This page explains how you can get help from STARTTS or how you can refer another person to our service if they need help.
You can also download a detailed presentation here about how to refer a client to STARTTS.
Anyone can make a referral to STARTTS, including service providers, medical professionals, a family member or friend of the person or the person themselves. There are two main ways to make a referral to STARTTS:
1. For all clients who are permanent residents who have lived in Australia for more than 12 months, or who are asylum seekers, or living in community detention:
call the STARTTS Intake Officer (02) 9794 1900
If you need to refer an asylum seeker to STARTTS you can also use this form.
2. For all HSS clients (permanent residents who have lived in Australia for less than 12 months):
call the HSS Referral Officer (02) 9794 1895
If you need to refer an HSS client to STARTTS you can also use this form.
Note: If you are referring a child (up to and including 16 years of age) you must also complete the Parental Consent form.
STARTTS’ services are for people who have survived torture and/or trauma and are:
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.
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 as part of organised violence, such as in war, civil conflict and government oppression.
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. If you are referring a child (up to and including 16 years of age) you must also complete the Parental Consent form.
For a more detailed presentation about making a referral please click here. Please note that STARTTS is happy to deliver this material through face-to-face training for organisations. Please contact the Training Officer on (02) 9794 1900 to arrange this.
STARTTS services are free of charge.
STARTTS is not a crisis service. If you or someone you know needs help right now please telephone:
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.
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.
STARTTS provides services in its main offices in Carramar, Auburn, Liverpool, Blacktown, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle and Wagga Wagga.
See our Contact page for details of each of these offices.
STARTTS also provides outreach services in a range of locations across the Sydney metropolitan area and regional NSW. Please contact the Carramar office for outreach locations.
Our child and adolescent counsellors will also see young clients at school.
You can refer people to our
Waiting periods for our services vary, depending on demand. Our counselling services have a managed waiting list, meaning the people in greatest need will be seen first: we use a priority checklist to support this process.
You can’t refer people to our:
The more of the following information you provide, the easier it is to request a service/make a referral.
If you are requesting a general counselling service then it will also be helpful to know:
Together, STARTTS’ staff speak more than 20 languages. When a counsellor can’t speak the language of a client, we will organise a qualified interpreter.
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
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
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
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
As this is a Google translation service, users may find some word difference exists in the translation.
Street Address
152 - 168 The Horsley Drive,
Carramar NSW 2163
