Lanara provides psychosocial support, social participation, personal care and daily living assistance to adults in inner and south Sydney, including Redfern, Surry Hills, Waterloo, Alexandria, Erskineville, Zetland and Glebe. We are a family-owned provider based just across the border in Marrickville, and we support self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants and private clients.

Inner Sydney moves fast. Apartments sit beside terraces, new neighbourhoods like Green Square are still taking shape, and there is something on every corner. For someone living with a mental health condition or disability, that same busyness can make it harder to get out the door, keep a routine going or feel part of the neighbourhood. Our support is designed to help with exactly that, at your pace.

Who can use Lanara in inner Sydney?

We support adults across inner Sydney living with psychosocial disability, mental health conditions and other complex needs, including many of the conditions we commonly support such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Many live alone in apartments or shared housing, and some are new to the area.

We support self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants, as well as private clients who fund their own support. If your NDIS plan is agency-managed (NDIA-managed), you will need to use a registered provider.

Which inner Sydney suburbs do we support?

We support people across the southern and inner parts of the City of Sydney, including:

  • Redfern, Waterloo, Eveleigh and Darlington
  • Surry Hills, Chippendale and Ultimo
  • Alexandria, Erskineville, Beaconsfield, Zetland and Rosebery
  • Glebe, Forest Lodge and Pyrmont
  • Darlinghurst, Woolloomooloo and Potts Point
  • Newtown and Camperdown, which the City of Sydney shares with the Inner West

If you live on the Inner West side of Newtown or Camperdown, our Inner West page has more local detail. For Paddington and the east, see our Eastern Suburbs page.

What support do we provide in inner Sydney?

Psychosocial support. Help to build steady routines, manage the pressures of city living, keep on top of appointments and work towards your goals, from support workers who hold degrees in psychology or related fields.

Social participation. Support to reconnect with your community at a pace that suits you, whether that is a quiet walk through Prince Alfred Park, a class at a community centre or a regular swim. Our guide, What Is Social Participation Support?, explains how it works.

Personal care. Respectful, carefully matched help with showering, dressing, grooming and personal hygiene, in apartments, terraces and shared homes alike.

Daily living assistance. Practical help with cooking, cleaning, shopping, paperwork and appointments, so everyday life takes less out of you.

Where can support take you in inner Sydney?

Inner Sydney has some of the city’s best-equipped community facilities, and many are easy to reach on foot or by light rail:

  • Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Zetland, the largest pool complex built in Sydney since the 2000 Olympics, with an indoor heated program pool and a hydrotherapy pool.
  • Prince Alfred Park Pool in Surry Hills, a heated outdoor pool normally open all year (closed for maintenance from 14 September 2026 for about nine weeks).
  • Redfern Community Centre on Hugo Street, which runs cultural and recreational programs designed to build social connections.
  • Juanita Nielsen Community Centre in Woolloomooloo, with recreational and creative learning programs.
  • Getting around: the L2 and L3 light rail lines run through Surry Hills and Moore Park, and Redfern and Central stations connect most of the rail network. We can help you plan trips and practise routes until they feel manageable.

Which local services do we work alongside?

With your consent, we are happy to work alongside the services you already use, such as:

  • Your GP, psychologist, psychiatrist or other treating team
  • Community mental health services run by Sydney Local Health District and, in the east of the area, St Vincent’s Hospital, whose community mental health team is based at The O’Brien Centre in Darlinghurst
  • headspace Camperdown (97 Church St), for young people aged 12 to 25
  • Your NDIS Local Area Coordinator, Support Coordinator and plan manager

The need is real. The City of Sydney sits in the NDIA’s Sydney service district, where 18.2% of NDIS participants have a primary psychosocial disability, about double the NSW rate of 8.6%. The City of Sydney alone had 2,671 NDIS participants at 30 June 2026 (NDIS data).

What makes Lanara different?

Nearby, but not a large agency. We are based in Marrickville, right on the edge of inner Sydney, and we are family-owned. Our leadership team is involved day to day. Read our story.

Psychology-informed support. Our psychosocial and social participation workers hold degrees in psychology or related fields, which is why we believe mental health training matters in support work.

Consistency. We aim to give you a regular support worker who gets to know you, rather than a rotating roster of strangers.

Prepared from day one. With your permission, we ask your Support Coordinator to brief us before your first session, so you do not have to repeat your story.

Are you a Support Coordinator or health professional in inner Sydney?

Inner Sydney clients often come to us with layered needs: co-occurring conditions, trauma histories, housing pressures or a history of difficult experiences with services. Support Coordinators, GPs, psychologists, OTs and social workers working in the City of Sydney can refer self-managed and plan-managed participants and private clients to us, and we will keep you informed once support begins. Make a referral.

How do I get started?

Start with a no-obligation conversation. We will listen, answer your questions and explain how we might help, with no pressure to commit. Our step-by-step guide walks through what happens next. If having someone new in your home feels daunting, our guide to feeling at ease with a support worker at home may help. Family members and carers are welcome to contact us on your behalf, with your permission, and our guide for families and carers explains how we can support you too.

To talk about support in inner Sydney, call us on 1300 152 627 (1300-1-LANARA), email info@lanara.com.au, or send us a message. Support Coordinators and health professionals can make a referral online.

Frequently asked questions about support in inner Sydney

Do you support people living in apartments or social housing?

Yes. We support people in all kinds of homes, including apartments, terraces, boarding houses and social housing. Our workers adapt to your space and your building’s access arrangements.

Can you help me use public transport around the city?

Yes. Building confidence with public transport is a common goal. Your support worker can plan routes with you, travel with you at first, and gradually step back as you become more independent.

I live in Newtown or Camperdown. Which page is for me?

Both suburbs straddle the Inner West and the City of Sydney, and we support people on either side. You can contact us from whichever page you like.

Can I use Lanara with an NDIA-managed plan?

No. We only support self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants and private clients.

Can I meet my support worker first?

Yes. We are happy to arrange an introduction once intake is done, so you can decide whether the match feels right.

Other areas we support

Lanara is based in Marrickville and supports people across the inner and southern suburbs of Sydney. See all our service areas or go straight to:

Important information

Every one of our support workers holds a university degree in psychology or a related field. They are not registered psychologists, and Lanara is not a clinical, therapy or crisis service. We work alongside your GP, psychologist, psychiatrist or community mental health team, not instead of them.

If you or someone you support is in immediate danger, call 000. For urgent mental health advice, call the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 (24 hours, 7 days) or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Local services named on this page are listed for information only. Lanara is not affiliated with them.

Page last reviewed: 3 October 2026.