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ACT and Commonwealth Ombudsman Takes complaints about administrative actions or decisions made by ACT and Commonwealth Government departments or bodies. An independent, confidential and impartial body with recommendation powers if complaints are found to be justified. Before going to the Ombudsman it is a good idea to try and solve the problem with the agency you want to complain about. As a general rule, the Ombudsman will not, and in some cases cannot, investigate complaints until they have been raised with the agency. Most agencies have internal complaint handling procedures that may be able to sort out the problem to your satisfaction. If you have not contacted the agency first, the Ombudsman may decide not to investigate until you have tried to resolve the problem with the agency itself. Contact Details: Mail to: GPO Box 442 Canberra City ACT 2601 Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.au Web Link: www.ombudsman.gov.au ACT Carer Respite Centre Provides in-home and emergency respite to people who are caring for a family member or friend who has a long term physical or mental illness, disability or is frail aged. Access to emergency residential care is also available. Respite also provided for parents of a child with a disability. Contact Details: Churches Centre Gr Lv l l Suite 5 54 Benjamin Way Belconnen ACT 2617 Email: resource@carersact.asn.au Web Link: www.carersact.asn.au After Hours Legal Advice, ACT After hours legal advice for people in police custody and for other urgent matters. Hours: Mon-Fri 6pm-9am and all weekend. 24 hour telephone service. For urgent after hours legal advice phone 0429 440 084. The Legal Aid Commission of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is established under the Legal Aid Act 1977. The aim of the Commission is to work to inform people of their legal rights and obligations, and to improve their access to the justice system. Contact Details: Mail to: GPO Box 512 Canberra ACT 2601 Email: legalaid@legalaid.canberra.net.au Web Link: www.legalaid.canberra.net.au Alcohol and Drug Program, ACT Health Provides a 24 hour information service on alcohol and other drugs. Support, referral and initial phone assessment is also offered to clients and families wanting to access ADP services 24 hours per day. Other services include: withdrawal supervision from alcohol and/or other drugs; methadone prescribing, dosing and co-ordination; liaison nursing services for patients admitted to Calvary or The Canberra Hospital; counselling and case management and health promotion. Also offers a range of diversion services, including the treatment referral program and a court alcohol and drug assessment service. Contact Details: Mail to: GPO Box 825 Canberra ACT 2601 Web Link: www.health.act.gov.au Anxiety Support Group, Canberra A relaxed, confidential, self-help support group for those affected by anxiety. Books, videos, cassettes and other reference material. 2nd and 4th Sun of the month, 2pm - 3.30pm. Contact Details: Mail to: PO Box 78 Woden ACT 2606 Email: info@mhf.org.au Web Link: www.mhf.org.au Arcadia House Withdrawal Centre, ACT 24 hour service for drug, alcohol, nicotine issues. Detox unit. A natural and alternative therapy based service including natural remedies, massage and acupuncture. Contact Details: Marypotter Circ, Calvary Hospital, Hayden Dr. Belconnen ACT 2617 Email: arcadia@directionsact.com Web Link: www.directionsact.com Australian Federal Police The AFP enforces Commonwealth criminal law, and protects Commonwealth and national interests from crime in Australia and overseas. The AFP is Australia's international law enforcement and policing representative, and the chief source of advice to the Australian Government on policing issues. AFP priorities are set through ministerial direction. Areas of focus include handling special references from Government, and combating: organised crime; transnational crime; money laundering; major fraud; illicit drug trafficking; and e-crime. AFP works closely with other Australian and international law enforcement bodies to enhance safety and security in Australia, and to provide a secure regional and global environment. AFP has an extensive network of liaison officers in more than 20 countries. AFP officers contribute to overseas peacekeeping missions. AFP provides protection services to dignitaries and crucial witnesses, and community policing services to the people of the Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay, and external territories such as Norfolk Island and Christmas Island. Contact Details: Mail to: GPO Box 401 Canberra ACT 2601 Web Link: www.afp.gov.au Bi Polar Peer Support, Canberra Individual, one-on-one, telephone or face to face support with a peer support person who is experiencing similar mental health issues. 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7pm. Contact Details: Mail to: PO Box 78 Woden ACT 2606 Email: info@mhf.org.au Web Link: www.mhf.org.au Care Inc. Financial Counselling Service A community organisation set up to ensure low income consumers are treated fairly, and to support them to overcome debt. Offers information and financial counselling, community development and education, social action and no interest loans. Web Link: www.carefcs.org Centrelink, Canberra Offers a range of programs, services and payments in all government social welfare areas, including: all child and family payments, aged, wife, sole parent, carer and disability pensions as well as jobsearch, newstart, sickness, mobility and youth allowance. Centrelink is a government agency delivering a range of Commonwealth services to the Australian community. Centrelink's website can make it easier for you to explore your options, know what questions to ask, and find out more about how Centrelink can help you. Web Link: www.centrelink.gov.au Child Protection Services Northside, ACT Investigates and intervenes in cases of alleged child abuse and neglect. Hours: 8.30am to 4.51pm Mon to Fri, Closed Wed until 1pm (Appointment preferred, After Hours: 6207 0720). Mail to: PO Box 313 Belconnen ACT 2617 Web Link: www.act.gov.au Community Advocate, ACT The OCA has a range of statutory functions and powers with respect to children and young people, and adults with a mental illness or impaired decision making ability, who require protection from abuse, exploitation or neglect. It