General Assistance (groceries, social support)
ATO – Virtual Tax Help Assistance
During the lockdown the Australian Taxation Office is offering virtual tax help assistance to people who wish to lodge their tax returns. To find out if you are eligible you can visit the ATO website.
Phone: 132 861
Visit: https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Your-tax-return/Help-and-support-to-lodge-your-tax-return/Tax-Help-program/
Fusion in conjunction with the dish
Providing nutritious ready meals available for anyone in need. 3 Jersey Street Hornsby, Monday-Friday 9.30am-3pm
Phone: 9477 7110
Email: sydneynorth@fusion.org.au
Visit: https://sydneynorth.fusion.org.au/
The Dish: 9489 1762
Salvation Army COVID-19 Emergency Relief Assistance
If you are financially affected by the impacts of COVID-19 and would like to learn more about how the Salvation Army can help – even if you have never asked for assistance from a charity before – please complete the online form. A Salvation Army representative will call back within 48 hours for a private and confidential discussion about how they can help.
Visit: https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/need-help/the-salvation-army-covid-19-help-and-updates/
COVID Resources for people with a Disability
NSW Government
If you are a person with a disability or carer, there are video and online resources available to help you navigate COVID-19, including getting tested, going to hospital and resources for support people. The information is in Easy Read and AUSLAN format.
Visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/resources-for-people-with-disability
The Disability Information Helpline
Providing information and referrals for people with disability who need help because of coronavirus (COVID-19).The Helpline can help families, carers, support workers and services too. The service is free, private and fact-checked.If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can also call the National Relay Service on 133 677.
Phone: 1800 643 787 (free call)
Visit: https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers/information-and-referrals-for-people-with-disability-and-their-supporters-about-coronavirus-covid-19
Human Services Network
A free website available to anyone looking for a service in NSW, allowing users to search over 65,000 support services across NSW covering health, disability, employment, food, education, legal, and housing.
Visit: https://www.hsnet.nsw.gov.au/
Hornsby Connect
Business as usual during the current lockdown. Just remember that masks are mandatory and social distancing must be in place. Please be respectful to the wonderful team of volunteers who continue to provide this service during these difficult times. Offering a “Staples” hamper, with a varied selection of pantry items, bakery items, fruit and vegetables for $10. Must register before being able to receive the service.
Phone: 0403 290 420
Email: info@hornsbyconnect.org.au
Visit: https://www.hornsbyconnect.org.au/
Foodbank NSW & ACT
Works in partnership with charities and schools to distribute the food to where it’s needed most. They can help you find a charity in your area that can support you.
Phone: 9756 3099
Lifeline Emergency Relief
provides immediate support for people who are in financial crisis including food parcels, food and petrol vouchers, clothing, information and referral.
Phone: 9498 8805
Visit: www.lifelineh2h.org.au/get-help
Hornsby Kur-ring gai Meals on Wheels
Helps you to continue living independently, in your own home, by delivering tasty and nutritious home-style and culturally appropriate meals, to your door. Offering clients and their families peace of mind with regular visits, happy smiles and a friendly chat. Culturally appropriate menu now available.
Phone: 9482 2088
Email: meals@kmow.org.au
Visit: www.kmow.gov.au
Hornsby Kur-ring gai Community transport
While all non-essential journeys must be cancelled (ie Social outings and hairdresser appointments), Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Community Transport is an essential service and continuing service during the lockdown order, to our eligible aged and community clients for essential journeys, ie Visiting doctors, specialists, medical tests or treatments as well as shopping services and shuttles.
Phone: 9983 1611
Visit: https://communitytransport.org.au/
Vinnies
Assistance with food, clothing, household items and financial aid for people struggling to get by. Shower facilities are currently closed due to COVID-19.
Phone: 13 18 12
Visit: https://www.vinnies.org.au/page/News/NSW/Blog_NSW/Vinnies_and_Coronavirus_Answering_Your_Questions/
Woolworths Priority Assistance Service
Offers dedicated delivery windows to eligible customers including seniors, people with a disability and those with compromised immunity or who are required to self-isolate.
