This list points to other services in the Illawarra and across NSW that can help with support, community connection, and crisis care. It is information and signposting only. It is not a crisis service, and no one at BOHP monitors it. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000.
Crisis and urgent help
- Emergency (police, fire, ambulance): 000
- NSW Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511 (free, 24 hours, connects you to local NSW Health mental health care)
- Illawarra Mental Health Acute Care Team (crisis assessment): (02) 4254 1500
- Lifeline: 13 11 14 (free, 24 hours; text 0477 13 11 14)
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 (free, 24 hours)
- 13YARN, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: 13 92 76 (free, 24 hours)
- Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 (free, 24 hours)
Domestic, family and sexual violence
- 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 (free, 24 hours, national counselling and referral)
- NSW Domestic Violence Line: 1800 656 463 (free, 24 hours)
- SAHSSI (opens in a new tab) (Supported Accommodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra): refuge and accommodation for women, and women with children, escaping violence.
- Women Illawarra (opens in a new tab): domestic and family violence support and counselling.
- Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre (opens in a new tab): specialist, trauma-informed recovery support for women who have experienced domestic, family or sexual violence. Wollongong.
- Domestic, Family Violence and Sexual Assault Service (Illawarra Shoalhaven Health): free, confidential counselling at Wollongong, Dapto, Warilla and Kiama. Referral line 1300 356 218
- Safe Haven (Illawarra Shoalhaven): a calm drop-in space, no appointment needed, at 55 Urunga Parade, Wollongong, Wednesday to Saturday, 2pm to 10pm
Women’s health and wellbeing
- Illawarra Women’s Health Centre (opens in a new tab): free and low-cost health care, groups and wellbeing programs for women 18 and over. Warilla. (02) 4255 6800
Mental health and peer support
- NSW Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511 (free, 24 hours)
- Flourish Australia (opens in a new tab), Wollongong: a psychosocial day program with groups and activities for people 18 and over living with complex mental health. 3 Station Street, Wollongong.
- One Door Mental Health (opens in a new tab), Illawarra Clubhouse: a welcoming community for people with lived experience of mental illness.
- Neami National (opens in a new tab), Wollongong: community mental health and recovery support.
- headspace Wollongong (opens in a new tab): free support for young people aged 12 to 25. (02) 4220 7660
- Grand Pacific Health (opens in a new tab), Mental Health Direct: local mental health support and referral.
Alcohol and other drugs
- Illawarra Shoalhaven Drug and Alcohol Service: free, confidential, non-judgemental treatment and support for people and their families. The Orana Centre, 2 Rawson Street, Wollongong. 1300 652 226
- Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) NSW: free, confidential phone counselling, support and referral, 24 hours. 1800 250 015
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service (IAMS) (opens in a new tab): holistic health and community services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 150 Church Street, Wollongong, and Dapto. (02) 4229 9495
- Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation (opens in a new tab): cultural centre and community services.
- 13YARN: 13 92 76 (free, 24 hours)
LGBTQIA+ people
- ACON (opens in a new tab): HIV, sexual health, mental health, and inclusion support for LGBTQ+ people. Ask for the “Here for Illawarra” local guide.
- Local social and support groups: Rainbow South Coast, Illawarra Rainbow Community, Pink Drinks Illawarra, and REAL Illawarra. (Pink Drinks Illawarra and REAL Illawarra are private local Facebook groups.)
- Wollongong Youth Services, Rainbow League: a social group for LGBTQIA+ or questioning young people aged 15 to 25
- QLife: 1800 184 527 (free, national, phone and webchat, 3pm to 9pm every day)
- City of Wollongong’s LGBTIQ+ communities page lists more local services
Migrants, refugees and multicultural communities
- Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI) (opens in a new tab), including SCARF Refugee Support: settlement support, English classes, and community programs.
- Illawarra Multicultural Services (IMS) (opens in a new tab): support for migrant and refugee families, and free English classes through Community Hubs.
Families and parents
- Southern Youth and Family Services (SYFS) (opens in a new tab): support for children, young people, adults and families across the Illawarra. 467 Crown Street, Wollongong. (02) 4221 7700
- Parentline NSW: free phone counselling and support for parents and carers. 1300 1300 52 (9am–9pm Monday to Friday; 4pm–9pm weekends)
Carers
- Carer Gateway: free counselling, coaching, planned and emergency respite, peer connection, and support for people caring for someone. 1800 422 737 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm)
People with disability (and the NDIS)
- ADACAS Disability Advocacy (opens in a new tab): free, independent advocacy across the Illawarra Shoalhaven, including help with the NDIS. (02) 6242 5060
- Disability Gateway (opens in a new tab): national information and referral to advocacy.
