Rural counsellors

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On this page

What is a rural counsellor?

​If you are feeling distressed, suicidal or recovering from a suicide attempt, you can access support and counselling. If you live in a rural or regional area, a counsellor can come to you.

Rural and regional counsellors can also:

  • help farmers, members of the Aboriginal community, people living on rural properties, and people recently released from custody
  • ​support individuals within both workplace and community settings who are affected by suicide.

How to get help

You can get help from a rural or regional counsellor in your area by: 

  • calling the rural counsellor in your area, as listed on this page 
  • getting a referral from your GP or community health centre. 

You can also contact the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511. A trained mental health professional will ask some questions to help find a service best suited to your needs.   

 

Get help now

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call Triple Zero 000 or go to your nearest Emergency Department​.

Your can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or visit Get help now​ for more crisis services that may be better suited to you.

Please note: Calling a rural counsellor service may not always provide immediate help.

Find your nearest counsellor

Illawarra and Shoalhaven

Nowra

Base location: Nowra - 55-57 Berry Street, Nowra
Available: 8:30am - 5pm Monday to Friday
Phone: (02) 4455 9999 or 0497 299 100

Ulladulla

Base location: Health One, 130 Princes Highway, Ulladulla
Provides services from Nowra to Mount Agony Road, North Durras
Available: 8:30am-5pm Monday to Friday
Phone: (02) 4424 7800 or 0497 299 100

Far West NSW

Broken Hill

Base location: Broken Hill Health Service, Primary Health
Provides services to Broken Hill and outreach communities
Available: 9am-5pm Monday to Friday
Phone: (08) 8080 1554

Dareton

Base location: Buronga HealthOne, 3 Pittman Avenue, Buronga
Provides services to Buronga and outreach communities
Available: 9am-5pm Monday to Friday
Phone: (03) 5021 7200

Hunter and New England

Maitland

Base location: Maitland
Provides services to Upper and Lower Hunter
Available: 9am-5pm Monday to Friday
Phone: 1800 011 511
Email: HNELHD-ruralcounsellor@health.nsw.gov.au

Nepean and Blue Mountains

Windsor

Base location: 8 Ross Street, Windsor
Provides services in the Hawkesbury local government area
Available: 8:30am-5pm Monday to Friday 
Phone: (02) 4560 4100 or 0407 366 015
Email: NBMLHD-CERT@health.nsw.gov.au

Northern NSW

Lismore

Base location: Community Mental Health, 60 Hunter Street, Lismore
Provides services for Richmond Clarence, Lismore, Ballina and Casino
Available: 8:30am - 5pm, Monday to Friday
Phone: 0400 536 892

Tweed

Base location: Community Mental Health, The Tweed Hospital, Powell and Florence Streets, Tweed Heads
Provides services to Tweed Shire
Available: 8:30am-5pm, Monday to Friday

Southern NSW

Eurobodalla

Base location: Moruya Community Health Centre, 2 River Street, Moruya
Provides services to the Eurobodalla area
Available: 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday to Friday
Phone: (02) 4474 1561 or 0439 633 427

​Western NSW

Lachlan Valley

​Base location: Parkes Hospital, 2 Morrissey Way, Parkes
Provides services to the Lachlan Valley towns of Parkes (including the Parkes Safe Haven 3/195-199 Clarinda Street), Forbes, Condobolin, Eugowra, Peak Hill, Trundle, Tottenham, Tullamore and surrounds
Available: 8:30am-5pm Monday to Friday
Phone: (02) 6861 2570

Learn more about rural counsellor services

Rural and regional communities experience disproportionately higher suicide rates compared to metropolitan areas, along with major challenges in accessing professional mental health support.

The NSW Government is committed to supporting people in regional and rural areas affected by adverse events, ensuring they have access to professional mental health support where and when they need it.

​NSW Government funds 15 rural counsellors to provide support across nine regional and rural Local Health Districts, providing direct care and responding to local community needs.

​​​​​News and media about rural counseller services


Current as at: Monday 2 June 2025
Contact page owner: Mental Health