is responsible for promoting, and individually representing, the best interests of people who are not able to protect or represent their own interests. Represents the interests, and protects the rights of adults with a disability and children before courts, tribunals and with service providers, and facilitates service coordination where complex service needs exist. Contact Details: Mail to: PO Box 1001 Civic Square ACT 2608 Email: oca@act.gov.au Web Link: www.oca.act.gov.au CYCLOPS ACT Service for young carers and their families, offering information, referral, case management, personal support, support groups, recreation, education and training, advocacy and brokerage. Eligibility: From 10 to 18 years. Young carers and their families. Cnr Rudd and Marcus Clarke Sts, Canberra 2601 Contact Details: Mail to: GPO Box 1436 Canberra ACT 2601 Email: team@cyclopsact.org Disability Discrimination Legal Service, ACT Offers free legal service assisting people who have been discriminated against on the basis of their disability as recognized under legislation. Contact Details: Mail to: PO Box 337 Civic Square ACT 2608 Email: wrlc@ozemail.com.au Web Link: www.welfarerightsact.org Foster Care Association of the ACT The Foster Care Association of the ACT supports and advocates on behalf of foster carers and children and young people in care; provides a communication link between foster carers, agencies, programs and government about foster care; participates in policy and consultative forums as a sector partner, and actively promotes best practice in foster care. Contact Details: Mail To: PO Box 4260 Kingston ACT 2604 Email: fcaact@bigpond.com Web Link: www.fcaact.org.au Job Solve, Canberra The aim of Job Solve is simply to find paid and valued work in the ACT area for people who have a disability; and to assist people to keep those jobs. Since opening six years ago, Job Solve has assisted around 200 people to access employment. Please click here for more information about Job Solve.. Kincare Community Services ACT In-home support, respite services and assistance to young carers, the elderly and people with disabilities. Kincare is a leading provider of community care services to the frail aged, people with a disability, and their carers. Kincare's knowledge and commitment to providing the highest standard of community care gives you the security and peace of mind that you want, while its range of services offer everything you need. Kincare can provide a variety of services from cleaning and assisting with meal preparation, to nursing services, assistance with showers, dressing, personal grooming and mobility. Kincare's respite services can provide a substitute carer to enable you to have a break. Kincare's services are available from 30 minutes to 24-hour live-in care. One of Kincare's service managers would be happy to discuss your needs by phone, or provide a free no-obligation consultation in your home to discuss services and plan care that will meet your needs. Contact Details: Mail to: PO Box 56 Waramanga ACT 2611 Web Link: www.kincare.com.au Relationships Australia Counselling, mediation and group programs for people wanting to build better relationships. Available for those who are unhappy with their relationships, experiencing conflict, living with violence, having sexual difficulties, separating from a partner, adapting to separation or divorce, considering remarriage or adjusting to a new step family. Relationships Australia (RA) is Australia's leading provider of professional services to support relationships. It is a not-for-profit community based organisation. Relationships Australia is committed to enhancing the lives of communities, families and individuals by being the leading professional provider of quality relationship support services. Relationships Australia is approved under the Family Relationships Services Program, which is administered by the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services, to provide services such as: family and relationship counselling; marriage and relationship education; family and child mediation; family skills training; adolescent mediation and family therapy; children's contact services; and other specialist relationship programs. Contact Details: Mail to: PO Box 320 Curtin ACT 2605 Email: racroffice@ra.asn.au Web Link: www.relationships.com.au Solace ACT Inc Solace is a self-help group for people whose partners have died. It is a national group, with meetings held throughout most of the States and Territories. In Canberra, Solace holds lunchtime meetings in Phillip, and evening meetings in Hawker. Solace is a voluntary organisation, and all its support workers have been widowed. Evening meetings are held at Christ Church, Hawker, 7.30 - 9.30 pm on the first or third Monday evening of each month. Lunchtime meetings are held at The Canberra Southern Cross Club, Phillip, 12.30 - 2.30 pm on the first or third Wednesday of each month. Contact Details: Mail To: PO Box 54 Curtin ACT 2605 Phone: (02) 6297 1052 Email: lizpinner@hotmail.com Web Link: www.solace.org.au The Wilderness Society ACT The Wilderness Society is a national, community-based, not for profit, environmental education and advocacy organisation whose mission is to protect, promote and restore wilderness and natural processes across Australia, for the survival and ongoing evolution of life on Earth. Contact Details: Mail To: PO Box 188 Civic Square Canberra City ACT 2608 Email: campaign@wilderness.org.au Web Link: www.wilderness.org.au Welfare Rights and Legal Centre, Canberra Provides free legal advice, information and advocacy in the following areas: private and public tenancy, Centrelink benefits and legal aid appeals for people on low incomes. WRLC also runs a night time legal advice service providing advice on all areas of law, including unemployment, disability, discrimination, legal service and tenants advice service. Mon-Tues-Thurs-Fri (Closed Wed) 9.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-4.30pm Contact Details: Mail to: GPO Box 337 Civic Square ACT 2608 Email: wrlc@netspeed.com.au Web Link: www.welfarerightsact.org For more Community Help Links ****************************** This Community Support Website is |
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Do you need help? The following Organisations and Departments are serving the Canberra Community. Click a link to view their Website. |
