Access and Inclusion during COVID-19
A range of information, referrals and resources is available for people living with disability and their carers about coronavirus (COVID-19).
Helpful information, support for your situation and how to help others during The COVID-19 situation is available from the Department of Social Services.
If you have questions or concerns, or if it is hard to get help, contact the Disability Information Helpline on 1800 643 787.
Useful accessible resources and Easy Read fact sheets are available here:
Coronavirus – What is it? - Easy Read
Coronavirus – 5 things to do right now – Easy Read
Coronavirus – What you need to know – Easy Read
Coronavirus – FAQs – Easy Read
Coronavirus – Social distancing – Easy Read
Coronavirus – Staying at home – Easy Read
Coronavirus – Information and support for people with disability and carers (Auslan)
Where to go for support
If you are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, anxious, sad or need help during the COVID-19 crisis, there are many health and wellbeing services available, including:
General Support
Australian Red Cross: 1800 077 284
Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636
Centrelink (Family Support): 1300 169 468
Lifeline NSW: 131 114
Louise House: 4392 7255
NSW Disaster Recovery: www.nswdrcn.org.au
NSW Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
The Salvation Army: 13 72 58
Community/ Neighbourhood Centres
Community/ Neighbourhood Centres are places for local people to access a range of programs and services. This can include food hampers and emergency relief. They are community hubs – a place to find information, build connections and increase resilience. There are 15 Community/ Neighbourhood Centres across the Central Coast. Due to COVID-19 most centres are still providing services but are operating differently.
Please contact a centre on the numbers provided to see what services they are currently offering.
Bateau Bay Neighbourhood Centre: 4332 7450
Berkeley Vale Neighbourhood Centre: Closed
Gosford Regional Community Services: 4323 7483
Green Point Community Centre: 4367 7591
Gudjagang Ngara li-dhi Aboriginal Corporation: 4305 8807
Kariong Neighbourhood Centre: 4340 1724
Kincumber Neighbourhood Centre: 4363 1044
Narara Community Centre: 4329 4477
Peninsula Community Centre: 4341 9333
San Remo Neighbourhood Centre: 0476 247 313
The Benevolent Society
- Kanwal: 4394 2500
- The Entrance: 4321 8601
The Entrance Neighbourhood Centre: 4332 4545
Emergency food relief and electricity vouchers
Toukley Neighbourhood Centre: 4396 1555
Wyong Neighbourhood Centre: 4353 1750
Uniting Burnside Northern Lakes Neighbourhood Centre: 1800 864 846
Homelessness
Link2Home: 1800 152 152
For people who are homeless and at risk of homelessness & looking for temporary accommodation.
Health on the Streets: 4365 2294
Health on The Streets (HoTS) is a mobile health clinic for people experiencing homelessness.
Uniting Doorways: 1800 067 967 or 43558900 or 43558901
Advice, information, referral and case management for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
Central Coast Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service: 4353 5515
A free service for central coast tenants. Provides face-to-face advice, advocacy and community legal education.
Safe beds for pets RCPCA: 4372 2044
Temporary accommodation for pets due to people becoming homeless.
Food Support
The Food Hub: 0468 642 599
The Entrance Public School – entry via The Entrance Rd
Lakes Food Care – Toukley: 4307 1234
The Fathers Table: 0406 947 767
Wyong Town Park – Alison Rd, Wyong
Hampers, Friday and Sunday
Coast Shelter: 4346 1263
346 Mann Street, Gosford
Hampers and packed lunches, Monday – Friday
Vinnies
Hampers and vouchers
- Gosford – 273 Mann Street, Gosford: 4322 5861
- Woy Woy – 41 The Boulevarde, Woy Woy: 4344 3261
- Wyong – 47 Howarth Street, Wyong: 4356 6700
Domestic Violence
CatholicCare Domestic Violence Support Central Coast: 4356 2600
Assists women and children experiencing domestic and family violence
1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732
24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
Central Coast Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service
- Gosford: 4346 4452 gosfordlcp@ccdvcas.org.au
- Wyong: 4346 4451 wyonglcp@ccdvcas.org.au
Central Coast Women’s Health Centre
Counselling and referral services available via telephone, video and online chat sessions.
- Woy Woy: 4342 5905
- Wyong: 4351 1152
- Wyoming: 4324 2533
Central Coast Community Legal: 4353 4988
Indigenous Services
Mingaletta: 43513225
Provides access to a range of community-based activities, programs and services including health, welfare and educational programs aimed at improving the quality of life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community
Yerin: 4351 1040
Yerin provides primary health care in a culturally safe environment to the Central Coast Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Some services have changed due to COVID-19.