Visit: https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/discover/priorityassistance
IGA
IGA is now providing a Priority Shop home delivery service to seniors over 70 years old in many areas. You need to complete the online form to sign up.
Visit: https://igashop.com.au/register/
Coles Online Service
Contactless Home delivery or Click and Collect in store is available.
Visit: https://www.coles.com.au/covid19/coles-online-updates
Family Advocacy and Support Services (FASS) Sydney Family Court
FASS social support is available on Mondays to Fridays from 9.30am-1pm and 2pm-4pm.
Phone: 9287 7505
Email: slcp@swslc.org.au
Hornsby Kuring-gai Home Modifications and Maintenance Service
The service provides small-scale modification and maintenance works that assist frail aged or people who care for them. Its aim is to allow people to continue living safely in their own homes for as long as possible.
Phone: 9847 6503
Home Library Service
Phone: 9847 6806
Email: homelibrary@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Service NSW Senior Assistance
Not sure what service is best for you? You can call Service NSW to help make arrangements to make your stay at home more comfortable 24hrs a day 7 days a week.
Phone: 13 77 88
Visit: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
NDIS
Phone: 1800 800 110
Email: enquiries@ndis.gov.au
Visit: https://www.ndis.gov.au/coronavirus/latest-advice-ndis
Better Rehab (NDIS Allied Health Service Provider)
Continuing face to face therapy, however, where a Participant cannot have Clinicians in their home, an effective Telehealth option is available. Better Rehab will assist in the communication and training of how to manage new technologies and gain support from informal and formal supports to enable Participants to retain their effective outcomes of therapy online.
Phone: 1300 073 422
Email: admin@betterrehab.com.au
My Aged Care
Phone: 1800 200 422
Visit: http://www.myagedcare.gov.au/
Street Works
Working with 'at risk' young people affected by crime, mental health issues, violence, destructive relationships, social isolation, homelessness, those disengaged from school or with poor employment opportunities and those impacted by alcohol and substance abuse, to turn their lives around.
Phone Thomas: 0473 578 273
Email: referral@streetwork.org.au
NSW Police
For Updates on what you can and can’t do in Social isolation and lockdown.
Visit: https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/
Florence Street Pharmacy
Contact-Less Home Delivery service to help members of the community who are; In self-Isolation, In quarantine or unable to make it to the pharmacy.
Phone: 9482 3122
Email: florencepharmacyservices@outlook.com
Pharmacist names: Mark, Joshua or Rafie
Home Medicines Service
Available for seniors to have their Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and Repartriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme prescriptions delivered.
Visit: https://www.ppaonline.com.au/programs/covid-19-home-medicine-service
Northern Sydney Local Health District Aboriginal Health Service
Phone: 9462 9017
Energy Made Easy
Is there help available with my energy bills during COVID-19?
The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on the Australian community and these impacts will be felt for some time. The financial uncertainty and difficulties many of us are facing will mean increased stress and perhaps an inability to pay your bills, including those for essential services like energy.
Phone: 1300 585 165
Visit: https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/
Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW
Providing support for energy and water customer (household or business) affect by the developing situation.
Phone: 1800 246 545
Visit: www.ewon.com.au
Olympus Solutions (part of Ability Options)
The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused significant disruption for many businesses and communities. As a result Olympus Solutions offer a number of employment services to the Australian Community including to those currently employed and those looking for work. Olympus Solutions offer several employment services to the community.
Phone: 1300 422 454
Email: sclo@abilityoptions.org.au
Visit: abilityoptions.org.au
BUNGEE BIDGEL
Aboriginal Health Clinic for Hornsby Hospital patients free and confidential legal advice. All appointments and advice are now by phone only Every Tuesday from 10am-4pm.
Get help with matters such as:
- Fines, bills and debts
- Housing
- Centrelink
- Discrimination and complaints
- Car accidents
- Victims Compensation
- Family matters
- Separating parents
- Grandparents and family looking after kids
- AVOs and seeing the kids
- Problems with FACS/DOCS
Phone: 9485 6200
Free and confidential legal help for Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital in-patients, out-patients and staff, March 2020.
