Services

Energy Account Payment Assistance (EAPA)

• Bateau Bay Neighbourhood Centre can help residents who are having trouble paying their energy bills by providing EAPA vouchers.

• The Scheme is a crisis program and is not intended to offer ongoing income support.

• If you are at risk of disconnection or in a financial crisis with a bill that is overdue, ring BBNC on 4332 7450 to make an appointment. You are required to bring a copy of your original account and any subsequent correspondence from your energy provider with you. We cannot help with reconnection fees.

• Other Neighbourhood Centres in the area also offer EAPA assistance. Check with us to see which Centre covers your suburb.

Free Counselling Service

A free professional counselling service is now available here at BBNC. Our counsellor Vanessa can provide assistance with:

• relationship and family problems,
• developing strong, healthy relationships within the family unit,
• issues to do with family violence, behavioural problems and relationship issues,
• support and/or referrals for families including: financial support, parenting support and daily household living skills,
• depression, anxiety, self-esteem, anger, grief & loss.

The service is available by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10 am and 2 pm. Please call us on 4332 7450 or email admin@bbnc.org.au to book your appointment.

Food Store and Op Shop

BBNC Food Store: Having trouble making ends meet? Help is here! We stock a variety of groceries, pantry supplies (including longlife milk), and toiletries at our Food Store. Items sold range from 50c to $3.00. The Food Store is open Monday to Thursday from 9am—3pm.   Free: We also have free day-old bread on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  Frozen bread is usually available any time Monday to Thursday 9am-3pm. We also have surplus fresh fruit and vegetables from Second Bite after 1 pm Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Additional help is available for people in extreme circumstances. Please call us if you need more information. Op Shop: Bargain shopping is easy at our op shop! We have a great range of clothing, including children’s clothing, shoes and books. Most clothing is only $1! We are open from Monday to Thursday from 9am—3pm. Donations of goods gladly accepted. We also accept donations to our food store.

Tax Help

Please call us on 4332 7450 to check whether Tax Help is available in 2017

• For people on low incomes, non-English speaking backgrounds, seniors or disabled, Tax Help is available for simple tax returns (e.g. not self-employed).
• To find out more about Tax Help and to see if you are eligible, click on the thumbnail at right.

Garden Equipment Loan

• We have a lawnmower and whipper-snipper available for borrowing.  Please call us on 4432 7450 to check on availability and book your loan.
• Click on the thumbnail at right to see our terms and conditions for borrowing our tools.
• The cost is a $2 donation.

Community Laundry

Call to book our new washing machine for emergency laundry. We have a clothesline available, or take your washing home to dry. Call us for more information.

Office Services, PC & Internet Access

By appointment, the following services are available:

• Phone Calls: Local $0.50, STD & Mobile $1.50
• B/W Printing or Photocopying: $0.20 per page, $0.40 per double-sided page
• Colour Printing or Photocopying: $0.50, $1.00 per double-sided page
• Laminating: A4 $1.00, A3 $2.00
• Document Binding (up to 45 pages) $5.00
• Computer & Internet (2hrs) $2.00

See our 'Activities' page for information about beginners' computer courses here at BBNC.

Book Exchange

Recycle unwanted books, including children's books, by bringing them to the Neighbourhood Centre and swapping them with books from our shelves.

• If you don’t have any books to swap then you can still buy from us at $2.00 for 4 books.
• If you don't want to swap, donations of books are still gratefully accepted.