Multicultural community
Information
Multicultural, migrant and refugee services
Consumer rights
The Department of Fair Trading is who you should call if you feel you’ve been treated unfairly by a business. Phone 13 14 50.
Emergency contact number
Dial 000 in an emergency for police, fire or ambulance services.
Health
The NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service brings information about health issues and services to people who speak languages other than English.
Housing
Phone 1300 652 488 for the interpreting service for NSW Department of Housing.
Immigration and citizenship
Department of Home Affairs provides information on visas, becoming an Australian citizen, tips on settling into Australia and more.
Immigration Advice and Rights Centre Sydney is a not-for-profit charity specialising in Australian immigration and refugee law and policy.
Money and finances
MoneySmart provides information in a variety of languages about financial issues.
Public transport
NSW transport provides information on all public transport. You can also phone 131 500.
Refugees
The Refugee Council of NSW is the national body for refugees and the organisations that support them.
Translated websites
NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service provides translated information on health issues. They provide information in different languages.
Volunteer
Make friends and become an active part of the community by volunteering with Hornsby Shire Council. You can also search for volunteer positions in Sydney with Seek volunteer.
International Student Welfare Services Hub
Support available for a number of topics such as; Emergency food assistance, accommodation and housing, legal advice and mental health and wellbeing.
Services
Centrelink
Centrelink has a multilingual call centre you can reach by phoning 13 24 68. There is also a free Mandarin and Cantonese interpreting service at Hornsby Centrelink each Tuesday from 9am-1pm. Click here to have Centrelink information translated into your language of choice.
Counselling
Lifeline is a telephone counselling service that helps you in a crisis. Phone 13 11 14.
Study
Hornsby TAFE offers English classes as well as other employment and vocational courses.
Transcultural Mental Health
The Transcultural Mental Health Centre (TMHC) works with health professionals and communities across New South Wales to support positive mental health for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)
A free service to help eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants with low English levels to improve their English language skills.
CASS
Provides a wide range of community services and activities for people residing in Metropolitan Sydney and Wollongong including settlement services. It assists newly arrived Chinese-speaking and Korean-speaking migrants with settlement concerns including housing, employment, education as well as health and welfare issues through free face-to-face casework, referral services, information sessions and expos. For more information, please visit the CASS services website.
Community Migrant Resource Centre (CMRC)
Not-for-profit, charitable organisation established in 1996. CMRC provides specialised support services to newly arrived migrants, refugees and humanitarian entrants.