Help and support for victims with specific needs - Victims Services : Lawlink NSW

Victims Services

Where am I now? Lawlink > Homepage > Help and support > Help and support for victims with specific needs	Print page
Help and support for victims with specific needs Aboriginal people Children and youth Elderly people People with a disability People speaking other languages or from other cultures Gay and lesbian people Aboriginal People Victim Support Aboriginal Contact Line: 1800 019 123. Victims Services' Aboriginal Contact Officer will give you information about Victims Services and refer you to the best person to help you. If you already have an application for counselling and/or compensation, you can call to find our how your claim is going. (Available office-hours Mon-Fri) Legal Help Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT provides advice and assistance to indigenous people and their families, particularly in criminal matters. There are five regional organisations in NSW with 25 offices. Phone: (02) 9318 2122. Indigenous Women's Legal Line 1800 639 784 (Women's Legal Services NSW) - This toll-free line is staffed by Aboriginal women, and is open 10:00am - 12:30pm and 1:30pm - 4:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The Legal Contact Line does not operate on a Wednesday. Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women's Legal Centre website has information for Aboriginal victims of violence about domestic violence, sexual assault, racial violence, and applying for compensation. The Walgett Family Violence Prevention Legal Service: Administrative Office Phone: 02 6828 3143 or 02 6828 3145 Fax: 02 6828 3148 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9:00am - 1:00pm and 2:00pm - 4:30pm Postal address: Walanbaa Yinarr Wharoo PO Box 149 Walgett NSW 2832. Bourke / Brewarrina Family Violence Prevention Legal Service: Administrative Office Phone: 02 6872 2440 Fax: 02 6872 2445 Monday to Friday. Postal address: PO Box 298 Bourke NSW 2840. Accommodation Accommodation - Aboriginal Homeless People (24 hours) (02) 9799 8446 Aboriginal Children Aboriginal Children's Services (24 hours) (02) 9698 2222 See also Specific Needs > Aboriginal People Children and Youth Helplines Kids Help Line (24/7) If you are between the ages of 5-18 years and you want to talk to someone you can ring the Kids Help line on 1800 55 1800. It is a free call, except from a mobile phone. Youthline (Lifeline) (24/7) 13 11 14 Information Reach Out website has a number of fact sheets for young people covering a range of topics including: domestic violence, experiencing violence, helping a friend who is in a sexually abusive relationship, sexual assault, understanding bullying, cyberbullying The source website is developed and maintained by the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services and has information for young people in crisis. Accommodation Emergency Youth Accommodation (24/7) 1800 424 830 or (02) 9267 5918 Counselling Support Barnardos Children Family Centre provides counselling and crisis care for victims of domestic violence or child sexual assault. You can phone Barnados on 1800 061 000 or visit their website for contact details of a centre nearby. NSW Child and Adolescent Sexual Assault Counsellors network (CASAC). The contact for the network is Rosebank Child Sexual Abuse Service, phone (02) 9601 3790 or email rosebank@amaze.net.au Salvo Care Line is a 24 hour telephone counselling service run by the Salvation Army. Phone (02) 9331 6000 (Sydney Metro) or 1300 36 36 22 (Outside Sydney). For more information about counselling services offered by the Salvation Army visit their website: The Salvation Army. Aboriginal Children's Service provides short and long term counselling and crisis intervention. Phone Mt Druitt on (020 9673 3072 or Redfern on (02) 9699 9835. Elderly People For contacts regarding "Elder Abuse" see Help and Support - Victims Of Specific Crimes > Elder Abuse Residential Aged Care - nursing homes and hostels If you are concerned about how well you or someone you know is being cared for in a residential aged care facility (nursing home or hostel) you may want to contact the Government Department responsible for these facilities. Most NSW residential aged care facilities are licensed and monitored by NSW Health. You can discuss your concerns by telephoning the Private Health Care Branch of NSW Health on 1800 809 590 or (02) 9816 0243. You can also discuss your concerns by telephoning the Department of Health and Aged Care Complaints Resolution Scheme on 1800 550 552 (freecall) or TTY (02) 9263 3737 and/or the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency on (02) 9633 2099. The Commonwealth Department Health and Aged Care is responsible for funding and monitoring aged care services. For more information on how they can help, visit the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing website. If you would like to discuss the matter with someone outside government, you can contact the Aged-care Rights Service (TARS). TARS is an advocacy service for older residents of nursing homes, hostels and retirement villages and people receiving Community Aged Care Packages. For free and confidential advice you can phone them on (02) 9281 3600 or 1800 424 079 (toll free for NSW country callers). The TARS website has further information about services they provide. Health Care If you have concerns about the way that you or someone you know has been treated by a health care provider or a health care facility you can contact the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission on 1800 043 159 (toll free in NSW) or (02) 9219 7444 or email hccc@hccc.nsw.gov.au You can find more information on the Health Care Complaints Commission website. Guardianship Sometimes older people are exploited when they are no longer capable of making their own decisions. In cases where no appropriate or safe informal arrangements are in place, or for some other reason, the Office of the Public Guardian may help by legally appointing a guardian or substitute decision maker. The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) website can provide more information including contact details. Legal Services Legal Aid NSW has established an Older Persons' Legal and Education Program to promote and protect the legal rights of older people in NSW. For more information visit the Legal Aid NSW website Other Services The Seniors Information Service provides confidential information and