Many community and government services close or operate on a limited basis over the Christmas - New Year period each year. The information below is provided to assist service providers and people in need to identify sources of assistance at this time.

Further information will be added to this page as it becomes available. If you would like to contribute information about your organisation's services please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or tel. 8122 2755

Christmas Day meals & gatherings

The following organisations will be open on Christmas Day 2008, offering a Christmas meal:

Byron Place Community Centre
Open on Christmas Day 8am – 11am for homeless or disadvantaged people - no need for bookings
61-67 Byron Place, Adelaide SA 5000
Tel. 8217 9600

Hutt Street Centre
Providing a meal on Christmas Day from 11am
258 Hutt Street, Adelaide 5000
Tel. 8418 2500
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Maughan Church
Christmas Day tea at 5pm for people who would otherwise be alone.
Way Hall, 10 Pitt Street, Adelaide 5000
Tel. 8202 5832
www.maughan.unitingchurch.org.au

St Lukes Whitmore Square
Providing lunch on Christmas Day from 11.30am for people who are disadvantaged or isolated
35 Whitmore Square, Adelaide 5000
Tel. 8231 4149
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Vincentian Centre
Christmas meal will be provided for current clients
28 Whitmore Sq, Adelaide SA 5000
Tel. 8231 2250
www.vinnies.org.au

Westcare
Providing lunch on Christmas Day from 11am for people who are disadvantaged or isolated
216 Wright St, Adelaide 5000
Tel. 8231 2850
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Whyalla Community House/Drop-in Centre
Christmas luncheon will be provided from 11.30am on Christmas Day for people who do not have family and friends to celebrate with.
Please RSVP 8649 2647 for catering purposes
34 Galpin Street, Whyalla Stuart 5608

Government services 

Most State and Commonwealth government services are open during the Christmas New year period, excepting public holidays, operating with limited staff.

Centrelink
Centrelink offices will close only on public holidays - 25 and 26 December 2008 and 1 January 2009. Offices will be open on 24 December and 31 December.

Further details about Centrelink public holiday payment arrangements are available  at www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/publications/co049.htm

Families SA
Families SA offices will be open from 8.45am - 5pm during the Christmas-New Year period. They will close only on public holidays - 25 and 26 December 2008 and 1 January 2009. Offices will be open on 24 December and 31 December.

Telephone services

The following 24 hour telephone services will remain open between Christmas and New Year

• Child Abuse Report Line - tel. 13 1478
• Crisis Care - tel. 13 1611 - normal operating hours continue. Weekdays - 4pm - 9am; 24 hours weekends and public holidays
• Domestic Violence Helpline - tel. 1800 800 098 
• Gambling Helpline - tel. 1800 060 757
• Kids Help Line - tel. 1800 551 800
• Lifeline - tel. 13 1114
• Mental Health Assessment and Crisis Intervention Service - tel. 13 1465
• Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service - tel. 1800 011 046

Information services

Disability Information & Resource Centre Inc.
195 Gilles Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Tel. 8236 0555
Closed from 12.30pm Tues 23 December 2008. Reopens Mon 5 January 2009

Seniors Information Service Inc.
 76 Waymouth Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Tel. 8168 8776, 1800 636 368
Closed from mid-afternoon 24 December 2008. Reopens Mon 5 January 2009

Women's Information Service
Chesser House, 91-97 Grenfell St, Adelaide SA 5000
Tel. 8303 0590, 1800 188 158
Closed only on public holidays

Emergency assistance - metropolitan

Adelaide Benevolent Society Inc.
17 Morialta Street, Adelaide 5000
Tel. 8231 5321

Will operate on a limited basis, providing food vouchers only, 10am - 12 noon Mon - Wed 22-24 December 2008 and Mon - Wed 29-31 December 2008

Normal services resume on Mon 5 January 2009

Anglicare Family Centre North
91 Elizabeth Way, Elizabeth SA 5112
Tel. 8209 5400

Closed only on public holidays.
Emergency assistance services will not be provided between 25 December 2008 and 1 January 2009

Anglicare Morphett Vale
197 Main South Road, Morphett Vale SA 5162
Tel. 8392 3170

Closed from 5pm Fri 19 December 2008. Reopens Mon 5 January 2009
Emergency food parcels will be available during this time on weekdays excepting public holidays

Anglicare Magdalene Assistance Centre
42 Carrington Street, Adelaide 5000
Tel. 8305 9389

Closed only on weekends and public holidays
Normal hours, 9am - 12.30pm, for provision of emergency assistance apply at other times

