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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.​

  • ​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.

    Service is for persons aged 17 years and above. Visitors under 17 years will be supported to connect to more appropriate services.

  • 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

    Visitors under 16 will be asked to seek out a responsible adult to join them at the Safe Haven. ​

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

    Open: 12pm to 4pm Saturday and Sunday

    Email: SafeHavenCafe@svha.org.au

    Service is for persons aged 16 years and above. No referral required.​​

  • 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​

    Visitors under 16 are encouraged to attend with a responsible adult when able to do so.​

  • 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.

    Service is available to all ages.

  • 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

    Visitors under 16 will be encouraged to seek out a responsible adult to join them at the Safe Haven, or seek parent/carer consent to attend.​

  • ​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)

    Service is for persons aged 16 years and above. No referral required.​

  • 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

    Visitors under 16 will be asked to seek out a responsible adult to join them at the Safe Haven. ​

  • 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 ​

    Service is available for persons aged 18 years and above. No referral required.

  • ​Youth Safe Haven

    Address: 59 Wicks Road, North Ryde NSW 2113.

    Macquarie Hospital, Building 72, near Gate 1

    Open: 4pm to 8pm Monday to Sunday (including Public Holidays)

    Phone: 02 8877 4537

    Email: nslhd-safehaven@health.nsw.gov.au​ 

    Service is available to persons aged 12 to 17 years (18 years if still in school)​. No referral required​.

  • ​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​

    Service is available to all ages. Visitors under 14 years will receive CAMH clinician support. Visitors under 16 years will be asked to seek out a responsible adult to attend, with exceptions for young people in out-of-home care or refuges.

  • 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

    Visitors under 16 will be encouraged to seek out a responsible adult to join them at the Safe Haven. ​

  • 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

    ​Visitors under 16 will be encouraged to seek out a responsible adult to join them at the Safe Haven, or seek parental/carer consent to attend.

  • ​​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

    Service is available to all ages.

  • 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

    Service is available to all ages. Visitors under 16 will be asked to seek out a responsible adult to join them at the Safe Haven during their first visit

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: Monday 5 February 2024
Contact page owner: Mental Health