Links

Carers Australia

Carers Australia is the peak national body representing the diversity  of Australians who are family carers.

Together with the carers associations in each state and territory we work to improve  the lives of carers and have caring accepted as a shared community responsibility.

At the national level, we raise community awareness of carers' issues and advocate to ensure that carers can participate fully in family, social and community life and education and employment.

The state and territory carers associations help and assist carers with flexible services designed to support them in their caring role. These services include counselling, advocacy, respite and education and training for carers.

www.carersaustralia.com.au

Young Carers

Young carers are children and young people up to and including 25 years of age who help provide care in families where someone has a chronic illness, a disability or a mental illness; is frail aged; or has an alcohol or other drug problem.

The website www.youngcarers.net.au is designed to support young carers.  It gives young carers the opportunity to access information, share caring ideas and stories; talk to other young carers; and keep up to date on current news and events.  Young carers can sign up as a member and have access to facilities such as the Forums.

Additionally this website has sections for families, schools and professionals.  These sections provide the opportunity to access information, share support ideas, feature your service or school, access resources and keep up to date with news and events around the country, relating to young carers. 

www.youngcarers.net.au

Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre

Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres are information centres for older people, people with disabilities and those who provide care and services. Centres provide free and confidential information on community aged care, disability and other support services available locally, interstate or anywhere within Australia.

Each Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre has extensive regional networks and maintains a comprehensive database containing community aged care, disability and other support services.

Shopfronts are operated by organisations that already provide established services within their region. Their extensive local knowledge ensures they provide a quality service. This regional focus enables each Centre to develop an awareness of the entire range of services available, to establish networks with local providers and ensure information is up to date.

www.commcarelink.health.gov.au

Centrelink

Centrelink provides financial assistance and services to carers in the community. If you are a carer you may be eligible for Centrelink support.

Carer Payment is an income support payment for people who, because of the demands of caring for a relative or friend, are unable to support themselves through paid employment.

Carer Payment has an income and assets test and is paid at the same rate as other social security pensions. You cannot receive Carer Payment and another income support payment such as the Age Pension, at the same time.

Carer Allowance is a supplementary payment available to people who provide daily care and attention in a private home to a person who has a disability, severe medical condition  or if frail aged.

Carer Allowance is not taxable or income and asset tested and it can be paid in addition to wages and income support payments such as the Age Pension and Carer Payment.

Centrelink Social Workers can provide confidential assistance such as counselling and support in difficult times. They also provide referral to other services and programs in the community.

www.centrelink.gov.au