"I'll be right mate, I'll just doss in the back of the Ute." ACCOMMODATION Blokes are often faced with the hassle of finding emergency accommodation and housing. The services listed below will assist men with accommodation: Cardinal Freeman Centre St Vincent de Paul Society 9637 6398 34-38 East Street, Granville Part of the Parramatta Homeless Men's Coalition Homeless service for men who have completed detox & rehab $14.00 per night No drugs Department of Housing 8 Patrick Street, Blacktown 9831 0891 6 Dawson Mall, Mount Druitt 9675 8987 The Department of Housing provides: Temporary Accommodation for homeless people, and Rentstart which is assistance in the form of bond and advance rent for people renting privately Participants need to provide proof of income, identification and their current bank statement. Hope Hostel 9683 1630 Fleet Street, Parramatta 2150 Crisis accommodation, shared room, incl. bed and meals @ $12/night. Marist Youth Care SAAP Accommodation 9625 0898 PO Box 247, Mount Druitt 2770 Provide short and medium term accommodation to young men aged 15 to 18 years old who are homeless. This service also supports young women. Nepean Caravan Park 4735 4425 Mackellar Street, Emu Plains 2750 Tenants Hotline 9251 6590 Telephone tenancy advice state wide. Mon-Fri, 9:30am to 1:00pm, 2:00pm to 5:00pm. 1 Wanbinga 9622 1213 or 9671 2679 Doonside Provide short term and crisis accommodation to young men aged 15 to 17 years who are homeless. Wentworth Area Community Housing Ltd 4731-5851 Level 2, 148 Henry Street, Penrith 2750 Provide medium to long term housing for low income earners. Waiting list exists. Western Sydney Tenants Service (WESTS) 9891-6377 44 Station Street East, Harris Park 2150 Provide advice and advocacy services to both public and private tenants. WESTS promotes self advocacy and can assist tenants with letter writing, their negotiations with landlords, or Tribunal cases. Assist with writing letters to the tribunal. Youth Accommodation Emergency Line 9318 1531 or 1800 424 830 Phone information on places with vacancies. For young people 12-18 years old. 2 "Things were pretty bad when we went through Family Support, they helped us with the practical hassles and the other stuff that was the problem." Grant, 32 BEING A DAD Some people today question or even dismiss the role of fathering. Being a dad is hard and can be problematic. Some roles, values and expectations about being a dad are certainly changing. That can be confusing and a bit scary. However, dads are as important and precious to kids as mums, in the enjoyment and nurturing of girls and boys into adulthood. There are exciting opportunities for dads (single and partnered) to create sound foundations with our kids that will enhance good shared futures. The following services provide a range of support for dads who care about being 'dad'. After Hours Family Crisis Service 9622 0313, 9622 0522 PO Box 493, Blacktown 2148 After hours family crisis service. Phone and face-to-face counselling. Provide information, referrals and support for domestic violence victims. Anglicare ‘Fathers and their Children’ Program 8805 0922, 8805 0931 20 Westminster Street, Rooty Hill 2766 A service supporting fathers building strong foundations with their children. For solo dads, dads with contact arrangements and partnered dads alike. Activities for fathers include: Fathers play groups; Fortnightly evening fathers’ group; One-on-one support and guidance; Parenting workshops eg 1,2,3, Magic (Disciplining Children); Anger, conflict and violence management workshops; Occasional fun-days, outings, etc.; and Advocacy and also referrals for related counselling, relief and other support within and beyond Anglicare. Child Abuse Prevention Service – CAPS 9716 8000, 1800 688 009 24 hour crisis counselling & support for those who are afraid they might abuse their children. 3 Child and Parent Stress Centre 9716 8000 24 hour telephone counselling. DOCS - Helpline 132 111 (General Public) A statewide service which takes reports of concerns in situations where a child, or children, is/are being abused or neglected, or there is a risk of abuse or neglect. Child abuse can be physical, sexual or psychological. Operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and all year; This service does not provide counselling. Families and Friends of Missing Persons Unit 9374 3023 Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm Outside of these hours contact 1800 227 772 Level 6, 299 Elizabeth Street, Sydney 2000 This service provides counselling to family and friends of missing people, both at the time the person first goes missing and for families of longer term missing. It can also provide information on tracing agencies and legal issues. Support can be provided both face to face or on the telephone. The service is free and confidential. Fathers After Divorce 9519 7988 11 Trade Street, Newtown 2042 www.fathersafterdivorce.com Divorce coaching, mediation programs for separated fathers. Family Relief Occasional Childcare 9628 4171 (Fax) 9628 4313 Child care for children aged 0-5 years Multicultural program Pre-school