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Who 2 contact & what to expect

Who could I Contact?

  1. I’ve been kicked out of home - Who could I contact?
    (Accommodation/Housing/Refuge Referral. E.g.: Homeless Persons 1800 234 566, South West Women’s Housing 9821 3173 )
  2. It’s 10 o’clock at night and I feel really down, I’m thinking about self harming because of everything that’s been happening but I want to talk to someone about it - Who could I contact?
    (Crisis & Emergency Services or Children & Youth Services. E.g.: Life Line 131 114, Ambulance 000)
  3. I want to talk to someone about contraception options – Who could I contact?
    (Reproductive and Sexual Health. E.g.: Bigge Park Sexual Health Clinic 9827 8022, Marie Stopes International 1800 003 707)
  4. I’m feeling pretty upset because my grand mother died - Who could I contact?
    (Counselling and Support – Grie. E.g.: Salvo Care Line 9331 6000, Kids Help Line 1800 551 800)
  5. I’ve heard Women’s Health Centre’s run interesting programs for women - Who could I contact?
    (Women’s Services E.g.: Liverpool Women’s Health Centre 9601 355, Liverpool Women’s Resource Centre 9607 7536)
  6. I was raped at a party a month ago, I’ve spoken to the police but I think I need to see a counsellor - Who could I contact?
    (Counselling and Support – Sexual Assault. E.g.: NSW Rape Crisis 9819 6565, LiverpoolSexual assault Service 9298 4844)
  7. I need some help and information about some legal issues - Who could I contact?
    (Legal Advice & Assistance E.g.: Law Access N.N.W 1300 888 529, Women’s Legal Services NSW 9749 5533)
  8. I’ve been feeling really anxious whenever I go out and I’ve been really stressed about school I want to speak to a youth counsellor - Who could I contact?
    (Children and Youth Services E.g.: FLYHT – Fairfield Liverpool Youth Health Team 8717 1717, RAPS 9890 1500)
  9. I live with my boyfriend but he’s been putting me down and harassing me to know about where I am and what I’m doing. I’m scared he’s going to hit me. Who could I contact?
    (Domestic Violence (DV) Services. E.g.: Domestic Violence Hotline 1800 656 463, Joan Harrisons Women’s Services 9602 9160)
  10. My friend thinks she’s pregnant and doesn’t know who to speak with - Who could I contact?
    (Ante-natal & Post-Natal Services. E.g.: Karitane Care Line 1300 227 464, Liverpool Family Care Cottage 9821 4555)
  11. I’m attracted to females and I want to talk to someone about how I feel - Who could I contact?
    (Lesbian Services & Information. E.g.: ACON- Western Sydney 9206 2000, Gay & Lesbian Counselling Service 8594 9596)
  12. I want to find out what community events are on in the next month - Who could I contact?
    (Community Activities/Interests E.g.: Liverpool Council 9821 9222, Liverpool Library 9621 9422)

What to Expect When You Call a Service

Some things to keep in mind when calling a service

  • Some services are small and you’ll need to leave a message on an answer machine so they can call you back.
  • You are likely to speak to a receptionist, so you would have to ask to speak to the kind of worker you need. This could be a domestic violence worker, or a sexual assault worker or counsellor.
  • Be prepared to be on hold. Do not hang up. They are just finding the best worker for you.
  • Be prepared to leave a message on an answering machine, just in case. You can choose to just leave your first name and make sure you leave a number where it is safe to call you back such as a mobile or a friends

Calling a service safely & privately

  • If you want, for extra privacy at home borrow a friend’s mobile to get called back on
  • Ask to be called back at the school counsellor’s office. (Many school counsellors are happy to arrange for this to happen.)
  • To hide your calls from others in your household:
    – Ring other numbers such as friends after the service, so their number doesn’t show on your phone’s redial
    – If your phone allows, delete call histories

Service workers are trained not to say where they are from.

  • Workers will only leave their first name if you’re not available when they call back.
  • They won’t say they are from a service if they can’t speak with you personally. This is to protect your privacy & safety.

Protecting your privacy on the net

  • If you’ve visited service websites you want to keep private, you’ll need to delete them from the computer’s memory.
  • To do this on Internet Explorer: go into the Tools Menu, click on Internet Options & make sure you delete Temporary internet pages, Cookies & History of websites you’ve visited.

Remember it’s a services job to handle the same issue that you are having everyday with plenty of people other than yourself. It is completely normal to contact a service. In fact, it is healthy to speak to someone about issues that you may be having who is outside your usual friendship group or family. That way you have an honest, professional and non- judgemental person to speak to who will be there to always listen.