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Getting Help from STARTTS
On this page you can find information about:
Who STARTTS’ services are for
What trauma is
Who can make a referral to STARTTS
What our services cost
Who is not suitable for STARTTS’ services
How can I request for service/make a referral
Which services can I request/ refer people to
Services for people who have arrived in Australia less than 12 months
Which services can’t I request/refer people to
Where does someone go for STARTTS’ services
What information I should have to make a request/referral
What if I/the person I’m referring can’t speak English
Where else I can go for help
Waiting for STARTTS’ services
Who are STARTTS’ Services For?
STARTTS’ services are for people who have survived torture and/or trauma and are
· refugees
· asylum seekers
· from refugee-like backgrounds.
They must be living in NSW. The person can be any age and can have been living in Australia for any length of time, from a few days to many decades.
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What is Trauma?
Trauma, or traumatic experiences, cause great stress, pain and/or fear for a person. Traumatic events can disrupt or disturb a person’s health and everyday living. STARTTS’ is particularly concerned with trauma that happens in situations of organised violence, such as war or violence inflicted by government or paramilitary forces.
Some examples include rape, death or disappearance of a family member, friend or colleague, being harassed by authority figures and burning or looting of a home or place of work.
STARTTS is particularly concerned with trauma that happens as part of organised violence, such as in war, civil conflict and government oppression.
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Who Can Make a Referral to STARTTS?
Anyone can make a referral to STARTTS including the person themselves, a family member or friend or another service provider.
Service providers must have the consent of their client before making a referral to STARTTS.
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What do STARTTS’ Services Cost?
STARTTS services are free of charge.
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Who is NOT Suitable for STARTTS’ Services?
STARTTS is not a crisis service. If you or someone you know needs help right now please telephone
· your local mental health service (see the Community Health Centre in your local area)
· your nearest hospital
· the police (000).
If it is an emergency call 000.
Please call the free telephone interpreter service (TIS) on 13 14 50 if you need help with English/interpreting.
As well, STARTTS does not provide services for people whose MAIN problem is drug and alcohol or domestic violence related. We will direct clients with these issues to other appropriate services. We will work with other services to provide joint services for refugees and asylum seekers with drug and alcohol or domestic violence issues.
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Where Does STARTTS’ Provide its Services?
Carramar (Mon to Fri)
Auburn (Mon to Fri)
Liverpool (Mon to Fri, limited availability. Some people living in Liverpool will need to attend one of our other offices to receive our services)
Coffs Harbour (Mon – Wed and Fri)
Illawarra (Tue, Thur and Fri)
Newcastle (Mon to Fri)
Bankstown (Thur and Fri)
Blacktown (Thur and Fri)
Canterbury (Thur and Fri)
Marrickville (Thur and Fri)
Maroubra
The Northern Beaches (Tue, Thur and Fri)
Parramatta (Fri)
Rockdale (Thur)
Sydney City (Tue, individual appointment and Thur group clients)
St Mary’s (Mon, individual appointment and Wed group clients)
Our child and adolescent counsellors will also see young clients at school.
Please note that some days at some locations are restricted to Early Intervention and/or General Services counselling clients.
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How Do I Refer Myself or Someone Else to STARTTS?
All referrals to STARTTS are made by telephone to our head office in Carramar. If you are referring someone to our Early Intervention Program you can also fill in this form and fax or post it to us.
To make a referral telephone 02 9794 1900, Monday to Friday between the hours of 8.30 am and 4.30 pm, excluding public holidays. Please ask for the Intake Officer.
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Which STARTTS Services Can I Request/ Refer People to?
You can refer people to our
· Early Intervention Program (for people who have been in Australia less than 12 months)
· General counselling services (for people who have been in Australia for 12 months or more)
· Camps for children and young people (limited places available)
· Group programs (you will need to speak to the particular groups’ facilitator to see if it is suitable for you or the person you are referring. See our current groups page for more information on groups at STARTTS).
Waiting periods for our services vary, depending on demand. Our general counselling services have a managed waiting list, meaning the people in greatest need will be seen first.
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Services for People Arriving in the Last 12 Months
STARTTS Early Intervention Program, provides services to refugees arriving to Australia in the past 12 months. Fill in this referral form or telephone 9794 1900 to make a referral/request a service.
Which STARTTS Services can’t I Request/Refer People to?
You can’t refer people to our
· Personal Support Program (only Centrelink Psychologists can do this)
· Physiotherapy and other bodywork services (only STARTTS’ counsellors can do this)
· Psychiatrists (only STARTTS’ counsellors can do this)
· Neurofeedback Program (only STARTTS’ counsellors can do this)
· Acupuncture Clinic (only STARTTS’ counsellors can do this)
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What Information Should I Have to Make a Referral/Request a Service?
The more of the following information you have the easier it is to request a service/make a referral.
· name
· sex m/f
· date of birth
· marital status
· name of spouse
· number of children, their age and sex
· address
· phone number
· when you/he or she arrived in Australia
· visa category and subclass number
· country of birth
· nationality
· preferred languages.
If you are requesting a general counselling service then it will also be helpful to know:
· trauma history
· reason for referral, including the background to the current problem
· any other organisations you/the person is involved with.
These guidelines may help you make a referral.
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What if I/the Person I’m Referring Can’t Speak English?
Together, STARTTS’ staff speak more than 20 languages. When a counsellor can’t speak the language of a client, we use a qualified interpreter.
We currently have staff who can speak the following languages Afrikaans, Arabic, Assyrian, Bengali, Bosnian, Croatian, Dari, Dinka, Farsi, French, Hindi, Khmer, Kihunde, Kinande, Korean, Krio, Kurdish, Lingala, Luganda, Lulubo, Pashtu, Portuguese, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tetum, Turkish and Vietnamese.
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Where Else Can I Go/Send Someone for Help?
Australian Red Cross
Provides food, shelter and health care to eligible asylum seekers. The Red Cross also provides an international tracing service to help families separated because of war or other disasters and a tracing and messaging service to detainees in government immigration detention facilities.
02 9229 4111
Asylum Seeker Centre
Services include emergency accommodation, primary health care and physiotherapy, English classes, art classes, regular excursions, internet access and many other practical supports. Services are for asylum seekers living in NSW only.
02 9361 5606
Department of Community Services Helpline
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone who is concerned about a child’s safety.
132 111
Homeless Persons Information Centre
Provides immediate advice and information as well as referrals to crisis accommodation to people in NSW. Open 9 am to 10 pm, 7 days per week.
Sydney 02 925 9087
Elsewhere in NSW 1800 234 566
House of Welcome
Provides assistance to people on Temporary Protection Visas and Bridging Visa E including emergency accommodation, English classes, computer classes, employment assistance, medical support, legal support and other services.
Phone 02 9727 9290
Legal Aid
Free legal advice and representation for people on limited incomes.
1300 888 529
Refugee Advice and Casework Service
Provides free legal services to asylum seekers in Australia
02 9211 4001
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What if I Have to Wait for STARTTS Services?
Waiting times for our services vary, depending on demand.
Refugees who have arrived in Australia in the last 12 months will be contacted by our Early Intervention Program within two weeks to assess their needs.
If you are requesting/referring someone to our general counselling services it may be some time before you are able to see a face-to-face worker.
Children and young people are given priority as are refugees and asylum seekers who have more complex, difficult or critical issues.
We will contact you or the person you referred when a counsellor is available to see you/them.
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