Well Being Outreach Program

For disaster affected residents in Lithgow, Mid-Western, Hawkesbury & Blue Mountains  

Gateway Family Support Services and Wentworth Healthcare are partnering to provide free outreach wellbeing support for residents in Lithgow, Hawkesbury and the Blue Mountains. The Well Being program sits alongside Gateway’s Step by Step Recovery Support Service to provide a comprehensive range of practical, emotional and psychological support to residents affected by the 2019/20 bushfires and the more recent floods.  

Well Being workers provide holistic, accessible, person-centred support. They are all trained counsellors, who provide a simple and respectful way to help people manage the stress, loss and anxiety that often comes with experiencing disaster events.  

There is no need for a referral, no labels and no drawn out waiting period. Well Being workers can travel to residents to meet them in their homes or meet at local community venues.  

It can be as simple as a chat over a cup of tea, and some support to understand the best ways to care for ourselves as we deal with the ongoing effects of cumulative disasters.  

“Our community has been through so much” says Anne Crestani, Manager of the Well Being Project. “We really understand that sometimes people just need to know they’re not alone. We provide friendly, non-judgemental, professional support that allows people to navigate their own recovery journey, in their own time at their own pace”.  

Anne points out that many residents are surprised that they are still dealing with the emotional impacts of the bushfires a year and half later. “It’s really tiring for anyone dealing with the effects of the events of the past 18 months. Sometimes just chatting with someone who can normalise the fatigue and other experiences that go along with the recovery journey, can be enormously helpful” says Anne.  

If you would like to talk with a Well Being worker contact the following

Blue Mountains  Megan on 0490 676 269 or email [email protected].

Hawkesbury  Nicole 0490 670 682 [email protected].

Lithgow & Mid-Western Alan 0490 824 690 [email protected].