About our social work services for women
We offer compassionate and confidential social work services to support women, including their children and families. We offer these services across several hospitals and community health centres in Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD).
Our services help women experiencing complex social challenges and in need of support. Our experienced social workers provide:
- grief and bereavement counselling
- support for survivors of sexual assault
- family support and parenting services
- support for women affected by domestic and family violence
- culturally sensitive care, including Aboriginal and multicultural liaison support.
Our services are free and available to inpatients and outpatients in Western Sydney LHD.
Referrals
We organise automatic referrals for:
- domestic violence
- elder abuse
- child at risk
- need for assessment for entry into residential aged care
- sudden unexpected death
- poor prognosis/end of life discussions/withdrawal of treatment
- maternal loss
If you would like to talk with a social worker, speak to your doctor (GP or specialist), midwife or nurse. You can also contact the social work service departments in Western Sydney LHD.
Western Sydney also provide Aboriginal Liaison Officer (ALO) and Multicultural Maternity Liaison Officers who can help connect you to the services and supports you need.
Our services
Learn about the different social work support services for women available in Western Sydney LHD.
Domestic and family violence can happen to anyone in the community, regardless of your sex, sexual likes, age, where you live, your cultural background, religion, disability or financial position.
Violence and the threat of violence in a home creates fear and an unsafe place for children and young people to grow.
Our social work team can provide support and help with:
- Domestic and family violence.
- Emotional or mental (psychological) abuse.
- Children with lived experience in abusive households.
Get help
If you are living with domestic violence or know someone who is, you can ask your doctor or midwife to refer you to our social work team or contact the social work department at Auburn or Westmead.
Read our domestic and family violence factsheet (PDF 563.25KB) to learn more and to find the support you need.
Support services in NSW
| Service | Contact |
|---|---|
| NSW Domestic Violence Line | 1800 656 463 (24-hour support) 1800 671 442 (TTY) |
Domestic violence information, counselling and advice | 1800 737 732 (24-hour support) |
Cumberland Women's Health Centre Domestic violence support | Phone: (02) 9831 2070 Fax: (02) 9831 2344 |
Blacktown Women’s and Girl's Health Centre Domestic violence support | Phone: (02) 9831 2070 Fax: (02) 9831 2344 |
| Immigrant Women's SpeakOut Association NSW | Phone: (02) 9635 8022 |
(formerly Paramatta Holroyd Family Support) | Phone: (02) 9636 8437 Fax: (02) 9896 3139 |
Sexual, domestic and family violence services for LGBTQ+ people who have experienced violence. | Freecall: 1800 063 060 Phone: (02) 9206 2000 Fax: (02) 8029 0798 |
Domestic Violence Legal Service (DVLS) | Sydney phone: (02) 8745 6988 Rural freecall: 1800 810 784 |
Free confidential legal information and referrals for women in NSW. | Sydney phone: (02) 8745 6988 Rural freecall: 1800 810 784 |
Domestic and family violence support services | 1300 789 978 (24-hour support) |
| Canterbury Bankstown Domestic Violence Service Directory | For specific services please use the service directory on the website. |
Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women's Legal Service Free legal advice, information and referrals for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children and youth | Freecall: 1800 639 784 Phone: (02) 9569 3847 |
Domestic and family violence support | Freecall: 1800 938 227, enter in your postcode to connect to the service in your local area. |
Immigration Advice and Rights Centre (IARC) Immigration and Domestic violence support services | Phone: (02) 8234 0777 |
Domestic and Family Violence Program - safe beds for pets | Phone: (02) 9770 7555 |
Use the links and information provided to learn more about and find family support services. For additional information on activities for children, families and support groups within your local area please check with your local council or public library in NSW.