Byron Place Community Centre
61-67 Byron Place, Adelaide SA 5000
Tel. 8217 9600

Open on all public holidays from 8am -11.30am. Normal hours at other times:  Mon - Fri 7.30am - 4.15pm (Wed - closed from 12.30pm). Sat, Sun 8am - 11.30am

Fred's Van
Open on Christmas Eve, closed on Christmas Day. Fred's Vans will then resume services on 28 December 2008

• Fred's Van 1 - Gawler Pl, between Flinders St and Wakefield St, Adelaide 5000 Tues - Thurs 8pm and Sun 7pm
• Fred's Van 2 - Church of Christ, 165 Beach Road, 165 Beach Rd, Christie Downs 5164, Wed, Sun 7pm
• Fred's Van 3 - Elizabeth - outside Family Centre, Langford Drive, Elizabeth 5112, Wed 6pm
  Salisbury - Anglican Hall, Church Street, Salisbury 5108, Sun 6pm
  Gawler - Pioneer Park, Lyndoch Road, Gawler (next to Visitor Centre), Thurs 6pm
• Fred's Van 4 - St Bedes Anglican Church Hall, 200 Military Rd, Semaphore 5019, Sun 6pm

Hutt Street Centre
258 Hutt Street, Adelaide 5000
Tel.  8418 2500
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Normal hours continue during Christmas 2008 - New Year 2009: 

Closed every Saturday
Open Mon - Fri 7am - 3.30pm; Sun 9am - 11am; public holidays 9am – 11am

North East Community Assistance Project Inc.
489 North East Road, Hillcrest SA 5086
Tel. 8266 2780
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Closed from COB Mon 22 December 2008. Reopens Mon 12 January 2009
Open Thurs 8 January for food parcels only

Offenders Aid & Rehabilitation Services of SA Inc.
234 Sturt St, Adelaide SA 5000
Tel. 8210 0811
Email  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Closed from 23 December 2008. Reopens Mon 5 January 2009

Paradise Community Services
Darley Rd, Paradise SA 5075
Tel. 8336 0066
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Closed from 5pm Fri 12 December 2008. Reopens on Tues 3 February 2009. The Elizabeth branch, 20 Shillabeer Road will close at 5pm Tues 9 December 2009, re-opening Tues 3 February 2009.

Port Family Centre
58 Dale Street, Port Adelaide SA 5015
Tel. 8241 0016
www.ucwpa.org.au

Closed from 12 noon Wed 24 December 2008. Reopens Mon 5 January 2009

Salvation Army Community Support Services
277 Pirie Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Tel. 8227 0199

Open to 12.30pm Wed 24 December 2008
Closed Thurs, Fri 25 & 26 December 2008
Open 10am - 2pm Mon - Wed 29-31 December 2008
Closed Thurs, Fri 1-2 January 2009
Normal opening hours resume Mon 5 January 2009:  Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9am - 4pm; Wed 9am - 12 noon

Ucare Gawler Inc.
Tod St, Gawler SA 5118
Tel. 8522 4522
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Open from 10am – 11am providing bread only on 29 December - Wed 31 December 2008, Tues 6 January and Thurs 8 January 2009
Office open 10am—12.30pm Fri 2 January, Mon 5 January, Wed 7 January, Fri 9 January, Mon – Fri 12 – 16 January
Normal opening hours resume Mon 19 January 2009
 

UnitingCare Adelaide East Inc.
c/- Clayton Wesley Uniting Church, cnr The Parade and Portrush Road, Beulah Park SA 5067
Tel. 8331 3529
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Closed from Wed 24 December 2008. Reopens Mon 2 February 2009
During this time, emergency assistance will be available 10am - 1pm on Wed 14, 21 and 28 January. An appointment is required

WestCare
216 Wright Street, Adelaide 5000
Tel. 8231 2850
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Closed only on public holidays 

Emergency assistance - country 

Anglican Community Care Inc. - Community Support Centre Mount Gambier
22 Ferrers Street, Mount Gambier SA 5290
Tel. 8723 0540
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.accinc.org.au

Emergency relief services will be available as normal Mondays 1pm - 4pm and Fridays 9.30am - 12 noon, excepting public holidays. Emergency accommodation services will be available from 1pm - 4pm on weekdays, excepting public holidays.

People requiring these services should phone for an appointment, tel. 8724 9211

Other community services

Women's Health Statewide
64 Pennington Tce, North Adelaide SA 5006
Tel. 8239 9600, 1800 182 098. Women's Healthline: 1300 882 880
www.whs.sa.gov.au

Closed from 29 December 2008. Reopens Mon 5 January 2009