- Ask Izzy (opens in a new tab) has a disability advocacy finder to locate a local advocate.
Legal help
- Illawarra Legal Centre (opens in a new tab): free, confidential legal help, including for women experiencing family violence, problems with Centrelink, and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients. Level 2, 166 Keira Street, Wollongong.
- Legal Aid NSW, Wollongong: free legal help for eligible people. 73 Church Street, Wollongong. (02) 4228 8299
- Women’s Legal Service NSW (opens in a new tab): free legal help for women, including domestic violence, family law, and victims support.
Community connection and neighbourhood centres
- City of Wollongong community centres (opens in a new tab): low-cost and free activities, classes, and groups across the area.
- Southern Suburbs Community Centre and Library: free computers, WiFi, and community activities
Practical help (food, money, material aid)
- Salvation Army First Floor Program, Wollongong: counselling, financial counselling, and material assistance
- Bellambi Pantry: discounted and free groceries
- Ask Izzy (opens in a new tab): a free, private, national search for food, housing, money help, and other support.
Finding more services
- healthdirect: 1800 022 222 (free, 24 hours, health advice and a service finder)
- The WayAhead Directory lists many more Illawarra services
Where this information came from
- Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (mental health line, acute care team, family violence and sexual assault service). www.islhd.health.nsw.gov.au (opens in a new tab)
- Illawarra Women’s Health Centre. www.womenshealthcentre.com.au (opens in a new tab)
- Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre. www.womenstraumarecoverycentre.org (opens in a new tab)
- SAHSSI (www.sahssi.org.au (opens in a new tab)) and Women Illawarra (www.womenillawarra.org.au (opens in a new tab))
- Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service (illawarraams.com.au (opens in a new tab)) and Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation (www.iac.org.au (opens in a new tab))
- ACON, Here for Illawarra (www.acon.org.au (opens in a new tab)), and City of Wollongong LGBTIQ+ communities (www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au (opens in a new tab))
- Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (www.mcci.org.au (opens in a new tab)) and Illawarra Multicultural Services (ims.org.au (opens in a new tab))
- Flourish Australia (www.flourishaustralia.org.au (opens in a new tab)), One Door Mental Health (www.onedoor.org.au (opens in a new tab)), Neami National (www.neaminational.org.au (opens in a new tab)), headspace Wollongong (headspace.org.au (opens in a new tab)), Grand Pacific Health (www.gph.org.au (opens in a new tab))
- National services: 1800RESPECT, NSW Domestic Violence Line, Lifeline, Suicide Call Back Service, 13YARN, Beyond Blue, QLife, Ask Izzy (askizzy.org.au (opens in a new tab)), and healthdirect (www.healthdirect.gov.au (opens in a new tab))
- Illawarra Legal Centre (illawarralegalcentre.org.au (opens in a new tab)), Legal Aid NSW (www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au (opens in a new tab)), and Women’s Legal Service NSW (www.wlsnsw.org.au (opens in a new tab))
- Illawarra Shoalhaven Drug and Alcohol Service, and Alcohol and Drug Information Service NSW (www.health.nsw.gov.au/aod (opens in a new tab))
- Southern Youth and Family Services (www.syfs.org.au (opens in a new tab)), and Parentline NSW
- Carer Gateway (www.carergateway.gov.au (opens in a new tab))
- ADACAS Disability Advocacy (adacas.org.au (opens in a new tab)), and Disability Gateway (www.disabilitygateway.gov.au (opens in a new tab))
About this list
The resources listed on this page are provided as a starting point, not a guarantee of fit. Every individual’s circumstances are different, and not all services will work for everyone. If a service listed here doesn’t meet your needs, that doesn’t mean your needs aren’t valid — it may just mean this particular option isn’t the right one for you.
We do our best to share resources we believe can help, but we recognise that not all systems and services are designed to be trauma-informed or person-centred. We hope these resources are helpful, and we’re sorry if any part of your experience with them was not. Your feedback helps us keep this list accurate and useful, so please reach out if you have concerns about a listed service.