| Factsheet |  |
Christmas crisis careFor some people, Christmas can be the loneliest time of year. For those who find themselves in need of support, there are crisis care services, including telephone counselling, in both metro and regional areas in NSW. |
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Last updated: 01 November 2007 Crisis careMost of us associate the Christmas and New Year holidays with a time to catch up with close friends and family. Although most of us are fortunate enough to be able to spend our holidays with family, it is important that people in crisis have somewhere to turn over the Christmas and New Year break. Problems don't disappear because it is Christmas Day and often people can feel even more isolated around this time of year. There are many welfare groups that will continue to offer 24 hour phone counselling and can refer people to specific services if necessary. Available servicesSome of the available services over Christmas and New Year include: Daruk Aboriginal Medical Service provides medical services Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (except on Public Holidays). Life Line provides telephone counselling 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Oasis Youth Care Centre provides health and support services specifically for young people. Salvation Army Care Line provides telephone counselling 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sydney Rape Crisis Centre provides 24-hour crisis support and counselling to all sexual assault victims. Wayside Chapel Crisis Centre provides counselling seven days a week until late evening. William Booth Institute, Surry Hills provides all hours phone counselling for people with addictions to alcohol, drugs or gambling. Hospital Emergency Departments will continue operating as normal. |
| Further information - Public Health Units in NSW | |||||
| For more information please contact your doctor, local public health unit or community health centre - look under NSW Government at the front of the White Pages | |||||
| Metropolitan Areas | Location | Number | Rural Areas | Location | Number |
| Northern Sydney/Central Coast | Hornsby | 02 9477 9400 | Greater Southern | Goulburn | 02 4824 1837 |
| Gosford | 02 4349 4845 | Albury | 02 6080 8900 | ||
| South Eastern Sydney/Illawarra | Randwick | 02 9382 8333 | Greater Western | Broken Hill | 08 8080 1499 |
| Wollongong | 02 4221 6700 | Dubbo | 02 6841 5569 | ||
| Sydney South West | Camperdown | 02 9515 9420 | Bathurst | 02 6339 5601 | |
| Sydney West | Penrith | 02 4734 2022 | Hunter/New England | Newcastle | 02 4924 6477 |
| Parramatta | 02 9840 3603 | Tamworth | 02 6764 8000 | ||
| Justice Health Service | Matraville | 02 9311 2707 | North Coast | Port Macquarie | 02 6588 2750 |
| Lismore | 02 6620 7585 | ||||