Welcome from the Department for Communities
Communities are about the people who make them. Whether young or old, male or female, a parent or carer, a group of volunteers or a community organisation, all Western Australians should enjoy a sense of belonging to their community, to know they matter and have the opportunity to contribute.
The Department for Communities offers support to Western Australia’s diverse community groups to help build strong, vibrant communities. If you need information on any service in your first language, please call the Department for Communities main line on 6551 8700 or email info@communities.wa.gov.au and tell us your name, contact phone number and the language in which you require assistance. The Department will return your call with an interpreter speaking your language. If the Department is not able to assist with your query, we may be able to direct to you another agency or community organisation that may be able to help.
Carers
Carers provide unpaid care and support to family members or friends affected by illness, disability, mental health and/or drug or alcohol-related issues. There are an estimated 307,000 family carers living in Western Australia, including approximately 40,000 young carers. The Department for Communities works with Carers WA to raise awareness of the role that carers play in the community and provides funding for projects that support carers, including the Carers’ Counselling Line and the Young Carers in Schools project.
Carers Counselling Line: 1800 007 332
Education and Care
The Department’s Children’s Services Officers help families choose the right sort of quality child care, early learning and play services for their families. The Department’s Education and Care Regulatory Unit manages the regulation of approved education and care services throughout Western Australia. Departmental officers conduct visits to these services to ensure children are provided with the standard of education and care prescribed by law.
Education and Care Regulatory Unit: 6210 3333 or country freecall: 1800 199 383
Parenting WA
The Department’s Parenting WA offers information and support to parents, grandparents, family members and carers of children pre-birth to 18 years. The Department provides a free 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week Parenting WA telephone support service and a free parenting library. Parenting WA Coordinators work in the community and can meet to provide individual parenting discussions, group sessions and workshops.
Parenting WA Line freecall: 1800 654 432.
Seniors
The Department for Communities provides eligible Western Australians aged 60 or over with a Seniors Card that entitles them to a range of benefits provided by government and businesses. The Department also runs a Seniors Telephone Information Service staffed by trained volunteers. The Department works with other agencies and community organisation to create a community where seniors are healthier, feel secure, and are valued, active participants in all aspects of community life.
Seniors Card Hotline: 6551 8800 or country freecall: 1800 671 233
Volunteers
Volunteers are the backbone of our community and many volunteers say they get satisfaction from contributing to the community. The Department for Communities provides funding to Volunteering WA and Volunteer Resource Centres to support volunteering. We also celebrate the contribution of volunteers through community events such as National Volunteer Week.
Information about volunteering: 6551 8700
Women’s Interests
The Department’s free and confidential Women’s Information Service, which is staffed by fully trained and dedicated volunteers, responds each year to more than 6000 telephone queries from women on such matters as health, finance, counselling and the law. The Department for Communities provides grants to community organisations to develop projects that strengthen the social and economic wellbeing of all women.
Women’s Information Service: 6551 8700 or country freecall: 1800 199 174
Youth
The Department for Communities works in partnership with community service organisations on a wide range of activities, including its own Cadets WA program, which help young people learn new skills, gain confidence and make new friends. Examples of other programs include voyages on the sail training ship Leeuwin II and free counselling services such as the Kids Helpline.
Phone: 6551 8700 or country freecall: 1800 281 116