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Monday, July 28, 2014


POST 4:  Help in Time Of Need

When you are in trouble of any kind, much more so when in a foreign country, with little support from close family, a feeling of despondency is natural. Also, when you are working for a goal, and have a short time window for its completion, but are not able to find the information you need, there is a sense of frustration. You have staked a lot of resources and time on your future and it does not seem to be going anywhere, you wish someone could help.

Well, we know how you feel. There are a lot of situations when help can be available, if you knew where to look for it. We have tried to collect all these at one location and categorized it so that you may find it easier to approach the right agency or people and get a hand up.

1.      First Port of Call: 
Your first point of finding support is always the Indian High Commission and Indian Consulates. In spite of all the negative comments people have given to Indian Foreign Missions, I can assure you that they are the most helpful, as compared to those of many other countries. They have their bureaucratic procedures, like any Government Department of any country. Please approach them courteously and have complete and truthful details of your problem, preferably written out, and you are sure to find help. They can help in many ways which are not listed on their websites, as they are in contact with the various expatriate Indian organizations, to which they may refer you to for assistance. The contact details of Indian High Commission in Australia is 
Chancery
3-5, Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT-2600
Website
Fax
+61-2-62731308 (off), 62733328 (HC)
Phone Canberra
+61-2-6273 3999
E-mail
Phone  Sydney
0061-02-9231 2299
E mail Sydney
Phone  Melbourne
0061-3-9682 7836
E mail Melbourne
Phone  Perth
0061-8 9221 4205
E mail Perth
Phone  Brisbane
061-7-3871 3362
E mail Brisbane


You can find additional details of above consular offices at 

2.     Indian Organizations and Associations:

There are many organizations and associations set up by the Indian diaspora, which are engaged in cultural, fraternising, community service etc. Most of them are always more than willing to help a compatriot in difficulty. While most members are working and have limited time availability, but if approached with specific issues that you may have, they will go out of their way to provide help. Please avoid calling them first on the phone, but send them a short e mail message, with the heading, “Help Requested”.

Please give your contact details and explain how urgently you need the help. (Please avoid asking for money.)  You can always also send an e mail, with a similar message. Please understand that while your need may be urgent and you may be feeling frustrated at not receiving a response, they may be very busy or trying to contact others to see how they can be of assistance. Please appreciate that they are going out of their way to help you, and the more courteous you are the greater are the chances that they will help you.

Someone in the Indian community may have gone through similar problems that you are facing today, and has been able to come out of it. Someone knows a friend or acquaintance in the company you want a job in, and may be willing to put in a word for you. Someone knows about the college you are seeking an admission in, and may guide you about it. Someone may be able to help you find a place to live. Someone may have tried the road you wish to walk and found the pitfalls, and may warn you against these.
Be sure that there is always someone who can assist you if you would care to ask humbly.
Be gracious to those who help you, by acknowledging it in writing, and telling them how much their help meant to you.

A list of Indian associations is available on the Indian High Commission’s website at

To help you, the same is being copied at the end of this post.

3.     Indian Media, both print and broadcast

The Indian media carries stories of interest to the Indian diaspora, and also provides an important link to the sub-continent and all those coming from there. It is but natural, those problems of Indian immigrants is of crucial importance to them. They highlight the same in their columns and broadcast minutes and also influence the authorities for their solutions.
By its very nature such solutions cannot be immediate, but affect the policies of the local and federal governments.

Having said that do not underestimate the help that the media can provide you in times of difficulty. They have huge contacts within the community and with the authorities. Please approach them, following the same suggestions made above for approaching the associations, and you may find that you have received a helping hand you sorely needed but least expected.

The contact details of the media is available at the Indian High Commission’s website

To help you, the same is being copied at the end of this post.

4.     Charitable organizations

Australians are ranked as the highest group in the whole world when it comes to giving both their time and resources for charitable causes. It is ingrained in what is called, “The Australian Way of Life”. They will be happy to help you without even expecting anything in return. I should know, as I have been working since the time I arrived here in a Catholic Community Helping organization, called Vinnies. All of them will help anyone in need without consideration of religious background and ethnicity. Whether it be food that you may need or a bed or medicines, they will be happy to help.


They are not bound by government rules of residency, and will help anyone in need. As they are multi-million dollar organizations, they have also various contacts, which they may help you with. They work in the local council areas and one may be not very far from where you live. While they do not expect anything in return, being gracious always helps. May be when you are in better times, you can return the favour by contributing with your time and resources.

A contact list of such organizations is given at the end of this post.