Services for men
Mensline: 1300 789 978
Mens Referral Service: 1300 766 491
Multicultural services
Northern Settlement Services: 4334 3877
NSS works with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) individuals, families and communities, providing advice and support via email and phone, and in some special cases face to face. All group activities cancelled.
Telephone Interpreter Service: 13 14 50
For people who need to use an interpreter over the phone.
Disability Services
Cerebral Palsy Alliance: Disability Support and NDIS Service provider: 4356 6300
Support programs for young people. Group and individual support work.
Life without Barriers Central Coast: 4343 8830
Supports people with disabilities in decisions, goals, aspirations and everyday life.
NDIS: 1800 800 110
The National Disability Insurance Scheme provides support to Australians with disability, their families and carers. The NDIS will provide all Australians under the age of 65 who have a permanent and significant disability with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to enjoy an ordinary life.
Services for older people
COVID-19 Support Line for Senior Australians: 1800 171 866
Monday to Friday, except public holidays, from 8.30am to 6.00pm.
My Aged Care: 1800 200 422
Providing aged care packages to older people over the age of 65.
Meals on Wheels
Delivery of nutritious meals, social interaction and a friendly check on people’s wellbeing
- Central Coast: 4357 8444
- Swansea: 4971 3673
Red Cross TeleCROSS and TeleCHAT: 1300 885698
Healthdirect: 1800 022 222
Healthdirect provides free, trusted health information and advice, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Woolworths Priority Delivery: 1800 000 610
To ensure vulnerable customers in the community have access to delivery services at this time, we will be providing a Priority Assistance service with dedicated delivery windows. Eligible customers include seniors, people with a disability and those with compromised immunity or who are required to self-isolate.
Services for children and young people
Central Coast Council Youth Services: 4304 7104
Advice, Information, Referral
Centrelink (Youth Allowance): 1300 169 468
Child Protection Helpline: 1300 659 467
Digital Lunch Break
Learn, create and discover with online activities and resources. Find digital workshops, learning materials, virtual excursions and more.
Headspace
Information, Resources, Online & Phone; free service for young people aged 12-25 years.
- Gosford: 4304 7870
- Lake Haven: 4394 9100
Kids helpline: 1800 55 1800
Free, private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
Musicians Making A Difference (MMAD): 4322 5350
Support, Referral & Free creative mentoring programs online for young people aged 12-25 years.
Oasis (Wyong): 4353 9799
Support, Information, Referral
Reach-Out
Free Covid-19 support information for young people and their parents to help them stay well.
Regional Youth Support Services (RYSS): 4323 2374
Advice, Information, Referral & Early Intervention.
Youth Health Service, CCLHD: 4356 9333
Free service for young people aged 14 - 24 years for assistance with health and well-being issues.
Artists & Creative industry support
Support for Independent artists and those who work in the creative industries
Support Act is Australia’s only charity delivering crisis relief services to artists, crew and music workers as a result of ill health, injury, a mental health problem, or some other crisis that impacts on their ability to work in music.
Caring for your neighbours
Although we’re being asked to stay close to home at the moment, you don’t have to go far to be of help to others. Helping out in your community could be as simple as putting a note in an elderly neighbour’s letterbox to ask if they’d like you to pick up their groceries or medical supplies, mowing the lawn or helping in the garden or having a friendly chat over the fence or over the phone.
A #viralkindness postcard created by Becky Wass from the UK has been widely shared and could be printed to put in your neighbour’s letterbox.
Food Support
The Food Hub: 0468 642 599
The Entrance Public School – entry via The Entrance Rd
Lakes Food Care – Toukley: 4307 1234
The Fathers Table: 0406 947 767
Wyong Town Park – Alison Rd, Wyong
Hampers, Friday and Sunday
Coast Shelter: 4346 1263
346 Mann Street, Gosford
Hampers and packed lunches, Monday – Friday
Vinnies
Hampers and vouchers
- Gosford – 273 Mann Street, Gosford: 4322 5861
- Woy Woy – 41 The Boulevarde, Woy Woy: 4344 3261
- Wyong – 47 Howarth Street, Wyong: 4356 6700
Services for women
Australian Breastfeeding Association: 1800 686 268
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