Services and Supports

There are links here to practical resources and services that may help.

Legal and advance care planning resources

• Carer Gateway: Information on legal matters for carers and those they care for
• Enduring power of attorney:
  • ACT: Enduring Powers of Attorney
  • NSW: Make a Power of Attorney
  • NT: Power of attorney
  • Qld: Power of attorney and advance health directive forms
  • SA: Power of attorney
  • Tas: Enduring Power of Attorney
  • Vic: Enduring power of attorney
  • WA: Enduring Power of Attorney
• Advance Care Planning Australia

Equipment

• National Equipment Database (NED) searchable database of products and equipment

Family carer resources

• Carer Gateway
• Carers NSW Carer resources
• Help and advice: Carers Victoria supports carers with advice, information, education and advocacy
• The NSW Government booklet: Walking with Carers in NSW (1.63mb pdf)
• Gather My Crew: For families needing help to coordinate care at times of need
• Department of Veterans Affairs, Back to basics: handy hints for carers to help prevent back injuries
• National Continence Program – Caring for someone with bladder or bowel problems booklet

Medicines

• NPS MedicineWise – keeping a medicines list: Helpful information to keep track of medications
• Better Health Channel – Medicines and side effects
• A-Z medicine listing – The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
• Services Australia PBS Safety Net
• Services Australia Pharmaceutical Allowance scheme
• Canadian Virtual Hospice: Information on help with medicines

Transport

There are many community based transport services. Your health professional or your local council may have information about what is in your area. You and the person you are caring for can travel together. Fees are based on income.

Taxi companies can provide vehicles if you are disabled (including wheelchairs). You will need to book in advance. All Australian states and territories have taxi subsidy schemes. These are for people with a disability who cannot use public transport. Speak to your general practitioner (GP) about this.

The Austroads website has information on Assessing Fitness to Drive.

Disability stickers

Reserved car park spaces are sometimes available for the disabled. These are helpful if walking is difficult. Having this can help you to continue to go out. This could be to the shops, the cinema, a sporting event, a concert, the park, or the beach.

You will need to apply to obtain a disability sticker. Your doctor needs to sign the form. This could be your GP, the doctor at the hospital, or your specialist. The forms are available from motor vehicle registration departments (the forms may also be available on their website). Your GP practice may also have them.

Rural patients’ travel assistance schemes

All states and territories have some form of transport and accommodation assistance. These schemes may help if you live in rural areas to access specialist medical services. They may provide you with financial help for the cost of travel and accommodation. Ask your healthcare team about this scheme.

State based assistance schemes

• Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (NSW)
• Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (WA)
• Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS) (SA)
• Patient Assistance Travel Scheme (NT)
• Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) (Qld)
• Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (Tas)
• Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (Vic)
• Interstate Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (IPTAS) (ACT)

Taxi fare subsidy scheme

• NSW
• NT
• Qld
• SA
• Tas
• Vic
• WA