Our Core Services
Sometimes we all need a little bit of help. Experience care from our community that helps you feel supported, connected and happy.
Emergency Relief
When times are tough a little help can go a long way.
What We Provide
Through Emergency Relief, Padstow Community Care aims to address the immediate basic needs of individuals and families in times of financial crisis.
We provide one on one support, offering information, practical support, advocacy and/or negotiation on behalf of clients. This comes in many forms from helping with food to paying bills to speaking on someone’s behalf with another organisation.
Our Emergency Relief Officers
Our Emergency Relief officers are trained to consider the individual needs of each person allowing us to provide short term relief while making a long term management plan. Links with a large network of private and government funded assistance programs, means the best possible advice and support can be given. The client centred individual assessment with an officer aims to provide a pathway that can lead them forward.
Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA)
We provide assistance with energy account payment vouchers. If you are in a short term financial crisis or emergency these vouchers can help you pay for your current residential electricity or gas bills.
Emergency Relief services, provided by Padstow Community Care, are available to residents of the area indicated above. For residents outside this area Padstow Community Care can refer them to their appropriate Emergency Relief office.
For more information about Emergency Relief
Financial Counselling
Our qualified Financial Counsellor is available to provide information, support and advocacy to assist people in financial difficulty.
Financial Counselling Service
This is a free service which is confidential and supportive of the client’s needs.
From time to time, many people find themselves struggling to buy food, pay the rent or mortgage and can be juggling numerous debts. If you’re in this situation, a financial counsellor can help you understand your options so that you can get back on your feet.
Financial Counsellors are skilled professionals, bound by a Code of Ethical Practice to deliver
the best outcomes for their clients.
Financial Counsellors can provide the following to their clients:
- A full assessment of their financial situation, including regular income and expenditure, assets and liabilities;
- Advise and assist with problems related to debt and debt enforcement;
- Advocate and negotiate with banks and other lenders;
- Assist with concessions, grant eligibility and referrals for material aid;
- Assist with lodging complaints to external dispute resolution services;
- Refer to other community, health and legal services;
- Provide information about consumer rights;
- Information and options for change and improvement
- Information on credit laws, the debt recovery process, pre insolvency advice, bankruptcy and other areas of legislation.
Financial Counsellors DON’T:
- Lend money
- Provide material aid
- Recommend any kind of loan products
- Do tax returns
- Provide debt consolidation services
- Provide financial product advice, or advise on investments.
For more information about Financial Counselling:
Counselling
Our high quality, compassionate counselling service was developed in response to the needs of the community.
Counselling Service
The counselling service can be accessed on a means tested basis making it affordable to all and has staff in specialised areas such as Child and Family and Drug and Alcohol.
Private counsellors work with people suffering from a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety, grief, loss, abuse, trauma or addictions. We use evidence based psychological interventions to develop a treatment plan that best suits the individual clients need.
This is a warm, safe, non judgemental environment where people can receive support to work through life’s challenges. They are conducted in complete privacy with confidentiality agreements in place.
This service complements our aim to see people live life to the full.
For access to our counselling service please call 9772 2299 during our hours of operation.
In a crisis situation 24 hour help is available on 1800 011 511.
For more information about Counselling:
Hands Free
Hands free is not just for the elderly, but with the ageing population the need will only continue to rise.
Hands Free Service
The ‘hands free’ program involves linking people who have genuine practical needs, with volunteers who are willing to give of their time regularly in support of the disadvantaged.
This could involve:
Driving the elderly to doctors appointments
Helping a young refugee family move house
Attending a court hearing with a client who has no other support.
Increasing demands reflect the importance of this invaluable assistance.
Hands free was established to provide a support network for those who do not have close family or friends to assist them in practical ways. It works closely with our other services and broader agencies when necessary to ensure all needs are met.
By 2021, the South Western Sydney population will have grown to more than one million people and the number of people who are aged over 65 years will increase by 48%. Hands free is not just for the elderly, but with the ageing population the need will only continue to rise.
Most of our referrals come through Padstow Community Care, but if you know of someone who could benefit from this valuable, personal care and support please call us on 9772 2299.
For more information about Hands Free:
DV Response
Sometimes we are faced with challenges where we may need to leave difficult situations. We believe everyone deserves to feel safe no matter who they are or where they are from.
Bags of Change:
From the overwhelm of emotions or unknown circumstances it is easy for people to forget to think about practical items they may need. Our bags of change offer a helping hand in getting people back on their feet and provides support with some everyday essential needs.
Packages of Hope:
After exerting all the courage and energy of moving forward from a difficult situation, many may not have any usual home comforts that make a house feel like a home. Our packages of hope offer a step in the right direction.
For more information about DV Response:
Padstow Community Care 