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What is a Safe Haven?

A Safe Haven is a place you can go if you’re feeling distressed or having suicidal thoughts.

It is a safe place where you can talk openly about how you are feeling and what you’re going through.

A place where you can feel supported and not judged.

You can talk to peer-support workers or be connected to a mental health professional.

If you don’t feel like chatting, you can spend time in a quiet space and listen to music.

It’s free and you don’t need an appointment.

What to expect at a Safe Haven

What to expect at a Safe Haven

Where to get help

There are Safe Havens throughout NSW. Find your nearest one.

COVID-19 and Safe Havens

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many Safe Havens continue to open as usual while some locations may have changed hours or requirements. This might include virtual-only support or temporary closure. Please check the information for the Safe Haven you want to attend or call before visiting.

If you are in suicidal crisis, please call 000 for emergencies or contact the 24-hour Mental Health Line for a referral service on 1800 011 511.

The direct phone number for a service may not always be able to provide immediate assistance.

  • ​Address: Old War Vets Road, Thomas Street entrance, Broken Hill NSW 2880.

    On the grounds on Broken Hill Health Service, next to the Far West Recovery Centre

    Open: 4:30pm to 10pm Tuesday to Friday, 11am to 4pm Saturday

    Phone: 0418 442 767

    Email: safehavenfw@missionaustralia.com.au

    COVID-19 info: To attend the service, please call to book a time slot. If in crisis, please present to Broken Hill hospital Emergency Department where a Safe Haven peer worker will attend to support you.

  • Address: 80 Woodhouse Drive, Ambarvale NSW 2560

    Open: 12pm-7.30pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (including public holidays)

    Phone: 0457 093 109 (available during service open times)

    Email: SWSLHD-CampbelltownSafeHaven@health.nsw.gov.au

    Website: Campbelltown Safe Haven

  • Address: St Vincent's O'Brien Centre (Community Mental Health), 390 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

    Open: 12pm to 4pm Sunday

    Email: SafeHavenCafe@svha.org.au

  • Address: 2/29 Church Street, Dubbo NSW 2830

    Open: 9:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

    Phone: 1800 011 511 (NSW Mental Health Line) or (02) 6881 4000 (Community Mental Health) or 0436 850 152

  • Address: Corner of Ambulance Road and Holden Street, Gosford NSW 2250.

    Open: 9am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. Closed on Public Holidays.

    Phone: (02) 4394 1597.

  • Address: 81 Kooyoo Street, Griffith NSW 2680

    Open: 2pm to 9pm Friday to Sunday

    Phone: 0497 447 955

    Email: MLHD-Griffith-SafeHaven@health.nsw.gov.au

  • ​Address: Kirk Place, Unit 1-2, Ground Floor, 15 Kensington Street, Kogarah NSW 2217

    Open: 5pm to 9pm Friday to Tuesday

    Phone: (02) 9113 2981

    Email: SESLHD-safehaven@health.nsw.gov.au

    Website: SESLHD - SafeHaven

    Facebook: SafeHaven (St George)

  • Address: Moore St, Bigge Park, Liverpool NSW 2170 (opposite bus terminal)

    Open: 12pm-7.30pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (including public holidays)

    Phone: 0499 825 974 (available during service open times)

    Email: SWSLHD-LiverpoolSafeHaven@health.nsw.gov.au

    Website: https://www.swslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/SafeHaven

  • Address: 22 Stewart Avenue, Hamilton East NSW 2303

    Open: 4pm to 9pm Friday to Sunday

    Email: HNELHD-NewcastleSafeHavenHub@health.nsw.gov.au

    Service is available to persons aged 12 years and above. No referral required

  • Address: 168 Missenden Road, Newtown NSW 2047

    Open: 10am to 4pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

    Phone: (02) 9562 5830

    Email: SLHD-SafeHaven@health.nsw.gov.au

  • ​Address: Ground floor, Suite 3, 195-199 Clarinda Street, Parkes NSW 2870

    Open: Temporarily reduced to 9:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

    Phone: 0428 228 097

    Email: wnswlhd-parkes-safehaven@health.nsw.gov.au

    Visitors under 16 will be asked to seek out a responsible adult to join them at the Safe Haven. During school hours referrals will be directed to the Parkes Community Mental Health Team.

  • Penrith Head to Health

    Address: ​111 Henry Street, Penrith, New South Wales 2750

    Open: 1pm to 9:30pm Monday, Wednesday to Sunday (including public holidays), 1pm to 5pm Tuesday

  • Address: Community Mental Health, Wrights Road, Port Macquarie NSW 2444

    Open: 2pm to 8pm Thursday to Sunday

    Phone: (02) 5524 2000

  • Address: C1 East, Level 1, Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick NSW 2031

    Open: 12pm to 5pm Monday to Friday

    Phone: 0439 387 939

    Email: SCHN-SCH-MHSafeHaven@health.nsw.gov.au

    This Safe Haven supports young people aged 16 years and under

  • Address: 214 Bridge Street, West Tamworth NSW 2340

    Open: 4pm to 9pm Friday to Sunday

    Email: HNELHD-TamworthSafeHavenHub@health.nsw.gov.au

    Service is available to persons aged 12 years and above. No referral required

  • ​Address: 3/24 Minjungbul Drive, Tweed Heads South NSW 2486

    Open: 12pm to 6pm 7 days a week

    Email: nnswlhd-twe-tzsic-safehaven@health.nsw.gov.au


  • Address: 7 Yathong Street, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650

    Open: 2pm to 9pm Friday to Sunday

    Phone: 0497 422 937

    Email: MLHD-Wagga-SafeHaven@health.nsw.gov.au

  • ​​Address: 26 Grand Avenue, Westmead NSW 2145

    Open: 3:30pm to 9:30pm Sunday to Wednesday

    Phone: 0436 377 113

    Email: wslhd-safehaven@health.nsw.gov.au


  • Address: 55 Urunga Parade, Wollongong NSW 2500

    Open: 2pm to 10pm Wednesday to Saturday

    Phone: 0401 561 164

    Email: wollongong.safehaven@stride.com.au

    Website: Stride

About the Safe Haven initiative

The Safe Haven initiative provides a calm, culturally sensitive and non-clinical alternative to hospital emergency departments, for people experiencing distress or suicidal thoughts.

Safe Havens are staffed by peer-support workers and you can be connected to other mental health professionals.

There are 19 Safe Havens across NSW. These Safe Havens will be based on, or near, hospital grounds, with suicide prevention staff and mental health clinicians on hand to offer emotional support and provide information on available services.

People with lived experience of suicide are helping to co-design models of care for Safe Havens that are tailored to their communities and local health districts.

If urgent medical attention is needed the emergency department is close by.

Safe Havens aim to:

  • provide immediate, personalised, and compassionate care
  • connect people to support services to address the underlying factors in their distress
  • reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments
  • reduce self-harm, suicide attempts and deaths by suicide.

News and video about Safe Haven

Current as at: Wednesday 21 December 2022
Contact page owner: Mental Health