Community Hubs Update

The Community Hubs are closed during the Christmas and New Year Period and for the December - January School Holidays - Returning in 2025

The Community Hubs support your community with a social connection point to each other, as well as a wide range of services, including :

Emergency assistance,
Mental health support,
Wellbeing programs,
Improved digital literacy skills and,
Many other special activities and services to bring build connections and bring the the community together.

The Community Hubs are a place to seek assistance and connect with general community support services. This may be in times of Bushfires, Floods or other times of Community need, or just any time that you might need some support and assistance.

2025 Community Hubs Days and Locations

Wilberforce Community Hub Wilberforce School of Arts, Wednesdays - 9.30am -1.00pm
Colo Heights Community Hub Colo Heights Hall, Thursdays - 9.30am -1.00pm
St Albans Hub – St Albans School of Arts, Fridays - 9.30am -1.00pm

The Community Hubs are closed during the Christmas and New Year Period and for the December - January School Holidays - Returning in 2025.

Food and Emergency Assistance is available

There are a number of support organizations working across the Hawkesbury that can assist with Food and Emergency Meals, Mental Health support, Child and Youth services, and services that assist people living with disability or aged care needs. Some of these services attend the Community Hubs and if they are not in attendance, Jo and Taryn are able to have a chat with you, and assist you to connect to any of theses services. Services operate across the Hawkesbury LGA, with some local services operating from Hawkesbury City Council's Community Centres or Halls. Further information is available by visiting https://www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au/info

Mental Health Support

Recent Bushfires and Floods we have experienced over the past few years, people may have feelings of unrest or anxiety, when they hear or see information relating to Bushfires and Floods.
NSW Health has Recovery & Mental Health Clinicians who provide tailored mental health support, are available across the Hawkesbury.
You can also contact the NSW Health Recovery & Mental Health Clinicians by phone for a chat, and they also attend the Community Hubs each week.

Please note that one of the NSW Health Recovery & Mental Health Clinicians team members are available over the Christmas New Year period. Please contact them by phone.
The above phone numbers will divert to Mental Health Clinician that is working over the Christmas New Year period.

Ian: 0428 481 412 - Sally: 0429 011 134 - Monica 0407 366 015

Mental Health Support and Helpline Information - Please reach out for assistance - 24 Hours 7 Days per week.
For any Emergency of Life Threatening situation call 000 immediately.

Lifeline - 13 11 14
Mental Health Line – 1800 011 551
Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636
Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800

Further mental health and local support services and resources in the Hawkesbury. There are also local Community Service organisations, and some of these are operating from Council's Community Centres across the Hawkesbury. Also available are dedicated Drug and Alcohol services, Domestic Violence services, Youth Services, Financial Counselling and Housing Assistance information.
Please visit https://www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au/info for more information.

What's On at the Community Hubs in 2025

The Digital Literacy Foundation - Free One on One Sessions Available

The Digital Literacy Foundation assist people to gain, and build skills, to be able to get online and use the internet confidently and safely.
They attend the Community Hubs, offering FREE FORTNIGHTLY one on one digital mentoring.

Book in your FREE one on one in person appointment call 9090 4141 to book an appointment. You can also book an online session with a Tech Mate volunteer.

Learn or brush up on skills such as :

Setting up a new phone,
Learning to navigate and how to use your tablet,
Become more confident using technology,
Troubleshooting issues with a laptop,
Teaching scam awareness,
How to protect your digital information.

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How to be prepared for an Emergency situation - Information and Resources are available.

The Community Hubs staff can also assist you with information and resources to assist you and your family, to plan and prepare for Adverse Weather, Power Outages, Natural Disasters or Emergency Situations. Hawkesbury City Council also has resources to assist, such as :

Prepared, Informed and Ready - Emergencies and Natural Disasters webpage.
Prepare your family and property with Fact Sheets , Information and Simulation and Informative Videos, Checklists and Historical Information.

You can learn and locate information on :

Flood Evacuation Routes in the Hawkesbury
How to Prepare your home for Bushfire.
Checklists of items to pack into your Emergency Grab and Go bag.
Historical flood levels and flood frequencies.
5 Actions to prepare your home for Bushfire.
Templates to create a Bushfire Plan

Hawkesbury Disaster and Emergency Dashboard.

Keep up to date with real time information, by visiting Hawkesbury City Council's Hawkesbury Disaster and Emergency Dashboard.

This website is the best place to link you to to the correct agencies and correct information during any weather events, natural disasters or emergency situations.

There are live links to :

Live Traffic and Road Closures,
Bureau of Meteorology Weather Warnings,
RFS Bushfire Warnings, Fire Danger periods and Total Fire Bans Days,
Bureau of Meteorology Flood Warnings and River Gauge Heights.

Western Sydney Community Legal Centre (WSCLC)

FREE Legal Advice and Legal Information - is Available

Western Sydney Community Legal Centre (WSCLC) provides FREE legal and social support services to people in need. WSCLC can also provide guidance and assistance whenever any disasters happen in the Hawkesbury LGA. For assistance with relating to Natural Disasters or other Emergencies you can review the Western Sydney Community Legal Centre - Disaster Guide/

WSCLC can assist residents with FREE legal advice or information on issues such as :

Community Legal Centre Program (CLCP) - Representation in Family Law, Care and Protection, Minor Crime and Civil Law Matters.
Home Building Advocacy Service (HoBAS) - Legal Services and information relating to NSW Builders.
Western Sydney Tenants’ Service (WESTS) - Assistance with tenancy issues in Western Sydney.
Youth Education Program (YEP) - Early Intervention and Training to prevent the entry of young people into the Juvenile Justice and care system.
WSCLC Traffic Court Help - Traffic Court Help Brochure

Visit https://www.wsclc.org.au/our-programs/ to see the range of programs and assistance that WSCLC can assist with.
Phone (02) 8833 0911 to make an appointment or for further information

HUBS ACTIVITIES:

Art and Craft Group	Exercise Classes
Volunteer With Us

Wednesdays - Wilberforce School of Arts

Thursdays - Colo Heights Hall (Horrie Eley Memorial Hall)

Fridays - St Albans School of Arts

Community Hubs Survey-2023