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Neighbour Aid

Neighbour Aid is a program of community support and assistance to elderly, disabled people in the Goulburn Mulwaree area.

The Neighbour Aid Service primarily involves the coordination of volunteers to supply a range of services that provide social and practical support and assistance to frail aged people, people with a disability and their carers, who are living in the community in Goulburn Mulwaree Local Government area. All Neighbour Aid services are provided with the assistance of volunteers who regularly undergo supervision and training. The Coordinator will arrange a meeting between the client and volunteer prior to the commencement of the service where possible. This helps to eliminate any anxieties and ensures smooth service provision. Services Include:

• Companionship Visits
• Carers Support
• General Support & Assistance
• Transport
• Small Social Group Outings

You may be eligible to use the service if you are frail aged or have a permanent disability, or you are a carer of a person who is frail aged or has a disability. Neighbour Aid can provide a service to those people living in the community in the Goulburn and Mulwarree Local Government areas. What will it cost?

The service requests a nominal fee to assist with its ongoing operations. The fee for the particular service to be provided will be discussed at the time of the Service Provision Plan development. If there are difficulties with the fees asked, this can be discussed with the Coordinator. How to apply to use the Neighbour Aid Service

Phone the office on 4823 4478. The Neighbour Aid Coordinator will arrange to visit the home to gather information to assess your eligibility, talk about the services available and discuss your individual needs. If you are eligible and there are available resources, the Coordinator will organize a service that best meets your needs. Neighbour Aid Services include:

• Companionship Visits
• Volunteers visit or assist frail aged, isolated aged and people with disabilities in their homes.
• Home visits provide companionship and support with reading the mail, newspaper, assisting with completing forms or just a chat and share a cuppa.
• A visit is for one hour and on a needs basis usually once weekly.

• Monthly get together for lunch and occasional outings.
• Brochures and information about other support services for Carers.
• Call 4823 4478 for information and a chat about the many issues that arise.

For help & assistance with:

• Grocery shopping (by list or to accompany).
• Bill paying or other business (to accompany).
• Letter writing or reading.

Major and ongoing needs are generally covered by a range of agencies. However, there are some tasks that can make a big difference that a friendly Neighbour Aid Visitor can do. Failing strength and health can mean:

• A fear of falling, limited ability to move distances, or walk within a faster moving group means a person is kept from going shopping.
• Friendships become limited as loss of eyesight, hearing and mobility means social contact is limited.
• A garden which took a lifetime to develop can fall behind. Support to simplify and maintain the garden can lift a depression and feeling of being overwhelmed.
• Changing a light bulb can be a danger if a fall results. A volunteer can do the task.

Contact
Neighbour Aid is based at the McDermott Centre
163 Auburn Street
Goulburn NSW 2580
PHONE: 4823 4478
MOBILE: 0407 708 216
FAX: 4822 9894

Postal Address
Locked Bag 22
Goulburn NSW 2580 Office Hours
8.30am - 5.00pm Monday - Thursday On occasion, the office may be unattended due to the Coordinator having to be out of the office for assessments, or meetings. If you call at these times please leave a message under the door or on the answering machine if you are phoning, and the Coordinator will get back to you.

Contact details
Neighbour Aid Coordinator
02 4823 4478 (ph)
02 4823 4456 (fax)
council@goulburn.nsw.gov.au

© 2008 Goulburn Mulwaree Council
This page: http://www.goulburn.nsw.gov.au/community/1033/1078.html