| Agency | Support services | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Family Referral Service |
| Phone: 1300 403 373 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays) |
Wesley Mission - Family services For families with children or teenagers (0-17 years) at risk of entering or escalating within the statutory child protection system) |
| Phone: (02) 9263 5555 Fax: (02) 9264 4681 |
Australian Home Childcare Association - Sydney In-home Care Subsidised sessions of care for children in families eligible for Child Care Subsidy and Additional Child Care Subsidy |
| Phone: (02) 9683 3400 |
NSW Family Day Care Association Inc. In-home care support services |
| Phone: (02) 9779 9999 Fax: (02) 979 9998 |
In-person and virtual family support services in NSW for parents to newborn, babies and toddlers. |
| Phone: (02) 9794 2300 (general enquiries) Phone: (02) 9794 2350 (parenting advice) Careline: 1300 227 464 (1300 CARING) |
Early parenting guidance service |
| Parent's helpline: 1300 272 736 |
Volunteer-run play groups for babies to school-age children and their parents. |
| Freecall: 1800 171 882 Phone: 02 9684 9500 Email: admin@playgroupnsw.org.au |
Support for premature and sick newborns, their families and hospitals that care for them. |
| 24-hour helpline: 1300 622 243 |
(formerly Paramatta Holroyd Family Support) |
| Phone: (02) 9636 8437 Fax: (02) 9896 3139 Email: admin@sagecommunity.org.au |
(formerly Telopea Family Resources) Community and family support services |
| Phone: (02) 9638 7955 Email: admin@hopeconnect.org.au |
Our grief counselling service have trained and experienced social workers and staff to help you with your grieving or with supporting the grieving of someone you love and care for.
Use the links and information provided in our factsheets to learn more and find support. You can also learn more about bereavement services in Western Sydney
Factsheets
- Children and funerals factsheet (PDF 418.69KB)
- Making the best of hospital visits for children factsheet (PDF 243.93KB)
- Talking to children about an expected death factsheet (PDF 437.96KB)
- Helping children deal with grief factsheet (PDF 348.77KB)
- How do children grieve? factsheet (PDF 361.77KB)
- After the loss of your pregnancy or baby factsheet (PDF 255.97KB)
Social workers play an important role in delivering mental health care, especially in public health settings. They can help with the psychosocial parts of mental illness, including:
- community support
- housing
- family dynamics
- trauma.
Role of social workers in mental health
Social workers can:
- conduct psychosocial assessments
- provide counselling and crisis support
- support discharge planning (when you leave hospital)
- help with community reintegration (re-joining community)
- advocate for patients' rights and access (get) to services
- work with families and carers.
Combining mental health and social work in Western Sydney
Cumberland Hospital's mental health services are included under social work services in Western Sydney Local Health District.
For more information, call Cumberland Hospital's mental health services at (02) 9840 3000 or email WSLHD-MentalHealth@health.nsw.gov.au
Learn more about how we integrate mental health and social work.
NSW Health has a network of specialist Sexual Assault Services (SAS) delivered by local health districts. Every local health district has an SAS that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For service locations and contact details, view the NSW Health Sexual Assault Services contact list
Resources
Even if you do not report the sexual assault to the police, you can still receive help from sexual assault services in NSW. Use the links to learn what is sexual consent and what you can do if you are victim of sexual assault.
Find a social work service
Use our Service Director to find a health service near you.
Contact us
Social work services in Western Sydney LHD
Auburn Hospital
Phone: (02) 9563 9500
Social work service hours: 8am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)
Note: Auburn Hospital does not have an after-hours social work service.
Blacktown Hospital
Phone: (02) 9881 7075
Mount Druitt Hospital
Phone: (02) 9881 1555
Westmead Hospital
Phone: (02) 8890 5555
Social work service hours: 8am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays and for non-urgent matters)
After-hours crisis service phone: (02) 8890 6699
Westmead Hospital's social work service has an after-hours crisis service, which runs 7 days a week to support women and families who are experiencing a distressing event. Messages can be left outside of regular hours.
If we are unavailable to speak with you, we will get back to you as soon as possible.