Current location
You are here: for carers and family > useful contacts > useful contacts for carersFor carers and family
Useful contacts for carers
Aged Care Information Line (more information)
– 1800 500 853.Australian Government Seniors Portal
Department of Health and Ageing Central Office
Switchboard 02 6289 1555
Freecall 1800 020 103
After hours 02 6122 2747
General fax 02 6281 6946
Email enquiries@health.gov.au
Address GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
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 Line
(more information) – 1800 700 600The Aged Care Advocacy service. There is an advocacy service available in each state and territory.
Australian Government Directory of Services for Older People 2006–07
This book is a one-stop information resource, found in organisations you may visit for information and assistance, including public and private hospitals, general practitioners, aged care homes and Commonwealth Carelink Centres.
The directory information can also be accessed at the Seniors Portal.
Commonwealth Carelink Program
- 1800 052 222
The Commonwealth Carelink website lists where these centres are located. By using the 1800 phone 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, phone 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.
(*standard charges apply to calls made from mobile phones).
Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT or ACAS in Victoria) (more information)
You can contact your local ACAT directly by calling the nearest Commonwealth Carelink centre on 1800 052 222.
If you are not happy after talking to an ACAT, you should call the relevant department:
NSW Health 02 9391 9000
Victorian Department of Human Services 03 9616 7777
Queensland Health 07 3234 0111
SA Department for Families and Communities 08 8226 8800
Health Department of WA 08 9222 4060
Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services 1300 135 513
Territory Health Services 08 8999 2400
ACT Department of Health and Community Care 02 6205 5111
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 phone directory.
Home and Community Care program (more information)
Commonwealth Carelink Centre – 1800 052 222
HACC contacts in your state or territory:
NSW Ageing and Disability Department 02 9367 6811
Victorian Department of Human Services 03 9616 7777
Queensland Health 07 3234 0340
SA Department for Families and Communities 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 phone directory.
Community Aged Care Package Program (more information) and Extended Aged Care at Home (more information) and Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (more information)
Commonwealth Carelink Centre – 1800 052 222
You may also contact your doctor, community nurse, your local hospital or ACAT for more information about CACPs or EACH services.
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) phone. Calls from mobile phones may cost more.
Commonwealth Carer Resource Centres and Commonwealth Carer Respite Centres (more information)
Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre –1800 242 636 (free call from local phones – mobile phones at mobile rates)
Commonwealth Carer Respite Centre – 1800 059 059 (free call from local phones – mobile phones at mobile rates)
Carers Australia represents the needs and interests of carers at the national level
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/
Short-term care
For respite services, talk to your local doctor or your Aged Care Assessment Team. A Commonwealth Carer Respite Centre can also help you link up with services (see above). You may also contact your nearest Commonwealth Carelink Centre for information on local HACC services.
Commonwealth 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
Carers Australia online
Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre – 1800 242 636 (free call from local phones – mobile phones at mobile rates).
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.
Continence support
National Continence Helpline – 1800 330 066 (free call from fixed phones)
National Continence Management Strategy
For information on the Continence Aids Assistance Scheme (CAAS) (more information) contact:
Intouch (a division of PQ Lifestyles), PO Box 2082, Milton QLD 4064, on 1300 366 455, or
Department of Health and Ageing on 1800 807 487 (free call from fixed phones – mobile calls at mobile rates).
Allied health services
Office of Hearing Services – 1800 500 726, or 1800 500 496 (TTY)
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 phone the Office of Hearing Services and give your postal address, and an application form will be posted to you.
Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) (more information)
Queensland 07 3846 1099
New South Wales 02 8585 5000
Victoria 03 9398 2354
Tasmania 03 6234 9411
South Australia 08 8245 7157
Western Australia 08 9346 8149
Western Australia country 1800 803 742
Next step: Community Care Service Finder
