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Carer Support & Support Groups

iStock_000016087071MediumCarer 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:

GROUPVENUETIMEDATESCONTACT DETAILS
Bay and Basin Carers GroupBay and Basin Community Centre1pm – 3pmMeets on the last Thursday of each month4443 3434
Connections Café (for people living with dementia and their carer)Enigma Coffee Emporium 87 Wentworth St Port Kembla10am-12pmSecond Thursday of the Month0438 790 526 (Alice)
Carer’s Café, KiamaJoyce Wheatley Community Centre, Hindmarsh Park, Kiama1-3pmSecond Friday of the month4232 0475
Corrimal Dementia Carers Support GroupBottlebrush Room, Corrimal Community Centre, Short Street, Corrimal 10am – 12.30pmSecond Wednesdays of the month4229 5926
Greek Carers Support Group Cringila Community Health Centre,
Cringila Multi Purpose Centre,
Lake Avenue, Cringila
10am - 12pmThird Wednesday of the month42216 790
Italian Dementia Carers Support Group Illawarra Master Builders Club, 61 Church St, Wollongong 10am - 12pmFourth Wednesday of the month42216789
Kiama Open Carer Support GroupIRT Harbourside Common Room, Bong Bong St, 30 Terralong St, Kiama10am - 12pmThird Thursday4232 0475
Dementia Cafe Kiama for People with Dementia, Carers and SupportersBarroul House Cafe - Bluehaven Aged Care - Bonaira St, Kiama10:30am - 12pmSecond Monday of the month0414 681 051 (Graham)
Macedonian Carer Support GroupPort Kembla Senior Citizens Centre, Allan Street Port Kembla10am - 12pmSecond Wednesday of the month 4275 2266 (head office)
Multicultural Dementia Carer Support GroupMCCI Office 117 Corrimal St, Wollongong NSW 250010am - 12pmSecond Tuesday of the month4229 7566
Multicultural Memory Loss Carer Support GroupIllawarra Yacht Club, 1 Northcliffe Drive, Warrawong10am - 12.30pmThird Tuesday of the month4276 4364
Nowra Carers Support Group39 Holloway Rd Nowra10.30am – 12.30pmFourth Wednesday of the month4421 0975
Peer and Carer Networking Group (for people living with dementia and their carer)Anglicare Social and Wellness Centre, 29A McGrath St Fairy Meadow10am-11:30amSecond Monday of the month0438 790 526 (Alice)
Portugese Carer Support groupSouth Coast Portuguese Association 129 Flagstaff Rd Warrawong 11am - 1pmFirst Tuesday of the month4274 3664
Serbian Speakers Carer Support GroupChurch Hall, 82 Kenny Street Wollongong or alternate venue please call to confirm10am - 12pmFirst Monday of the month4275 2266 (Macedonian Welfare Association)
Ulladulla Carers Support GroupUlladulla Community Health Centre Princes Highway (or alternative venues)12.30 - 3pmThird Monday of the month4455 5366
Warilla Dementia Carers Support GroupWarilla Bowling & Recreation Club, Jason Ave, Barrack Heights. 10am - 12pmFirst Tuesday of the month4223 1433 (Carunya)
Younger Onset Dementia Carers Support GroupCommunity Gateway Hub, Wollonong or Carunya, Warilla10am - 12pmFirst Thursday of every month1300 657 473 (Kate Troy)
Younger Onset Dementia Cafe Group WollongongTBA10am - 12pmFourth Tuesday of every month1800100500 (Sandra Kay)
Younger Onset Dementia Support Group MiltonCoastal Indulgence Cafe, 107-109 Princes Highway, Milton10am - 12pmThird Wednesday of month0438 702418 (Sandra Kay)

You can also download the 2016 Directory of Support Groups in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions