Here are some links to other websites that you may find helpful -
Government Links
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
Australian Building Codes Board
Oversees issues relating to health, safety, amenity and sustainability in buildings through the creation of nationally consistent building codes, standards, regulatory requirements and regulatory systems.
www.abcb.gov.au
Phone: 1300 134 631
Australian Hearing
An Australian government agency and one of the largest hearing service providers in the world with a reputation for innovation and world-leading practices.
www.hearing.com.au
Phone: 02 9412 6800
TTY: 02 9412 6802
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Australia's national agency for health and welfare statistics and information.
www.aihw.gov.au
Phone: 02 6244 1000
Centrelink
Provides information about payments and services for parents or carers who care for children with a profound disability.
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/
Phone: 131 021
Commonwealth of Australian Law
ComLaw is an integral part of the Australian Law Online initiative to bring low- or no-cost access to the law for the community and is maintained by the Australian Attorney-General's Department.
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/
Phone: 1300 726 631
Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service
Provider of vocational rehabilitation, injury and disability management services for different types of workplaces all over Australia. Allied health professionals and employment consultants are employed to help people with a disability or injury get and keep employment as well as find solutions that will prevent injury.
www.crsaustralia.gov.au
Phone: 1800 277 277
Department of Family, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
This department is involved in developing and implementing income security policies and programs, services for people with disabilities and families with children, community support services, family relationship services and public housing.
www.facs.gov.au
Free call: 1300 653 227
TTY: 1800 260 402
Department of Health and Ageing
Australia's health management system, it aims to educate, support and promote all Australians about various conditions, while informing the country about certain diseases in the hope of preventing their spread, and therefore creating a healthier Australia.
www.health.gov.au
Free call: 1800 020 103
Department of Human Services
Improves the delivery of important government services by bringing together six agencies: Centrelink, Medicare Australia, Child Support Agency, Health Services Australia, Commonwealth Rehabilitation Services and Australian Hearing.
www.humanservices.gov.au
Phone: 1300 650 172
Department of Veteran Affairs
Oversees programs for veterans of Australian Defence Forces, widows, widowers and their dependants. These include income support, compensation, care and commemoration programs.
www.dva.gov.au
Phone: 133 254
Family Assistance Office
Set up by the Australian Government to give Australian families better access to government services. Family Assistance Offices have been set up in Medicare Australia offices, Centrelink Customer Service Centres and Tax Office Shopfronts across the country, offering a range of payments to support families with their work and family responsibilities.
www.familyassist.gov.au
Phone: 136 150
Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission
A national independent statutory body that has responsibilities for inquiring into alleged infringements under the Racial Discrimination Act, Sex Discrimination Act, Disability Discrimination Act, Age Discrimination Act and alleged infringements of human rights.
www.hreoc.gov.au
Phone: 02 9284 9600
TTY: 1800 620 241
Medicare Australia
Aims to ensure that all Australians have access to free or low-cost medical, optometrical and hospital care while being free to choose private health services and in special circumstances allied health services.
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/
Phone: 13 20 11
National Health and Medical Research Council
Australia's peak body for supporting health and medical research; for developing health advice for the Australian community, health professionals and governments; and for providing advice on ethical behaviour in health care and in the conduct of health and medical research.
www.nhmrc.gov.au
Phone: 1300 064 672
Office of the Commissioner for Complaints
Aims to promote effectiveness in complaints resolution and foster excellence in public administration.
http://www.commissionerforcomplaints.net.au/index.htm
Phone: 1800 550 552
Therapeutic Goods Administration
Exists to ensure that therapeutic goods are assessed for safety, quality and efficacy at a standard equal to that of comparable countries and that the Australian community has access, within reasonable time, to modern therapeutic advances. Separate Branches of the TGA are responsible for prescription drug evaluation, regulation of therapeutic devices, over-the-counter drug regulations and compliance issues, and general administration.
www.health.gov.au
Free call: 1800 020 103
STATE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
ACT
Department of Health and Community Care (ACT)
www.health.act.gov.au
Phone: 13 2281
Disability, Housing & Community Services (ACT)
http://www.dhcs.act.gov.au/
Phone: 133427
NSW
NSW Health
www.health.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 02 9391 9000
Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (NSW)
www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 02 8270 2000
NT
Department of Health and Community Services (NT)
www.health.nt.gov.au
Phone: 08 8999 2400
QLD
Queensland Health
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/default.asp
Phone: 07 3234 0111
SA
Department for Families and Community (SA)
www.familiesandcommunities.sa.gov.au
Phone: 08 8226 8800
Disability SA
http://www.familiesandcommunities.sa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=926
Phone: 1300 786 117
TAS
Department of Health and Human Services (TAS)
www.dhhs.tas.gov.au
Phone: 1300 135 513
TAS
Disability Services (TAS)
http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/services/view.php?id=387
Phone: 1300 799 530
VIC
Victorian Government Health Information (VIC)
www.health.vic.gov.au
Phone: 1300 650 172
Department of Human Services (VIC)
http://hnp.dhs.vic.gov.au/wps/portal
Phone: 1300 650 172
WA
Department of Health (WA)
http://www.health.wa.gov.au/home/
Phone: 08 9222 4222
Disability Services Commission (WA)
http://www.disability.wa.gov.au/dsc:homepage
Phone: 08 9426 9200
Professional Links
OT Australia
The peak professional body representing the interests of occupational therapists across the country.
Phone: 03 9415 2900
www.ausot.com.au
Speech Pathology Australia (SPA)
The national peak body for the speech pathology profession in Australia.
Phone: 03 9642 4899
www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au
Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA)
The peak body representing the interests of Australian physiotherapists and their patients.
Phone: 03 9534 9400
www.apa.advsol.com.au
Australian Association of Social Workers
The professional representative body of social workers in Australia.
Phone: 02 6273 0199
www.aasw.asn.au
Australian Rheumatology Association
A representative body for practitioners working with people with musculoskeletal and inflammatory conditions.
Phone: 02 9256 5458
www.rheumatology.org.au
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians
A diverse organisation responsible for training, educating and representing over 9,000 physicians and paediatricians in Australia and New Zealand.
Phone: 02 9256 5444
www.racp.edu.au
Australian Psychological Society
The largest professional association for psychologists in Australia.
Phone: 03 8662 3300
Free Call: 1800 333 497
www.psychology.org.au
Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association
The peak professional body representing orthotists and prosthetists within Australia. Promotes the training, education and professional status of orthotists and prosthetists throughout Australia.
Phone: 03 9878 7154
www.aopa.org.au
Australasian Podiatry Council
The national professional body representing podiatrists within the State Associations and Podiatry New Zealand.
www.apodc.com.au
Diversional Therapy Association of Australia
The national body promotes, fosters and advances the development of the profession of Diversional Therapy in Australia and internationally, and supports the State Member Associations.
www.diversionaltherapy.org.au
Australian Nursing Federation
The national union for nurses and the largest professional nursing organisation in Australia. The ANF's core business is the industrial and professional representation of nurses and nursing through the activities of a national office and branches in every State and Territory.
www.anf.org.au
National Nursing Organisation
A coalition of the Australian national nursing specialist organisations.
Phone: 03 9602 8500
www.anf.org.au/nno/
Royal College of Nursing Australia
The professional voice for nurses that speak out on health issues that affect nurses and the community.
Phone: 02 6283 3400
Freecall: 1800 061 660
www.rcna.org.au
Carers Support Links
Aged Care Australia
Eligibility for respite care - Information about a persons eligilibity for respite care services, how much are they entitled to and what services are they entitled to.
http:www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au
Aged Carer
Informative website for carers of ageing family members. The website is content based with a number of interesting articles, tips and videos about ageing and care giving.
http://www.agedcarer.com.au
Alzheimer's Australia
www.alzheimers.org.au
PO Box 4019
Hawker ACT 2614
Phone: 02 6254 4233
Free Call: 1800 100 500
Health and Safety for Carers - A checklist of safety procedures for carers of people with Alzheimer’s.
http://www.alzheimers.org.au
Better Health Channel
www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/
Freecall: 1800 126 637 Fax: 03 9096 9190
Carers Australia
www.carersaustralia.com.au
PO Box 73
Deakin West ACT 2600
Phone: 02 6122 9900
Fax: 02 6122 9999
Carers ACT
Information about education and training programs available through Carers ACT.
http://www.carersact.asn.au/
Phone: 1800 242 636
Carers Association of SA
Carers – Respite funding
Information about the government financial support available and government funding of respite care.
http://www.carers-sa.asn.au/respite.htm
Carers Support VIC
A fact sheet about the various support resources available to carers in Victoria.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Centrelink
www.centrelink.gov.au
Carer Payment Special Care Receivers Income and Assets Limits - Centrelink information about income and assets limits for financial support for carers of adults and children with special care needs.
http://www.centrelink.gov.au
Commonwealth Carer Resource Centres Locations
A list of the locations and contact details for all the commonwealth carer resource centres.
http://www.centrelink.gov.au
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
http://www.facsia.gov.au
Tuggeranong Office Park
Soward Way (cnr Athllon Drive)
Greenway ACT 2900
Phone: 1300 653 227
TTY: 1800 260 402
Department of Health and Ageing
www.health.gov.au
GPO Box 9848
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: 02 6289 1555
Fax: 02 6281 6946
Freecall: 1800 020 103
Respite Care
This page provides links to different support and respite care services for carers in Australia.
www.health.gov.au/ageing-carers-respite
Department of Veteran Affairs
www.dva.gov.au
GPO Box 3994
Sydney NSW 2001
Phone: 133 254
Carers Booklet
This booklet contains information about the assistance that is available from the
Department of Veteran Affairs and the different respite programs available.
http://www.dva.gov.au/health/pubs/carers/index.htm
Support for Carers
Information about community support, financial support and support from the
Department of Veteran Affairs available to carers in Australia.
http://www.dva.gov.au/health/comm_sup/support.htm
Financial Assistance
Information about financial assistance for carers designed for young carers in
Australia.
http://www.youngcarersnsw.asn.au
Get the Break You Need
Information about choosing the most suitable respite care and what options are available.
http://www.survivingthemaze.org.au
ICE (In Case of Emergency) Page
An important page for all people to read; this page from the SCIA, references the concept of "ICE" (In case of emergency). This refers to the practice of all people entering an emergency contact number into their mobile phone, called "ICE". Therefore in the event of an emergency ambulance etc can quickly get a hold of your emergency contact person, with speed and ease.
www.scia.org.au/News/community/ice_-_in_case_of_emergency
Impacts of Caring on Youth
Information about the impact of caring for an aged or disabled family member or friend on young carers.
http://www.youngcarers.net.au
Indigenous Carer Program
Information about the Indigenous Carer Program including Koorie Yarning Tips.
http://www.carersact.asn.au/indigenous-carer-program.html
Managing Money
Information for carers about seeking appropriate financial support and what financial support is available.
http://www.carersaustralia.com.au
Men as Carers
Information designed for men about Respite Care services available through the
Department of Veteran Affairs.
http://www.dva.gov.au/health/menshealth
Multicultural Carers
A list of carer information kits available in different languages including Italian, Chinese and Polish.
http://www.carers-sa.asn.au/multicultural_carers.html
National Carer Counselling Program
Information about the National Carer Counselling Program, which is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing as part of the National Respite for Carers Program.
http://www.survivingthemaze.org.au/Assets/pdfs/Brochures/NCCPInfoReferrers.pdf
National Respite for Carers Programs - Centrelink
Information about the National Respite for Carers Program including its different components and counselling program.
http://www.centrelink.gov.au
Respite Care
This page provides links to different support and respite care services for carers in Australia.
www.health.gov.au/ageing-carers-respite
Respite Care for Children
Information about why children need respite care and what is involved in becoming a carer.
http://www.derby.gov.uk
Subjective Quality of Life: Carers of People with Mental Illness Paper
This paper investigates the quality of life of carers who care for people with a mental illness. The study was conducted by Rachel Cousins under Professor Robert Cummins at the School of Psychology, Deakin University.
http://acqol.deakin.edu.au
Taking a Break
Information about the importance of carers taking a break from caring and different respite services available in Australia.
http://www.carersaustralia.com.au
The Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement
Detailed information about the new Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement.
http://www.facsia.gov.au
Training for Carers
Information about the aims and goals of training for family carers available in Australia.
http://www.carers-sa.asn.au/training.htm
Who Cares for the Carers?
Information about the financial and respite services available in NSW in several different languages including Chinese, Italian and Korean.
http://mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au
Young Carers
http://www.youngcarers.net.au
Financial Assistance
Information about financial assistance for carers designed for
young carers in Australia.
http://www.youngcarersnsw.asn.au
Senior Living Online
Your solution to retirement villages and retirement village living, including searchable directories,
information, useful links and related products and services for seniors.
http://www.seniorlivingonline.com.au