Current location

You are here:  where to start > useful contacts > government agencies

Where to start

Government agencies

Aged Care Information Line (more information) – 1800 500 853.

Department of Health and Ageing Central Office

Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT or ACAS in Victoria) (more information)

You can contact your local ACAT directly by calling the nearest Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre on 1800 052 222.

Health centres and local hospitals can also provide you with information on the ACAT in your area. ACATs can also be found by looking up the ‘Age Page’ at the front of your local White Pages telephone directory.

Next step: Aged Care Assessment Team Finder
top of page

Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme (more information)


1800 550 552

Or write to-

Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
GPO Box 9848
in your capital city.

Advocacy Services

National Aged Care Advocacy (more information) Line – 1800 700 600.

The Aged Care Advocacy service. There is an advocacy service available in each state and territory.

Australian Government Directory of Services for Older People 2010

This free guide provides information and contact details on a range of Australian Government services for older people. The directory has chapters on health services, accessing aged care, legal rights, finance choices and employment choices. You can obtain a copy of this directory by ringing the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853. The directory can also be accessed on the Health website.
top of page

Allied health services

Office of Hearing Services (more information)– 1800 500 726, or 1800 500 496 (TTY)

Office of Hearing Services

Email – hearing@health.gov.au

You can obtain an application form for a hearing services voucher from your doctor or from a hearing services provider who is contracted to the Office of Hearing Services.

Alternatively, you may telephone the Office of Hearing Services and give your postal address, and an application form will be posted to you. Carers Australia represents the needs and interests of carers at the national level.

Commonwealth Carelink Program

1800 052 222 There are shopfronts throughout Australia. The Carelink website lists where these centres are located. By using the 1800 telephone network, your call can also be transferred to any centre around Australia to find out about care services in other areas.

If you need an interpreter, telephone the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 13 14 50. Deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired callers may contact us through the National Relay Service using their modem or TTY by dialling 1800 555 677 then asking for 1800 052 222. Speech-impaired callers may also call through Speech-to-Speech Relay by dialling 1800 555 727 then asking for 1800 052 222.

Community Aged Care Package (CACP) (more information),
Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) (more information) and
Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (EACH D) (more information)
Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre – 1800 052 222 (free call) during business hours or, for emergency respite support outside standard business hours, call 1800 059 059 (free call)

You may also contact your doctor, community nurse, your local hospital or ACAT for more information about CACPs, EACH and EACH D services.
top of page

Day Therapy Centres (more information)

Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre – 1800 052 222

You can also find out more about day therapy centres by contacting your doctor, community nurse or your local hospital.

Dementia support

National Dementia Helpline – 1800 100 500
Interpreter Service – 131 450
National Dementia Behaviour Advisory Service (NDBAS)– 1300 366 448
Carers Australia online
Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre – 1800 052 222 (free call) during business hours or, for emergency respite support outside standard business hours, call 1800 059 059 (free call)
Centrelink (financial assistance for carers) – 13 27 17
or for multilingual information – 13 12 02

The Carer Experience: An essential guide for carers of people with dementia is a very popular and practical booklet for carers that can be ordered, free of charge, through the Aged and Community Care Information Line on 1800 500 853.

Financial information (pensions and allowances)

Centrelink (financial assistance for carers) – 13 27 17
or for multilingual information – 13 12 02

There are also useful website publications for carers of frail aged, ill or disabled persons
top of page

Home and Community Care Program

Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre – 1800 052 222 (free call) during business hours or, for emergency respite support outside standard business hours, call 1800 059 059 (free call)
HACC contacts in your state or territory:

NSW Ageing and Disability Department -02 9367 6811
Victorian Department of Human Services - 03 9096 7777
Queensland Health - 07 3234 0340
SA Department for Families and Communties 08 8226 8800
Health Department of WA - 08 9222 4060
Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services - 1800 067 415
Territory Health Services - 08 8922 7392
ACT Department of Health and Community Care - 02 6205 5111

You may also contact your doctor, community nurse or your local hospital for more information about HACC services.

HACC services can also be found by looking up the Age Page at the front of your local White Pages telephone directory.

Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) (more information)

Short-term care

For respite services, talk to your local doctor or your Aged Care Assessment Team. A Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre can also help you link up with services (see above). You may also contact your nearest Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre for information on local HACC services.

Transition Care Program (more information)

Commonwealth Carelink Program – 1800 052 222

Veterans’ Home Care (more information)

For information about services available for veterans, war widows and war widowers, contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 13 32 54 or 1800 555 254.

Help is also available through the Veterans' Affairs Networks (VANs). They provide up-to-date information for veterans, war widow(er)s and their carers, and are located in all capital cities and in areas with large veteran communities. For more information contact 13 32 54, or for the nearest VAN office, call 1300 551 918.

Note – These numbers are charged at local call rate (or toll-free for the 1800 number) only if calling from a fixed (landline) telephone. Calls from mobile telephones may cost more.

Next step: Community Care Service Finder
top of page

Secondary Navigation

Stay informed  (more information)

Talk to someone about this...  contact details below

Before you use this list...

To talk to someone local:


Call from anywhere in Australia

Aged Care Information Line
1800 500 853
Office of Hearing Services
1800 500 726
Dementia Helpline - 24 hour
1800 100 500
Centrelink
132 717

Options:

This page was last updated on: 14 January 2010