assistance to people aged 60 years and over and to Indigenous people aged 50 years and over.  

Australian Centre for Disability Law (ACDL) COVID-19 Assistance Project 

T 1800 800 708  

Free Legal Assistance to people with a disability and their associates who have experienced legal problems due to COVID-19 Restrictions 

Hunter Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service  

P (02) 4969 7666 

Free advice line, information and advocacy for tenants. 

Hunter Gender Alliance  

Local information and resources for Trans and Gender Diverse people including recommended professionals and social groups 

ACON HUNTER 

129 Maitland Road Islington  

Open Monday to Friday 9-5pm  

P (02) 4962 7700 1800 063 060  

W acon.org.au  

As You Are at Headspace Newcastle LGBTIQ+ Youth Group  

P 02 4929 4201 |  

ACON Hunter sexual health clinic  

129 Maitland Rd, Islington FREE, confidential and anonymous drop in clinic 

Hunter Multicultural Communities  

2A Platt Street  WARATAH  

P 02 4960 8248 

Providing health, wellbeing, social services and cultural activities to the multicultural, CALD and broader Hunter Region communities. 

Embrace: Multicultural Mental Health

Mental Health Australia is partnering with the federation of Ethnic Communities' Council of Australia (FECCA) and the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) 

W Embrace Multicultural Mental Health

STARTTS – Newcastle  

Newcastle TAFE  

Maitland Road TIGHES HILL 

P 02 4923 7193  

Cutting edge psychological treatment and support to help people heal the scars of torture and refugee trauma and rebuild their lives. 

Northern Settlement Services  

8 Chaucer Street HAMILTON 

P (02) 4969 3399  

Provides a range of services in the areas of settlement, aged care, youth and vulnerable families across the Hunter, Central Coast and New England regions of NSW. 

Newcastle Muslim Association 

P 0422676 232

Disability Gateway

COVID-19 Information Helpline

T 1800 643 78 

Community Disability Alliance Hunter 

2/408 King Street, Newcastle West 

P 0490 053 454 

Latest COVID-19 Information and supports, advocacy, mentoring, advice, training and resources for community members with a disability. 

IDEAS

A disability-specific information service with a free call number

T 1800 029 904

National Relay Service:

If you are deaf, have a hearing or speech impairment the National Relay service can help you. 

T 1800 555 677  

Mercy Services

13 Brooks Street, West Wallsend (Main Administration Centre) 

P 02 4962 6680 

Wmercyservices.org.au/

A wide range of activities and services for older people, as well as people living with a disability including home care, community transport, residential aged care, substance and family support and client safeguarding.

Friend Line telephone support service

A free and anonymous telephone service for seniot Australians to chat with a volunteer

T 1800 424 287 

Nova Care 

Hunter based home care, social and advocacy support for seniors 

P 1300 363 654  

E support@novacare.org.au  

W https://www.novacare.org.au/

NSW Ageing and Disability Abuse Helpline:  

T 1800 628 221.

Available 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday 

My Aged Care 

1800 200 422 

The National COVID 19 Older Persons Information Line (Older people and carers):  

1800 171 866 

National Dementia Helpline 

1800 100 500  

Seniors Rights Service 

1800 424 079  

Carers Australia Gateway 

1800 422 737  

For Language assistance

131450 

Translating and Interpreter Services call  

131 450  

NSW Health Resources 

Headspace Newcastle  

582 Hunter Street NEWCASTLE 

P (02) 4929 4201  

Headspace Newcastle can provide young people, aged 12-25, and their families with information and support on a wide range of issues. 

ITEC Youth  

Ground Floor, 59 Ridley Street,  

CHARLESTOWN  

P (02) 4945 6100  

Case work for young people under the supervision of Youth Justice NSW. Referrals via Youth Justice NSW only. 

Path 2 Change  

11 Charles Street, WALLSEND  

P (02) 4951 2144  

Specialised support and access to education, training and employment opportunities for youth at risk of homelessness 

Samaritans Reconnect – Hamilton  

38/54 Clyde Street, Hamilton North 

P (02) 4014 9380  

Reconnect is a free and confidential service for young people aged 12-18 years.  

Youth Off the Streets 

35 Station Street Weston  

P (02) 4936 1917 

Hunter Valley Outreach (12 to 25years) 

Yarn Safe

Mental Health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 12 to 25 

W Headspace: Yarn Safe

T 1800 650 890

Youth on Track 

433 Hunter St, NEWCASTLE NSW 2300  

P 0477 380 117 

An early intervention program for young people at risk of offending case management, court support, early intervention programs.