referrals on issues concerning older people in NSW. For the cost of a local call from anywhere in NSW, by dialling 13 12 44 you can speak directly to a trained information officer who has access to information from over 4,000 service providers. The Council on the Ageing (NSW) website COTA (NSW) Inc is a peak body providing leadership in social policy and community information and education for all older persons in New South Wales and Australia. The Older Women's Network website Help and Support for victims with a disability For general information about support (including whilst at court) available for victims with a disability please also refer to Specific Needs > Victims of crime who have a disability Legal Help Community Legal Centres (CLCs) are independent organisations who provide legal advice and advocacy for a wide range of individuals and groups in the community, especially people on low incomes or otherwise disadvantaged in their access to justice. The Disability Discrimination Legal Centre (NSW) provides free legal advice, representation and assistance for problems involving discrimination against people with disabilities and their associates. However, the Centre is not a generalist legal service for people with disabilities and only assists in cases of disability discrimination under either the federal Disability Discrimination Act or the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act. To contact the Disability Discrimination Legal Centre you can phone (02) 9310 7722; 1800 800708 (toll free in NSW); TTY (02) 9310 4320; or email info@ddlcnsw.org.au Mental Health Advocacy Service is part of Legal Aid NSW providing free legal advice and assistance about mental health law. You can call the service on (02) 9745 4277 Support when with the police - intellectual disability If you have an intellectual disability you can contact the Criminal Justice Support Network (CJSN) if you are going to be interviewed by the police or need legal advice. Phone the CJSN 1300 665 908. Support at court - intellectual disability If you have an intellectual disability you can contact the Criminal Justice Support Network (CJSN) if you need to go to court on a criminal matter or need legal advice. Phone the CJSN on 1300 665 908. If you have an intellecual disability, the Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS) on (02) 9318 0144 is a non-government organisation which specialises in assisting people with intellectual disabilities make representations in court. Disability Abuse National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline 1800 880 052 The Hotline is open 8am to 8pm across Australia, seven days a week. ( TTY:1800 301 130, National Relay Service: 1800 555 677 , Translation and Interpreter Service: 131 450). This is an Australia-wide telephone hotline for reporting abuse and neglect of people with disabilities using government-funded services. Allegations are referred to the appropriate authority for investigation. More information can be found on the Australian National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline website. The Disability Complaints Service is a non-government organisation which provides a free service to help people with a disability who wish to make a complaint about their rights being infringed. You can phone the Disability Complaints Service on (02) 9319 6549 or 1800 424 007 (free call outside Sydney) or TTY (02) 9318 2138. The Community Services Commission aims to promote and protect the interests, needs and rights of consumers of community services and ensure they know how to act on their rights. The Commission offers many services including reviewing the situation of a person with a disability in full-time, out-of-home care and also reviewing the deaths of people with a disability in government and non-government disability accommodation and respite services. In December 2002, the Commission was merged with the NSW Ombudmsan. On the NSW Ombudsman website you can lodge an online complaints form or find out more information. You can call the NSW Ombudsman office on (02) 9286 1000 or 1800 451 524 (toll free) or TTY (02) 9264 8050. You can email nswombo@ombo.nsw.gov.au Other Help Deaf Society of NSW - Toll Free from outside Sydney Phone: 1800 893 855. TTY: 1800 893 885 The NSW Trustee and Guardian (TAG) appoints guardians for people with disabilities aged 16 years and over who are incapable of making their own decisions, and need a legally appointed substitute decision maker because no appropriate or safe informal arrangements are in place, or for some other reason. You can phone the Guardianship Tribunal on (02) 9252 0523 or 1300 364 103 (toll free). People with Disability Australia Incorporated is a national peak disability rights and advocacy organisation. Services provided include: Rights-related information, advice and referral services for people with disability and their associates Short-term individual and group advocacy assistance to people with disability and their associates Phone: 02 9370 3100 Toll Free: 1800 422 015 Fax: 02 9318 1372 TTY: 02 9318 2138, TTY Toll Free: 1800 422 016 People speaking other languages or from other cultures Support and information services Immigrant Women's Speakout Association is a NSW community-based organisation, managed by women of non-English speaking background. It provides direct services including in the areas of domestic violence and employment, education and training. Tel: (02) 9635-8022 Fax: (02) 9635-8176 Immigrant Women's Support Service is community-based organisation, which works with women and children of non-English speaking background who are or have been in violent domestic situations and/or have experienced rape and/or sexual assault. NOTE: This service is based in Queensland and you can phone the domestic violence support on (07) 3846 3490 or sexual assault support on (07) 3846 5400. Email: mail@iwss.org.au Community Relations Commision 1300 651 500 Services for treatment and rehabilitation of torture and trauma survivors (STARTTS) Gay and lesbian people Information Understanding Your Legal Rights: A guide for Lesbians and Gay Men in NSW is a document focusing on rights for gay and lesbian couples. There is a section on protection from violence, apprehended violence orders and apprehended domestic violence orders. Court support and help with applying for an AVO Safe Relationships Project (Inner City Legal Centre) (02) 9332 1966 (Sydney Metro Area) 1800 244 481 (Outside Sydney Metro)

Last updated: 30 November 2011