Support Services
The following services are available in the Central West to support residents in their recovery journey.
Recovery Support Service
The Recovery Support Service – Central West helps residents navigate and access all services and available disaster assistance, including the Resilient Homes Program. Dedicated caseworkers can help build residents to build connections and link them to local community resources, services and programs.
The service covers the entire central west region, particularly the flood-impacted areas of Cabonne, Forbes, Lachlan and Parkes.
For more information about accessing the Recovery Support Service, visit the Recovery Support Services website.
Legal Aid Assistance Program
Legal Aid NSW’s Disaster Response Legal Service is supporting Central West residents affected by the 2022 floods with free legal advice. The team can provide advice about the Resilient Homes Program and other government grants. Assistance includes understanding program eligibility requirements, navigating the fine print and options that may be available to have a grant or program determination reviewed or appealed.
The Disaster Response Legal Service can also help residents affected by the 2022 floods to navigate insurance claims processes, providing advice about entitlements, temporary accommodation, cash settlements, delays and appealing decisions and denials.
Residents can also obtain legal advice on a range of other flood related issues including housing and tenancy matters, financial hardship, credit and debt, workplace rights and entitlements and domestic and family violence matters.
For free and confidential advice call Legal Aid NSW’s Disaster Response Legal Service on: 1800 801 529.
More information and self-help tools are available on the website Disaster Response Legal Service NSW
Other support services
The following services are also available in the Central West to support residents in their recovery journey.
| Provider name | Support available | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) | Free and confidential financial advice and counselling for Primary Producers and small related enterprises | Call: 1800 319 458 or find out more at: rfcsnsw.org.au |
| Service NSW | Assistance with information grants and financial assistance. Information on hardship considerations for taxes, and fines. How to replace lost identity documents. | Call: 13 77 88 or find out more at: www.service.nsw.gov.au |
| Legal Aid NSW | Free legal advice on flood related legal issues. Help with government grants, insurance claims, financial hardship, family violence and everyday legal issues. | Call: 1800 801 529 or find out more at: disasterhelp.legalaid.nsw.gov.au |
| Australian Red Cross | Provides psychosocial support to those affected by natural disaster and can assisting in making referrals. | Call: 1800 733 276 or find out more at: www.redcross.org.au/emergencies |
| CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes Team | Provide financial counselling and advocacy support for those experiencing financial hardship or financial risk. | Call: 1800 067 067 |
| Lifeline Australia | Provides 24/7 confidential crisis support. | Call: 13 11 14 If life is in immediate danger call 000 |
| NSW Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network | Provides pastoral and spiritual support in times of crisis and in times of recovery. Chaplains are available from all faiths. | Call: (02) 8267 4394 or email fmsg@nswact.org.au |
| Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) | Supporting those who work in agriculture and primary production and those who depend on those industries. Mental Health support. Local support workers living in your community. | Find out more at: https://www.ramhp.com.au/get-support/ |
| The Salvation Army | Provides financial, material, emotional and spiritual support at all stages of the recovery process. | Call: 1300 371 288 |