All appointments and advice are now by phone only. Every Tuesday from 10am-4pm.
Phone: 1800 551 589
Chinese Australian Services Society (commonly known as “CASS”)
Provide a wide range of community services and activities for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Phone: 9789 4587
Visit: https://www.cass.org.au/
Sydney Water
Qualified case managers provide holistic solutions for customers experiencing affordability issues. Offer direct financial support through Payment Assistance Scheme (PAS) and aim to improve customer’s financial wellbeing, inclusion and resilience by referring customers to external services based on their needs.
Phone: 13 20 92
Anti-Discrimination NSW
Provides advice. Free telephone enquiry line with interpreter service, Free complaint handling, Free education and training, Information – free talks, publications, website and social media, Community engagement, Research and law reform.
Phone: 9268 5544
Toll free: 1800 670 812
TTY: 9268 5522
Email: adbcontact@justice.nsw.gov.au
Complaints: complaintsadb@justice.nsw.gov.au
Visit: www.antidiscrimination.justice.nsw.gov.au
Primary Health Network - Sydney North Health Network
The Primary Health Network name reflects the critical role that PHNs play in networking health services across local communities so that patients, particularly those needing coordinated care, have the best access to a range of healthcare providers.
Phone: 9432 8242
Email: community@snhn.org.au
Visit: https://sydneynorthhealthnetwork.org.au/resources/community-patients/
Job Centre Australia
Specialise in empowering people with a disability, illness or health condition to improve their circumstances through a range of training, support and employment opportunities.
Phone: 9413 1313 or 1800 466 046
VIsit: https://jobcentreaustralia.com.au/service-update-covid-19/
Max Solutions
Disability Employment and Health Services
Phone: 9472 4500 or 1800 603 503
Women’s shed Hornsby Ku-ring-gai
Providing a safe, inclusive and supportive space for women to learn and connect through sharing stories, experiences and knowledge.
Email: info@wshk.org.au
Australian Psychological Society
Helping People with Dementia in the COVID-19 environment.
NSW Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service
This free telephone-based health coaching service can support and motivate you to reach your healthy lifestyle goals to maintain your independence.
Phone: 1300 806 258
Visit: www.gethealthynsw.com.au
Australian Physio Association
Safe Exercise at home for older adults.
Visit: www.safeexerciseathome.org.au
Online Exercise for Seniors
Sydney North Health Network and Live Life Get Active bring you a series of online exercise videos. Daily activities help to maintain your physical condition. During isolation, many people will experience deterioration in muscular strength and flexibility.
Visit: https://sydneynorthhealthnetwork.org.au/fitness-and-health/
Growing Young Exercise Program
Teaches older Australians basic exercises they can do at home daily without equipment.
Visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Fitness-Trainer/Growing-Young-Exercise-Program-105400817784102
Virtual Neighbours – Rotary Beecroft
A new service to provide connectedness and assurance through regular phone or web calls to the elderly. We aim to reignite that 'local community feeling' of being valued and included in a time of social distancing and isolation. You are not alone. You can always speak to your friendly, trusted and caring Rotary Virtual Neighbour.
Phone: 0466 734 710
Visit: https://rotarybeecroft.org.au/virtualneighbour
Easy Care Gardening Inc.
Provides a gardening service by teams of volunteers for older people living in their own homes in the Hornsby, Hunters Hill, Ku-ring-gai and Ryde local government areas. To become a client with Easy Care Gardening you need to register with My Aged Care.
Phone: 1800 200 422, and ask to be referred to Easy Care Gardening.
Visit: www.easycaregardening.org.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ECG2074
Easy Care Gardening
Easy Care Gardening Inc. provides a gardening service by teams of volunteers for older people living in their own homes in the Hornsby, Hunters Hill, Ku-ring-gai and Ryde local government areas.
To become a client with Easy Care Gardening you need to register with My Aged Care on: 1800 200 422, and ask to be referred to Easy Care Gardening.
Visit: www.easycaregardening.org.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ECG2074