Carer Support
Carers need to look after their own health and well-being and take regular opportunities for respite. For information on respite services and support visit our respite resources page and contact Carer Gateway (1800 422 737).
Dementia Australia offers a counselling service to partners, relatives or friends of a person diagnosed with dementia and for people who have early stage dementia. This is a FREE confidential service where you develop an ongoing relationship with a fully qualified counsellor. You can meet in person, over the phone or via Skype.
- Contact: 1800 100 500 (free call) and ask about counselling in Wollongong. A counsellor will call you back to make an appointment.
You can also contact the Carers NSW Talk it Over Carer Line: 1800 242 636
Local Support Groups
Support groups provide social connection as well as information and advice on a regular basis. Local support groups in the Illawarra/Shoalhaven are detailed in the table below:
| GROUP | VENUE | TIME | DATES | CONTACT DETAILS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay and Basin Carers Group | Bay and Basin Community Centre | 1pm – 3pm | Meets on the last Thursday of each month | 4443 3434 |
| Connections Café (for people living with dementia and their carer) | Enigma Coffee Emporium 87 Wentworth St Port Kembla | 10am-12pm | Second Thursday of the Month | 0438 790 526 (Alice) |
| Carer’s Café, Kiama | Joyce Wheatley Community Centre, Hindmarsh Park, Kiama | 1-3pm | Second Friday of the month | 4232 0475 |
| Corrimal Dementia Carers Support Group | Bottlebrush Room, Corrimal Community Centre, Short Street, Corrimal | 10am – 12.30pm | Second Wednesdays of the month | 4229 5926 |
| Greek Carers Support Group | Cringila Community Health Centre, Cringila Multi Purpose Centre, Lake Avenue, Cringila | 10am - 12pm | Third Wednesday of the month | 42216 790 |
| Italian Dementia Carers Support Group | Illawarra Master Builders Club, 61 Church St, Wollongong | 10am - 12pm | Fourth Wednesday of the month | 42216789 |
| Kiama Open Carer Support Group | IRT Harbourside Common Room, Bong Bong St, 30 Terralong St, Kiama | 10am - 12pm | Third Thursday | 4232 0475 |
| Dementia Cafe Kiama for People with Dementia, Carers and Supporters | Barroul House Cafe - Bluehaven Aged Care - Bonaira St, Kiama | 10:30am - 12pm | Second Monday of the month | 0414 681 051 (Graham) |
| Macedonian Carer Support Group | Port Kembla Senior Citizens Centre, Allan Street Port Kembla | 10am - 12pm | Second Wednesday of the month | 4275 2266 (head office) |
| Multicultural Dementia Carer Support Group | MCCI Office 117 Corrimal St, Wollongong NSW 2500 | 10am - 12pm | Second Tuesday of the month | 4229 7566 |
| Multicultural Memory Loss Carer Support Group | Illawarra Yacht Club, 1 Northcliffe Drive, Warrawong | 10am - 12.30pm | Third Tuesday of the month | 4276 4364 |
| Nowra Carers Support Group | 39 Holloway Rd Nowra | 10.30am – 12.30pm | Fourth Wednesday of the month | 4421 0975 |
| Peer and Carer Networking Group (for people living with dementia and their carer) | Anglicare Social and Wellness Centre, 29A McGrath St Fairy Meadow | 10am-11:30am | Second Monday of the month | 0438 790 526 (Alice) |
| Portugese Carer Support group | South Coast Portuguese Association 129 Flagstaff Rd Warrawong | 11am - 1pm | First Tuesday of the month | 4274 3664 |
| Serbian Speakers Carer Support Group | Church Hall, 82 Kenny Street Wollongong or alternate venue please call to confirm | 10am - 12pm | First Monday of the month | 4275 2266 (Macedonian Welfare Association) |
| Ulladulla Carers Support Group | Ulladulla Community Health Centre Princes Highway (or alternative venues) | 12.30 - 3pm | Third Monday of the month | 4455 5366 |
| Warilla Dementia Carers Support Group | Warilla Bowling & Recreation Club, Jason Ave, Barrack Heights. | 10am - 12pm | First Tuesday of the month | 4223 1433 (Carunya) |
| Younger Onset Dementia Carers Support Group | Community Gateway Hub, Wollonong or Carunya, Warilla | 10am - 12pm | First Thursday of every month | 1300 657 473 (Kate Troy) |
| Younger Onset Dementia Cafe Group Wollongong | TBA | 10am - 12pm | Fourth Tuesday of every month | 1800100500 (Sandra Kay) |
| Younger Onset Dementia Support Group Milton | Coastal Indulgence Cafe, 107-109 Princes Highway, Milton | 10am - 12pm | Third Wednesday of month | 0438 702418 (Sandra Kay) |
You can also download the 2016 Directory of Support Groups in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions