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Overview of respite care

Government programs offering respite care

The Australian Government provides support for respite care for older people and their carers, through the following programs: A range of respite care services are available for older people living at home, including a network of day care centres and respite care services provided in a person’s home.

There are Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres in metropolitan, rural and remote areas. These provide advice on the different types of respite care available and can help arrange care for a few hours or even a few days. These centres can also arrange 24-hour emergency respite care. For more information, call 1800 052 222 (free call) during business hours or, for emergency respite support outside standard business hours, call 1800 059 059 (free call).

Respite care in an aged care home

Short-term respite care is also available for older people who need care in an aged care home. It may be used on a planned or emergency basis to help with carer stress, illness, holidays or any other time when your carer is unable to help out. You can also seek respite care for yourself.

Some older people who have been approved for permanent care in an aged care home may be able to delay moving into the home by using respite care services.

Initial points of contact

There are a number of points of contact for information about respite services, including:

State and territory contacts

The table below lists the carers’ associations in each state and territory and their contact numbers.
State/Territory Association Contact
New South Wales Carers’ Association of NSW 02 9280 4744
Victoria Carers’ Association of Victoria Inc 03 9396 9500
Queensland Queensland Council of Carers Inc 07 3843 1401
Western Australia Carers’ Association of WA 1300 227 337
24 hr carer counselling line 1800 007 332
Red Cross HACC Carer Support 08 9225 8888
South Australia SA Carers Association 08 8271 6288
or 1800 815 549 (free call)
Tasmania Carers’ Association of Tasmania Hobart: 03 6231 5507
Launceston: 03 6334 9917
Northern Territory NT Carers’ and Consumer Association 08 8948 4877
Australian Capital Territory Carers’ Association of ACT Inc 02 6296 9900

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Government contacts

The table below lists the government departments responsible for aged care in each state and territory and their contact numbers.
State/Territory Department Contact
New South Wales NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care 02 8270 2000
Victoria Department of Human Services 03 9096 0000
Queensland Queensland Health 07 3234 0111
Western Australia Department of Health 08 9222 4222
Department for Communities 08 6217 8700
South Australia Department of Families and Communities 08 8226 8800
Department of Health 08 8226 6000
Tasmania Department of Health and Human Services 1300 655 564
Northern Territory Department of Health and Families 08 8999 2400
Australian Capital Territory ACT Health 13 22 81

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This page was last updated on: 19 May 2009