About Us

We love our community and we’re here to see it flourish.

Assisting the people of Shellharbour City since 1992. A church ministry originally that started with providing space to meet with people over coffee and build deeper relationships with friends in our neighbourhood. Once we started doing life with our neighbours we realised Assist could help meet other needs in the community and be there for people in the fluidity of life. Friends started seeing changes in addictions, feeling hope return and overall felt they were being seen rather than being just another number. Assist Shellharbour then became a Not for Profit organisation registered with the ACNC; with the desire to see all people live a full life financially, physically, socially and spiritually. Assist is a support based organisation that helps provide food assistance, connection through conversation, equipping through life skills, helping people meet their financial commitments and we’re a safe place of advocacy for people.

In 1998 Assist expanded its doors wider and started a preloved clothes and goods store called ‘Born Again Boutique’. It was started with the idea of providing a place where people in the community who were struggling, could have access to clean, pre-loved clothing to help stretch out their budgets. It has been a great meeting place with many people coming to have a cuppa and a chat around the table. Over the years our values have remained the same and most items to buy are around the $1 mark. We have a great range of clothing to suit all family members. The Born Again Boutique is a popular shop and has a great reputation in the community.

Born Again Boutique is located at the Baptist Care Community Centre at 2 Hill Street, Warilla North. It is open 9am-3pm Monday through Friday.

Serving meals since October 2009, now on Monday evenings from 4:30pm. Our doors are open and the table is set for all, any individual, family and couple is welcome. Please feel free to come, have a home cooked meal, meet others and even play a board game if that’s something you enjoy.

In the spring/summer seasons enjoy a main meal and dessert. In the autumn/winter months we serve soup and a main. We try to cook something that might remind you of home, but we’re always open to suggestions especially if you’ve been missing a certain meal.

Thank you to our supporting partners.

We are so thankful for our partnerships. We wouldn’t be able to accomplish all that we do for our community without the help of other amazing initiatives.

  • IGA Oak Flats Branch, your commitment to support local community has meant our shelves are stocked full for anyone in need. Your values on insuring people will thrive have blessed 100s of families.
  • We thank the families and staff at Warilla Baptist Pre-school for their donations drives, the impact of your care and love for others through your gifts is a blessing beyond words.
  • Orange Sky Laundry comes to 10A Commerce Drive, Lake Illawarra; Once a week to help positively connect people experiencing hardship and homelessness through their free laundry service and connection with such cheerful volunteers- Thank you team Daisy!
  • We acknowledge Baptist Care Warilla North, for the years of ongoing support, friendship and encouragement. 
  • We also thank the generosity of Food Care Shellharbour who provide us with fruit and vegetables which helps us cook meals for our community dinner Open Hands.
  • We thank Warilla Sports club for their support through ClubGrants in 2022 to help us launch our Barista Skills Training at a fee free price- helping us train 26 individuals and seeing 4 of those participants successfully gain employment.
  • We also thank Shellharbour Club for their support of Open Hands through ClubGrants; your ongoing support means we can provide a two-course meal to 45 individuals and their families every week.
  • Thank you to the Mayor and team at Shellharbour City Council for recognising and championing the work of Assist Shellharbour and the ministry of Open Hands. The contribution of the council allows us to continually seek for new opportunities that will create lasting impact for the people of Shellharbour.
  • Lastly we’d like to thank Kiama and Shoalhaven Community College for their partnership, support and Registered training for both our job seeking individuals and life learners in the community desiring to grow, learn and connect. You have and continue to help our community members learn new skills, gain opportunities and be empowered! We are extremely privileged to be partnering with you.

10A Commerce Drive, Lake Illawarra NSW 2528

assistshellharbour@gmail.com
0413 143 667 and (02) 4297 3667

Assist Shellharbour and Born Again Boutique is a registered not-for-profit organisation affiliated with Shellharbour City Baptist Church. Open Hands Community Dinner is a ministry of Shellharbour City Baptist Church.

We acknowledge and respect the Traditional custodians of this land: the Dharawal nation, on which we work and live. We pay respects to the Wadi Wadi Elder’s past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.