program Healthy Eating Program Child development referrals Special needs program Lunch provided. Interrelate Men’s Service 9680 4386 9745 5544 14/6 Castle Hill Road 55 George Street Castle Hill 2154 Burwood 2134 Specific programs and referrals for men and fathers. Male specific counselling. Group programs for dads. Group programs for step dads. 4 Hillsong Emerge LTD 9678 7900 (Fax) 9679 8900 Suit 1, 125 Main Street, Blacktown 2148 [email protected] Personal development courses (these are 6 to 13 week programs, fees range from $35.00 to $85.00 per program: Marriage enrichment. Divorce Care. Search for intimacy. Search for life. Grief Share. Counselling Service (please call the office administrator to discuss fee variations). Singles again community Group. Hillsong Men’s Conference. Karitane 9794 1852, 9794 1800 Corner Horsley and Mitchell Street, Carramar 2163 Provides 24 hour help lines for parents of children under 5 years. Kids Help Line 1800 551 800 A 24 hour, 7 days a week telephone service which children & young people can call themselves - to discuss any issue concerning them. Callers can choose whether they speak with a man or a woman counsellor. WEB Counselling 3.00pm to 9.00pm, Monday to Friday www.kidshelp.com.au Email counselling available. MENDS Now 130 363361, 9427 9128 20 Upper Cliff Rd, Northwood 2066 12 week program for separated/divorced men to address acute needs during the trauma of the end of a significant relationship. Information on legal rights and responsibilities, assist getting fair property and parenting agreements. Programs offered in several centres. Mensline Australia 1300 789 978 (local call cost) Professional and confidential short term telephone counselling. Direct telephone linkage to services if you are in distress. Relevant information about services and support programs in your area. Practical support and life strategies for managing difficult situations. 5 Parents as Teachers 9832 0543 (Fax) 9832 0543 [email protected] Madang Avenue Primary School, Whalan A free early learning program for (0-3 years) for families, provided by the Department of Education and training. Home Visits focusing on child development. Information sessions. Playgroup Parent Line 132 055 Professional telephone counselling on general parenting issues for parents with kids aged 0-18 years. Information & referral. 9:00am - 4:30pm Monday to Saturday. Bilingual counsellors available. Parents Without Partners 9853 3269 Fax; 9853 3262 Building T2A, Nirimba Education Precinct, Quakers Hill 2763 PO Box 300, Quakers Hill 2763 [email protected] Self help. Family and parents social support All ages. Help lone parents and their children make friends with others in the same situation. Tresillian Wentworth 9787 0855 1B Barber Avenue, Kingswood 2747 Parent Help Line 24 Hour Number: 9787 5255 or 1800 637 357 Swinson Cottage Family Centre Inc. 9621 5424 26 Swinson Road, Blacktown 2148 Child Protection Service providing support to families with at least one child in the 0-5 age range, who have had a substantial issue concerning the physical, emotional, psychological abuse, neglect or sexual assault of a child. Counselling, Group Work, Playgroup, Support and Advocacy and free transport. UnitingCare Burnside NEWPIN Father’s Centre 9835 1644 18 Oreades Way, Bidwill 2770 Assists fathers with children under 5 years to strengthen their family relationships. Is a centre based parenting support program for fathers in the Blacktown Local government area. Provides day and evening groups that focuses on parenting skills, conflict resolution and family relationships. 6 UnitingCare Burnside - Father Support Service 9806 0200 126 Marsden Street, Parramatta 2150 A service in Western Sydney aimed at supporting fathers in developing and maintaining their valuable family / child relationships. Telephone support and referral plus access to a wide range of groups and workshops. Groups available: “ Hey Dad” Fathering Group for Separated Fathers. Separated Fathers Support Group. Supporting Family Relationships. Information workshops for Separated Fathers. UnitingCare Unifam Counselling and Mediation 4732 3836 2 Warwick Street Penrith NSW 2751 Counselling: Individual counselling for personal issues Couple counselling, whether for maintenance / enhancement or separation issues Family Counselling. Family Law support Services. These programs include services for families post separation, in relation to the division of property and the making of parenting plans: Mediation Conciliation Child inclusive practice Woodriff Cottage - Family Skills Training Program 4731 6744 56 Woodriff Street, Penrith 2750 Parenting classes. Groups for parents with ADHD kids. Father’s program. Group for mum’s & kids from D.V. Children’s relationship group. Childcare available. Primary aged children only. Fee negotiable. 7 My Dad Insert 8 Child Support When you and your partner separate and you have children from the relationship, you are likely to become a client of the Child Support Agency (CSA). CSA is the Government agency responsible for assessing and collecting child support (formerly called maintenance).