Palliative Care Australia
Services offered
Palliative care
Overview
There are a range of services that can help you, from carer and counselling services to financial assistance, future planning and home help.
There are a range of palliative care services, with availability depending on where you live. Some are free, others may have a cost. Talk to your healthcare team or call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20 for services near you.
Carer services
| Information, resources, counselling, support, links to other services, home help or visiting nurses and respite care. | |
| Young Carers Network | Support for young people under 25 caring for a family member or friend. |
Counselling and mentoring services
| 24-hour culturally safe space to yarn about worries with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter. | |
| Australian Psychological Society | Use the “Find a Psych” search to look for a practitioner in your area. |
| Better Access initiative | Information about Medicare rebates for mental health services. Talk to your GP for more details and to organise a referral. |
| Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 |
24-hour telephone counselling service; online and email counselling 7 days a week. |
| Carer Gateway Counselling Service 1800 422 737 |
Free counselling service for carers. Available each day 8am–6pm. They can also connect you with other carers in your area or an online carer forum. |
| Cancer Council’s Peer Connect 13 11 20 |
Connect with people affected by cancer online, by phone or in person. |
| Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 |
Telephone and online counselling and crisis support for people aged 5–25. |
| Lifeline 13 11 14 |
24-hour telephone crisis support and suicide prevention service. |
| Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 |
24-hour telephone and online counselling for people affected by suicide. |
Financial assistance
| Centrelink 132 717 |
Offers financial support for people with a long-term illness and for carers. |
| NDIS 1800 800 110 |
Funding and support for people under 65 with a permanent and significant disability. |
| National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007 |
Help with debt problems and finding a financial counsellor. |
| Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) | Information about the cost of prescription medicines and safety net thresholds. |
| Talk to the social worker on the palliative care team | They may be able to help you find financial support. |
Future planning
| Advance Care Planning Australia 1300 208 582 |
Information about planning for your future health care, including advance care directives. |
| Discussion Starters | Palliative Care Australia website encouraging Australians to talk about dying; includes discussion starters. |
Home help and home nursing
| Talk to your GP, palliative care team, local council or health fund about home nursing or home help. | Some local councils provide services in the home or in the community. Private services are also available. |
| My Aged Care 1800 200 422 |
Information about different types of aged care services and eligibility. |
Legal information
| Cancer Connect 13 11 20 |
Cancer Connect may be able to refer you to professionals for advice on legal issues. This service may vary by location. |
| End of Life Law in Australia | Legal information about advance care directives, palliative care and VAD. |
|
Public Trustees in Australia Search “public trustee” online |
Help you prepare a will and manage your finances in your state or territory. |
Palliative care
| Care Search | Information about death and dying and links to services and resources. |
| Palliative Care Australia | Information and resources; can help connect you with palliative organisations in your state or territory. |
Respite care
| Links to respite care at home, in a respite care centre or, in some cases, in a hospital or palliative care unit. |
Support groups and cancer information
| Cancer Council Online Community | An online discussion forum where people can connect with each other in a safe space any time, ask or answer questions, or write a blog about their experiences. |
| Telephone support groups Cancer Connect 13 11 20 |
Includes groups for people with advanced cancer, for carers and for the bereaved. |
| Cancer Council podcasts | Information and insights with a separate series about advanced cancer. |
| Face-to-face groups Call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20 or ask a hospital social worker. |
It can help to meet with others who understand what it is like to have, or care for, someone with cancer. |
Young people and children
| 13 Yarn 13 92 76 |
24-hour culturally safe space to yarn about worries with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter. |
| Cancer Hub 1800 431 312 |
Camp Quality, Canteen and Redkite provide Cancer Hub to help families (with children aged up to 25 years) access a range of support. |
| Youth Cancer Services | Hospital-based cancer treatment and support services for people aged 15–25. |
Relevant support
Read cancer information
Trusted cancer information for all people affected by cancer
Need to talk to someone?
We're available 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)