Barnardos, where appropriate, aims to provide needed preventative services in partnership with other service providers to children at risk of abuse or neglect .

Barnardos South Coast Centre provides accommodation to early childhood nurses for the surrounding area facilitating joint visitation and the running of groups.

Barnardos’ workers are located on school premises in the Illawarra, NSW, to assist children from those schools experiencing problems.

Every year the Australian Taxation Department helps train Tax Help Volunteers who help people with straightforward returns. The Tax Help program is designed for people on low incomes, including seniors, students and people doing tax returns for the first time. The program also helps people from non-English speaking or indigenous backgrounds and those with a disability. Many of these people can’t afford to pay a tax agent for assistance with their income tax return and getting to a local office can sometimes be difficult. Visiting a Tax Help Volunteer in the local community can help. Tax help is a free service and available from July through to October each year.

The Penrith Children’s Family Centre and the Community Development Cottage in Cranebrook are two of the community based centres which offer this service each year to local families and individuals. There is a trained Tax Help volunteer based at both centres for two day a week throughout July, August, September and October. Appointments can be made by calling the Penrith Centre.

Penrith Centre has established a close working relationship to enable the establishment of the Internet Café and e-communities on a housing estate close to the Centre.

Advice can be obtained on all types of legal matters, including domestic violence, child custody, wills and probate, criminal matters, family and property law, compensation and social security, debt and child welfare issues.