Social Support
Our Social Support Services
At Newcastle Meals on Wheels we provide Social Support services that are designed to reduce isolation, increase safety, and improve quality of life for older people living independently.
What Are Our Social Support Services?
In addition to our regular Wellbeing Checks, our trained volunteer companions can assist with:
- Shopping trips
- Medical or personal appointments
- Administrative tasks and paperwork
- Social outings and community activities
- Regular friendly visits
- Telephone check-ins
[VIDEO Volunteer / client talking about social services]
Who can access Newcastle Meals on Wheels Social Support?
Our Social Support services are available to older people living independently in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and Port Stephens regions who are eligible for CHSP or Support at Home (SaH) funding.
As we rely on funding to provide these services, the number of Social Support places we can offer can be limited and demand is often high. If you’re unsure about eligibility or current availability, please give us a call - we’re always happy to guide you. Phone: 02 4957 7097
What Does It Cost?
The cost of our Social Support services costs depend on your Aged Care package; [present CHSP and SaH options side by side]
CHSP: Partially government-funded with a client contribution of $6.80 per hour (minimum three hours). We invoice you directly.
Support at Home (SaH) / HCP: We invoice your provider for the total amount. No client contribution fee is required. [then underneath those]
What About Our Wellbeing Checks? Always included free with meal delivery. You only pay for your meals; delivery and Wellbeing Checks are free.
How to Arrange Our Social Support Services
Call us for a friendly chat. We’ll talk through your situation and explain what support is available at that time. Phone: 02 4957 7097
Should Social Support be unavailable at the time of your enquiry, we can place you on a waiting list. Meal deliveries with our free Wellbeing Checks will still available to you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Social Support
[accordion style FAQs]
Are these support services only available with meal delivery?
Our Wellbeing Checks are included free with meal delivery.
Additional Social Support services are not provided with meal delivery - they are a separate services. They may be available to you depending on your care plan, funding, and current service availability.
Can families organise Social Support for a parent?
Yes. Many families contact us on behalf of a parent or loved one.
We understand that supporting an ageing parent can feel overwhelming. We aim to make the process simple and supportive.
If Social Support services are available at the time of your enquiry, we’ll happily guide you through arranging support for your loved one. If places are currently full, we can add your loved one to a waiting list and contact you when availability arises.
Meal deliveries with our free Wellbeing Checks may still be available in the meantime.
Are your Social Support services government funded?
Our Social Support services are partially funded through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or Support at Home, depending on eligibility.
Some services may require a small client contribution in line with aged care guidelines.
What makes Newcastle Meals on Wheels different from other providers?
We are a local not-for-profit organisation focused on connection, safety, and community - not profit.
Our volunteers and staff live locally and care deeply about supporting older people to remain safe, independent, and connected in their own homes.
What is the difference between your Social Support services and Wellbeing Checks?
Wellbeing Checks are included free with every meal delivery. When a volunteer delivers your meal, with your permission they check in briefly to make sure you are safe and well at home.
Our Social Support services provide more structured assistance, such as shopping, attending appointments, and other outings.
These services offer longer and more personalised support, but they depend on available funding and service capacity and may involve a small co-payment.
In short:
Wellbeing Checks are brief check-ins during meal delivery, while Social Support provides additional ongoing support when funding and availability allow.