DSN Op Shop: op shop in Albany WA
We are an op shop in Albany, at 87 Cockburn Road in Centennial Park, and we are run by Depression Support Network Albany Inc. We stock good quality clothing and household items at low prices. What the shop takes goes back into the Network’s work with people in Albany and the Great Southern who live with depression, so a purchase here does two jobs at once. The shop is open Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 4.00pm, and the number is (08) 9841 3724.
What you will find on the racks and shelves
The stock is clothing and household goods, and it turns over the way op shop stock always does — what is here this week will not be here next week, which is the reason regulars call in often rather than once. The shop is wheelchair accessible and we take card as well as cash. If you are looking for something in particular, it is worth ringing ahead or asking at the counter, because donated stock does not arrive on a schedule.
The organisation behind the shop
Depression Support Network Albany Inc is a local incorporated association. Its stated aim is to provide peer support to people living with depressive illness, and to their carers and families. That work runs from educating and supporting individuals through to workshops, forums and support groups focused on managing the illness. The Network describes clinical depression as a serious illness that takes time, care and understanding, and as an individual illness that needs individual responses — not the everyday blues, but something lasting at least two weeks at a time and affecting a person’s ability to work or to hold satisfying relationships.
What the shop’s takings pay for
The Network runs a weekly programme from its premises at 39 Mokare Road. It is a mix of quiet things and social things: walking groups that head out around Middleton Beach and Lake Seppings before stopping for a cuppa, morning coffee and chat sessions, art and craft, shared lunches, games afternoons and discussion groups that sometimes have a visiting local professional. There is one-on-one peer support with the coordinator, information sessions covering topics such as medication and natural therapies and nutrition, meditation, and resources members can borrow. The grounds include a scent garden, a meditation spot with a water feature, a veggie patch and outdoor relaxation areas. Times and days do shift, so ring before you come the first time.
Where to find each part of the organisation
- The op shop: 87 Cockburn Road, Centennial Park WA 6330. Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 4.00pm. Phone (08) 9841 3724.
- The DSN office and drop-in premises: 39 Mokare Road, Spencer Park WA 6330. Tuesday to Thursday, 10.00am to 3.00pm. Phone (08) 9842 1439.
- Postal address: PO Box 4048, Spencer Park WA 6330.
- Coordinator: Jo Brown, 0428 289 578, for anyone thinking about coming along to a group.
- Email: [email protected] for the shop, [email protected] for the Network.
Donating, and other numbers worth having
The shop exists on donated goods, so if you are clearing out clothing or household items in good condition, the shop is the place to bring them. Ring first on (08) 9841 3724 to check what is needed and when it suits to drop things off. Alongside its own contact details, the Network publishes a short list of telephone services on its website for anyone who needs to talk to someone: RuralLink on 1800 552 002, Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Salvos Care Line on 1300 363 622, the Men’s Helpline on 1300 789 978 and the Kids Helpline on 1800 201 123.