Useful contact numbers and websites with regard to legal matters include:
LawAccess NSW is a free service providing a single point of access to legal and related assistance services in New South Wales. It aims to help callers find the information and services that are best able to assist with legal problems and questions.
1300 888 529 TTY: 1300 889 529 Translating & Interpreter service for non-English speakers (free and confidential) 131 450
9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays)
www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au
Mental Health Information Service – 1330 794 991
Information about mental health concerns (including various mental illness topics, Involuntary Admission to Hospital and the NSW Mental Health Act, and where to get help). Factsheets are available on their website:
http://www.mentalhealth.asn.au/resources/facts.htm
The Official Visitors Program – 1800 208 218
Official Visitors assist people being treated in hospital or under a community treatment orders, aiming to ensure they receive safe standards of treatment and care. Mental health inpatients or their carers can contact the Official Visitor for assistance.
Contact is by an answering service which operates 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
Mental Health Advocacy Service – (02) 9745 4277
Telephone advice regarding the Mental Health Act, including involuntary patient orders and community treatment orders, Protective Commission matters, and representation for consumers at Guardianship Tribunal hearings. Advice is available for all areas of mental health law.
Relatives and friends are also welcome to call for advice. An interpreter can be arranged for non-English speakers.
People who are hearing / speech impaired can communicate on – (02) 9219 5126 or through the National Relay Service - 133 677
www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au
The Guardianship Tribunal is a legal tribunal located in Sydney, which conducts hearings throughout New South Wales. Its primary role is to make guardianship and financial management orders for people aged 16 years and over with decision-making disabilities. It may make a range of other orders as well.
1800 463 928 TTY: (02) 9556 7634
9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
http://www.gt.nsw.gov.au/
Office of the Protective Commission
The Protective Commissioner is an independent public official legally appointed to protect and administer the financial affairs and property of people unable to make financial decisions for themselves (where there is no other suitable person willing to assist).
(02) 8688 2600 (Sydney) Outside Sydney: 1300 360 466 TTY: 1800 882 889
http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/opc
Working Carers
Information useful for working carers – In NSW – can be found on the working carers website - http://www.workingcarers.org.au/.
Of particular help may be the Carer Fact Sheets, which cover such topics as legislation regarding ‘Working Carers and Anti-discrimination’ and ‘Your Right at Work’.
Police Customer Assistance Unit 1800 622 571 (General enquiries on police matters)
Community Justice Centres provide free mediation and conflict management services to help people resolve disputes. Funded by the NSW Government as part of the NSW Attorney General's Department, the services are confidential, voluntary, timely and easy to use, and provide services throughout New South Wales.
1800 990 777 TTY: 1800 671 964
http://www.cjc.nsw.gov.au/
The National Welfare Rights Network provides free and independent information, advice and representation about Social Security law and its administration. Member organisations operate in all states and territories of Australia and consist of specialist community legal centres and services and individual advocates. They are independent of Centrelink and all government departments.
(02) 9211 5300 (Sydney) 1800 226 026 (Rural NSW)
Telephone advice on Mon, Wed, Thurs and Fri (9.00am to 1.00pm) and Tues (1.00 pm to 5.00pm)
http://www.welfarerights.org.au/default.aspx
Consumer Credit Legal Centre (NSW) Inc. is a community legal centre specialising in financial services, particularly matters and policy issues related to consumer credit, banking and debt recovery. It is the only such Centre in NSW, and it has a particular focus on issues that affect low income and disadvantaged consumers.
Credit & Debt Hotline : 1800 808 488 (NSW only) Financial counselling information, advice and referral service.
Monday to Friday : 9.30 am to 4.30 pm
http://www.cclcnsw.org.au/
NSW Consumer Advocacy Group – (02) 9332 0200
A state-wide organisation that provides an ongoing mechanism for mental health Consumer and Carer participation into policy and service development, implementation and evaluation.
www.nswcag.org.au
Anti-Discrimination Board provides an enquiry service for people who want to know about their rights or responsibilities under anti-discrimination law. We also accept complaints of discrimination, investigate complaints and conciliate complaints when appropriate
General Enquiry Service - (02) 9268 5544 Tollfree - 1800 670 812 (for rural and regional New South Wales only) TTY - (02) 9268 5522
http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/adb/ll_adb.nsf/pages/adb_adlaw
Disability Discrimination Legal Centre
Set up to provide accurate and easy to comprehend advice to people with disability in NSW, who want to make a complaint of disability discrimination.
Friends, family members or advocates can also use the centre.
1800 800 708 (Toll free NSW only) TTY: (02) 9310 4320 1800 644 419 (Toll free NSW only)
Advice lines operate Tues, Wed and Fri between 9:30am and 12:30pm
Health Care Complaints Commission
An independent body with responsibility for dealing with complaints about health services or health providers. Complaints must be lodged in writing, but it’s a good idea to contact the Enquiry Service first to discuss your concerns.
Free call in NSW – 1800 043 159 (02) 9212 7444 TTY: (02) 9219 7555 Interpreter service: 131 450
www.hccc.nsw.gov.au