ASSISTED REFERRAL PROGRAM

 
WHAT IS THE ASSISTED REFERRAL PROGRAM?

During times of crisis or financial stress, members often find themselves having to decide between buying food or paying rent or paying bills. When this occurs, we offer a range of supports that can help to alleviate financial stress and take some of the pressure off.

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Food Vouchers - Coles & Oasis Shop Vouchers

Chemist Vouchers - Blooms (Wyong)

Fuel Vouchers - Woolworths Service Stations ONLY

Opal Cards

EAPA Vouchers - Electricity & Natural Gas

Community Pantry

FOOD, CHEMIST & FUEL VOUCHERS

Important Info:

Please download and read the document below:

ER from January 2020

 

Emergency Relief will now be known as the “Assisted Referral Program”.

 

A full assessment of your situation will be conducted, including a budget analysis and service plan.

 

The assessment will take approximately 45 minutes.

 

You must us before attending the centre for an appointment.

 

There will be only 5 available appointments per day, the first 5 people to phone in will be allocated an appointment.

 

We are able to provide assistance for those living in the suburbs below:

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2259 Suburbs

  • Alison

  • Dooralong

  • Durren Durren

  • Hamlyn Terrace

  • Jilliby and Little Jilliby

  • Mardi

  • Ravensdale

  • Rocky Point

  • Tacoma and South Tacoma

  • Tuggerah

  • Tuggerawong

  • Wadalba

  • Warnervale

  • Watanobbi

  • Wyong

  • Wyong Creek

  • Wyongah

  • Yarramalong

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2258 Suburbs

  • Fountaindale

  • Kangy Angy

  • Ourimbah

  • Palm Grove

  • Palmdale

 

2261 Suburbs

  • Berkeley Vale

  • Chittaway Bay

  • Chittaway Point

  • Glenning Valley

 

All other areas will be referred to other Emergency Relief programs such as:

  • San Remo Neighbourhood Centre

  • Toukley Neighbourhood Centre

  • The Entrance Neighbourhood Centre

  • The Samaritans

  • Catholic Care

  • St Vinnies

  • Wesley Mission

CONTACT NAME

Megan Maher

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CONTACT PHONE

02 4353 1750

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CONTACT EMAIL

megan@wnci.com.au

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PROGRAM DETAILS

Assistance will be for those with 2259/2258/2261 postcodes and living in the suburbs listed on the left hand side of this page.

 

The Assisted Referral team conducts assessments for assistance each day that there is a worker present:

  • 9.30am

  • 10.30am

  • 11.30am

  • 1.30pm

  • 2.30pm

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You will need to bring:

  • Evidence of income for you (and your partner) – access to MyGov is recommended during your appointment

  • Bank Statements (including credit card statements)

  • Evidence of any debts and the repayments regularly made

  • Recent bills paid and outstanding

  • Evidence of rent/board/mortgage paid (rent receipts or ledger, bank statement, mortgage statement, letter from landlord with contact details for landlord)

  • Any other evidence of hardship

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HOW TO BOOK

Phone for an appointment between 9am and 9.30am for the best chance of securing an appointment.

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PLEASE ALSO NOTE

  • You must actively participate in the assessment and cooperate with the referral worker or you may be refused service or offered very limited assistance.

  • There is no ENTITLEMENT to any particular number of visits. You will be assessed using a number of tools and assistance will be given based on level of crisis, disadvantage and willingness to participate in good faith.

  • EAPA (Energy Accounts Payment Assistance) will be offered during Assisted Referral sessions. No EAPA will be offered without a full assessment. EAPA may be refused if there is a history of regular reliance on the scheme without regular payments being made to cover current usage.

  • Anyone who attends the centre without an appointment or without bringing the required documentation may receive only minimal assistance or be refused assistance on that day.

  • Follow-up appointments will be made and must be kept, in order to receive assistance in the future, failure to keep these appointments may result in limited services being offered later.

  • You may be asked to use a ‘Track My Spending’ app or tool for 2 to 4 weeks in order to receive further assistance.

  • You will be asked to consider participating in the Tackling Tobacco program.

  • You may be referred to other outside services to address other needs you may have.

  • You may be referred to the TALK 2 ME program.

  • Oasis vouchers will be offered to those who decline the “Assisted Referral Program” or who have failed to attend follow up appointments with the Referral Worker.

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Important Info:

Visit the Resources and Energy website to read all about the EAPA Scheme.

EAPA VOUCHERS

CONTACT NAME

Trudy & Vicki

 

CONTACT PHONE

02 4353 1750

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CONTACT EMAIL

EAPA@wnci.com.au

 

PROGRAM DETAILS

If you're having difficulty paying your energy bill you could be eligible for help through the Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) Scheme.

Speak with your electricity or gas supplier to find out what assistance might be available to you. If you're not able to arrange a payment plan with your supplier you can then contact an EAPA provider for an assessment.

The Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) Scheme helps people experiencing a short term financial crisis or emergency to pay their electricity or natural gas bill. The scheme helps people stay connected to essential energy services during a financial crisis. This scheme is not available on an ongoing basis.

Vouchers can only be used to pay natural gas bills but not for liquid petroleum gas (LPG).

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Trudy conducts assessments at Wyong for assistance on:

  • Wednesday & Thursday - 9.15am to 3pm

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Vicki conducts assessments at Watanobbi for assistance on:

  • Tuesday & Wednesday - 9.30am to 3pm

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You will need to bring:

The original bill from your energy supplier NOT A DISCONNECTION OR OVERDUE NOTICE

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HOW TO BOOK

Phone for an appointment between 9am and 9.30am for the best chance of securing an appointment.

 
COMMUNITY PANTRY

PROGRAM DETAILS

Our pantry is stocked with donations from our community, local businesses and organisations who support us throughout the year. We make up Hampers according to the individual needs of the member or offer items from the Community Kitchen.

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We accept donations of:

  • Tinned meat

  • Tinned Spaghetti

  • Tinned Tuna/Salmon

  • Baked Beans

  • Tinned Vegetables (Peas, Beans, Corn & Carrots)

  • Tinned Tomatoes

  • Pasta

  • Rice

  • Pasta Sauce

  • Bottled Recipe Bases

  • 2 Minute Noodles

  • Pasta & Sauce Mixes

  • UHT Milk

  • Cereal

  • Deodorant

  • Shampoo/Conditioner

  • Body Wash

  • Toothbrushes/Toothpaste

  • Hair Brushes/Combs

  • Razors

  • Shaving Cream/Gel

  • Sanitary Items

 
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CONNECT​ WITH US:​​

OPENING HOURS

Our offices are staffed most weekdays by paid staff and volunteers. We are closed ALL weekends and public holidays. We close for 2-4 weeks during summer to allow for staff annual leave and service planning.

MONDAY - FRIDAY
WNC 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
PYSS 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
WCC 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM

ADDRESS

EMAIL

(02) 4353 1750

HELP AVAILABLE

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WYONG NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE

Building 2, Old Primary School

8 Rankens Court,

WYONG NSW 2259

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PHOENIX YOUTH SUPPORT

Building 1, Old Primary School

8 Rankens Court,

WYONG NSW 2259

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WATANOBBI OUTREACH

​Watanobbi Community Centre

1 Harrington Close,

WATANOBBI NSW 2259

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to Acknowledge the Darkinjung people who are the Traditional Custodians of

this Land. We pay respect to the Elders both past and present of the Darkinjung Nation and extend that respect to all Aboriginal staff, volunteers and members of our community.

© 2019 Wyong Neighbourhood Centre Inc.  Serving Wyong since 1979.