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Government agencies

Aged Care Information

For information on aged care call 1800 200 422.

Department of Health and Ageing Central Office

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

For information on how to connect to your local ACAT, call 1800 200 422.

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
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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 2011

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.
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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.

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 Centres contact 1800 200 422 during business hours or, for emergency respite support outside standard business hours, call 1800 059 059

You may also contact your doctor, community nurse, your local hospital or ACAT for more information about CACPs, EACH and EACH D services.
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Day Therapy Centres (more information)

Call 1800 200 422 for information.

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

Dementia support

For aged care information call 1800 200 422.
National Dementia Helpline – 1800 100 500
Interpreter Service – 131 450
National Dementia Behaviour Advisory Service (NDBAS)– 1300 366 448
Carers Australia online
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
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Home and Community Care Program

Call 1800 200 422 for more information.

HACC contacts in your state or territory.

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. For more information call 1800 200 422.

Transition Care Program (more information)

For information contact 1800 200 422.

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
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Aged Care Information
1800 200 422

This page was last updated on: 28 June 2011