Sydney Community Services

We offer two distinct services:

Hardship Assistance

Hardship Assistance Program is a service for people who are experiencing an immediate crisis situation or need short-term assistance. The Program helps people maintain their dignity in dealing with the emergency crisis whilst at the same time encourages self-reliance.

Hardship Assistance is not an income support payment. It is expected that in most cases assistance will be for a one-off purpose.

Assistance is primarily provided in the form of:

• Food parcels of non-perishable food (pasta, rice, canned fruit and soups etc.);
• Food vouchers – These can be used at local supermarkets to buy food and domestic items;
• Utility accounts – Vouchers for Telstra, Gas, Electricity and Water accounts.

Financial Counselling

Financial Counselling is a confidential, community service, which assists people who are experiencing financial difficulties or who need information relating to credit and debt. It offers assistance with financial, business and para-legal matters. It also provides skill in money management.

Financial Counsellors are qualified staff and volunteers who are members of the Financial Counsellors’ Association of NSW. Face-to-face interviews are confidential, supportive and non- judgmental.