5.     Legal Aid:

Many a time you may need legal advice for yourself or a family member. Legal advice in Australia is very costly. But not taking legal help, when you may need it, is still more costly.
If you are not in a position to afford it, there is a system called Legal Aid available. Depending on your circumstances and legally sustainability of your issue the Legal Aid office may either agree to fight your case in court, at little or no cost, or may just advice you of the process you must follow. Please do not underestimate their advice, as it may be crucial to you.
The various types of services you may get from Legal Aid offices are as follows:

Help over the phone:   You can call them up and get guidance

Find information:  They have factsheets and resources to help you with your problem

Get advice from a lawyer:   They provide free face-to-face advice on most legal issues

Help at court:   They have lawyers to assist you at many courts and tribunals

Contact web-links of Legal Aid Offices in different Australian states are given below:
NSW:                                    http://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/
Queensland:                      http://www.legalaid.qld.gov.au/Pages/Home.aspx
Victoria:                             http://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/
South Australia:              http://www.lsc.sa.gov.au/
Western Australia:         http://www.legalaid.wa.gov.au/Pages/Default.aspx
ACT:                                     http://www.legalaidact.org.au/
Tasmania:                          http://www.legalaid.tas.gov.au/
Northern Territories:   http://www.ntlac.nt.gov.au/


6.     Approaching Local Councillors and Members of Parliament:

Unlike India, politicians in Australia are easily available to the members of their constituencies. They have their offices within the geographical area of the constituency and have full time officers available on phone and e mail. They will listen to your issues and provide an appointment for personal discussions. For a better outcome, it is advisable that you may write out your issues, in a point-wise form, along with your contact details. You will be better-off, if you specify what resolution you are looking for, and why you have not been able to get a resolution in the normal course.  Believe me, that the response is pretty quick, and you can phone up and request for an update. You do not need to have anyone’s recommendation for the above.

It is very easy to Google and get the information about your local councillor. For example, if I Google,” contact details for local councillors Brisbane south”, I shall get the complete list of councillors on the website 



List of Charitable Organizations

                                                    i.     St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies)

                                             http://www.vinnies.org.au/
                                            (02) 9568 0262      

                                                  ii.     The Salvation Army (Salvos)
 (03) 8878 4500

                                                 iii.     Hillsong
 (02) 8853 5391

                                                 iv.     Anglicare
                              http://www.anglicare.org.au/our-services
                              (02) 9895 8000

                                                   v.     The Smith Family
1800 024 069

                                            vi.          Meals On Wheels
        1800 854 453

                                          vii.          Mission Australia
        13 11 14

                                         viii.          Uniting Care Australia
 

- NSW/ACT


Parramatta Mission
119 Macquarie St
Parramatta NSW 2150
02 9891 2277

Wesley Mission
220 Pitt St
Sydney NSW 2000
02 9263 5555

Kippax Uniting Care
Cnr Luke St and Hardwick Cres
Holt ACT 2615
02 6254 1733
Website: www.kippax.org.au 

- Northern Territory


Somerville Community Services
147 Lee Point Rd
Wagaman NT 0810
08 8920 4100

- South Australia


Uniting Care Wesley Bowden
77 Gibson St
Bowden SA 5007
08 8245 7100
Website: www.ucwb.org.au 

Uniting Care Wesley Country South Australia
60 Florence St
Port Pirie SA 5540
08 8633 8600
Website: www.ucwcsa.org.au 

Uniting Care Wesley Port Adelaide
70 Dale St
Port Adelaide SA 5015
08 8440 2200
Website: www.ucwpa.org.au 

Uniting Care Copper Triangle
25 Wearn Cres
Kadina SA 5554
08 8821 3383

Uniting Care Gawler
10 Tod St
Gawler SA 5118
08 8522 4522

Uniting in Care Salisbury Inc.
1 Bowen Tce
Salisbury SA 5108
08 8258 2675

- Western Australia


Uniting Care West
16 Sunbury Rd
Victoria Park WA 6100
1300 663 298

- Victoria/Tasmania


Bendigo Uniting Care Outreach
25 Forest St
Bendigo Vic 3552
03 5443 4972
Website: www.ucarebgo.com.au 

Church of All Nations Community Support Agency
180 Palmerston St
Carlton Vic 3053
03 9347 7077
Website: www.carlton-uca.org 

Lentara Uniting Care
413 – 419 Camp Rd
Broadmeadows Vic 3047
03 9351 3600

South Port Uniting Care
319 Dorcas St
South Melbourne Vic 3025
03 9690 1188

Uniting Care Ballarat
105 Dana St
Ballarat Vic 3353
03 5332 1286

Uniting Care East Burwood Centre
220 Burwood Hwy
Burwood East Vic 3151
03 9803 3400
Website: www.ucebc.org 

Uniting Care Geelong
2 Balliang St
South Geelong Vic 3220
03 4210 1100

Uniting Care Gippsland
49 McCulloch St
Bairnsdale Vic 3875
03 5152 9600
Website: www.ucgipps.org.au 

Uniting Care Harrison Community Services
1012 Little Burwood Hwy
Wantrina South Vic 3152
03 9871 8700

Uniting Care Hotham Mission
2 Elm Street
North Melbourne Vic 3051
03 9326 8245

Uniting Care Prahran Mission
211 Chapel St
Prahran Vic 2181
1800 266 664

Uniting Care Tasmania
31 Cambridge St
Bellerive Tas 7018
03 6244 1144

Uniting Care Werribee Support and Housing
19 Duncans Rd
Werribee Vic 3030
03 9742 6452 
Website: www.wsh.org.au 

Uniting Care Wodonga
Cnr Beechworth Rd and Nilmar Ave
Wodonga Vic 3690
03 6024 2108

                                            ix.          Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children