The McKenzie Day Centre

The McKenzie Day Centre has been in operation since 1978. It provides meals and services for more than 15,000 people a year.

The centre currently operates with the invaluable assistance of volunteers. We couldn’t operate without them! We also depend on donations to provide our clients with nutritious meals.

The Centre provides the following services Monday to Friday:

• free showers
  
• free morning tea
  
• free clothes-washing facilities
  
• assistance with electricity bills
  
• counselling services by appointment, for gambling counselling, low cost family relationship counselling and personal issues counselling
  
• youth services to help younger members of our community
  
• referral services to the Department of Housing, detox/rehabilitation centres and other accommodation/welfare agencies
  
• Centrelink staff visits every Monday and Wednesday (12.30pm to 1.30pm)
  
• clothing for the homeless and disadvantaged
  
• drop-in facilities

In addition to the above, we also have a very successful and efficient accommodation program for people who are either homeless or at risk of homelessness. We manage 81 bedsitter units suitable for single occupancy and also have three family homes.

Our vision

Our goal is to transform the McKenzie Day Centre into a one-stop shop so the homeless and disadvantaged have access to a wide variety of support services at the one address. We envisage a range of service providers operating together at the centre, sharing skills and resources to secure better outcomes for the homeless. There is a strong need for these types of services. In fact, there are approximately 40,000 disadvantaged people in the Hunter area who could benefit.

Our vision for the McKenzie Day Centre includes the provision of:

• information, assessment and referral to other accommodation and support services
  
• doctors
  
• psychiatrists
  
• mental health workers
  
• drug and alcohol advice
  
• Centrelink staff
  
• employment programs
  
• life skills programs (e.g. parenting, gambling, budgeting)
  
• recreation
  
• medical doctors

Negotiations are underway with a number of services and government departments to take up office space in our building. CRC Justice Support currently maintains an office, providing advice and assistance to prison inmates and former inmates, their families and friends. CRC offers casework, referral and assistance in obtaining accommodation, counselling, post-release support and subsidised transport. They also offer a court support service to help people to understand the court system.

The Newcastle Homeless Interagency Network also has an office in our building.

Enquiries

Susan McGuinness
16 Wood Street
Newcastle West NSW 2302
Ph. (02) 4915 3628
Fax. (02) 4915 3646
Email. susan.mcguinness@wesleymission.org.au

If you are in the Sydney area and need more information about our Homeless Services, please visit our website.