Carer Assist

When people first suspect that a friend or family member may have a mental illness, their priority need is for information on where to find diagnostic and treatment services.

On diagnosis, friends and family members (carers) have an urgent need for information and support to cope with the grief that this type of diagnosis can create. They also need help in building support systems, learning how to live with someone who has a mental illness, setting boundaries and caring for themselves.

Carers may also need assistance to navigate their way around the mental health system as well as advocacy in cases where their requirements, or those of the person they are caring for, are not being met appropriately.

Carers then need ongoing support and education, with extra support in times of crisis.

What does Carer Assist do?

'Carer Assist' has Carer Advocates who provide support services for carers in regional areas of NSW. Our Carer Advocates are placed in three Area Health Service catchment areas including Sydney South-Western Area, Hunter New England Area and Greater Southern Area.

The Carer Advocates work together with other non-government organisations, Area Health Services, community health organisations and any other organisations or groups that are involved in a carer’s life.

Contact Carer Assist

To contact the Carer Assist Office, please ring (02) 9816 5652
or to email, click here.

Contact Carer Advocates

• Sydney/South West
  • Team Leader SSW - Jan Doyle 9750 9744
  • Camperdown/Croydon - Pam Bruce 9750 9744
  • Belmore - Nicole Luhrs 9750 9744
  • Belmore - Mohammed Hussein 9750 9744
  • Campbelltown - Ruth Macnamara 4620 5255
  • Campbelltown - Linda Feeney 4620 5255
  • Moss Vale - Katharine Clarke
• Hunter/New England
  • Team Leader HNE- Helen Staines 4925 2811
  • Newcastle - Liz Bosworth 4925 2811
  • Newcastle - Charlie Richardson 4925 2811
  • Newcastle - Nadine Ballantyne 4925 2811
  • Tamworth - Joyce Vernon 6761 3222
  • Armidale - Teresa Duggin 6761 3222
  • Taree - Sharon Freebody 6551 4333
• Greater Southern
  • Team Leader GS - Paula Howe 6232 9044
  • Albury - Susan Morris
  • Goulburn - Sue Trevaskis 4822 3173
  • Griffith - Cherie Adams 6962 3099
  • Moruya - Mary Henry 4474 0900
  • Queanbeyan - Carly Vesela 6232 9044
  • Wagga Wagga - Jenny McCurdy 6925 9399
  • Wagga Wagga - Leonie Cain 6925 9399

Locations of Carer Assist Offices - click here

'Well Ways' courses

'Carer Assist' also runs the Well Ways courses for carers on a regular basis and across the state. This course is an informal workshop designed to increase the capacity of families, carers and friends to care effectively for themselves, other family members and the person living with a mental illness.

Please click here to find out more about this course's structure, aims and program details, fees, duration, etc. (only 47kb in Acrobat Reader PDF)