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Useful contacts for carers
Aged Care Information
For information on aged care contact 1800 200 422.Department of Health and Ageing Central Office
Email enquiries@health.gov.au
Address GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme (more information)
- 1800 550 552Or 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 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.Translating
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 200 422. Speech-impaired callers may also call through Speech-to-Speech Relay by dialling 1800 555 727 then asking for 1800 200 422.Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT or ACAS in Victoria) (more information)
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.
Next step: Aged Care Assessment Team Finder
Home and Community Care program (more information)
For more information call 1800 200 422.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 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)
You may also contact your doctor, community nurse, your local hospital or ACAT for more information about CACPs or EACH services. For more information call 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) phone. Calls from mobile phones may cost more.
Financial information (pensions and allowances)
Centrelink (financial assistance for carers) –13 27 17 or for multilingual information – 13 12 02There 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. Contact 1800 200 422 for information on local services.For emergency respite support outside standard business hours, call 1800 059 059.
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 500Interpreter Service – 131 450
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.
Continence support
National Continence Helpline – 1800 330 066National 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.
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 1099New South Wales 02 9378 1378
Victoria 03 8823 7900
Tasmania 03 6221 0940
South Australia 08 8241 9900
Western Australia 08 9381 0660
Australian Capital Territory 02 6205 1302
Northern Territory 08 8941 1004
National Carer Counselling Program
The National Carer Counselling Program provides short-term counselling and emotional and psychological support services for carers. This aims to help reduce carer stress, improve carer coping skills and facilitate, wherever appropriate, continuation of the caring role. The NCCP is delivered through the Network of Carer Associations in each state and territory. For information contact 1800 200 422.Next step: Community Care Service Finder