My Aged Care Help for Parents and Carers

If you help look after an older family member or friend, you're a carer, even if you'd never call yourself one. Carers often pour everything into the person they love and leave nothing for themselves. You matter too, and you don't have to do this alone. Here's the support available, and how to get it.

Start with Carer Gateway

Carer Gateway is the Australian Government's free service designed specifically for carers. It supports anyone caring for someone who is frail with age, or living with a disability, illness or mental health condition. Registering doesn't affect any aged care or other support the person you care for already receives.

Call 1800 422 737 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm), with after-hours help for emergencies, or visit the Carer Gateway website.

What you can get, for free:

• Counselling, in person or by phone, to talk things through
• Coaching, one-on-one or self-guided online, to set goals and build resilience
• Skills courses to help with the practical side of caring
• Peer support, connecting with other carers who understand
• Tailored support packages, which can include practical one-off help like equipment, or support to keep working or studying
• Respite, so you can take a break (more on this below).

Taking a break: respite care

Respite is when someone else cares for your person for a while, so you can rest, recharge, or just get things done. Needing a break isn't a failure, it's how you keep going. There are a few kinds:

• Planned respite, arranged in advance so you can take regular breaks. This can be in the home, in the community, or in a residential aged care home for a short stay.
• Emergency respite, for when something sudden happens, like you get sick or injured and can't care. Carer Gateway can help arrange this, including after hours.

Respite can be arranged through Carer Gateway, or through the aged care system as part of the care the person you support receives. For residential respite (a short stay in an aged care home), the person needs a My Aged Care assessment, so call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. (See "Your aged care assessment: what will happen.")

Financial support for carers

You may be eligible for payments through Services Australia (Centrelink):

• Carer Payment, an income support payment if you can't work much because of your caring role (income and asset tested).
• Carer Allowance, a supplement if you give daily care to someone with a disability or medical condition, or who is frail aged.

To check what you're entitled to, visit the Services Australia website or ask at a service centre.

Being part of their care

You can play an active role in the care of the person you support, with their consent:

• Become a registered supporter or representative through My Aged Care, so you can help make and manage their aged care decisions.
• Be there at their assessment to help them remember things and give the full picture.
• Help them raise concerns or make a complaint if something isn't right. You can do this with them, or for them. (See "Choice, dignity, respect: your rights in aged care.")

Look after yourself, too

Carer burnout is real, and common. If you're feeling constantly exhausted, anxious, resentful, isolated, or like you're running on empty, those are signs to reach out, not push harder. Talking to a counsellor through Carer Gateway, joining a peer group, or simply booking a regular respite break can make a real difference. If you're struggling, please don't wait for a crisis to ask for help.

If you ever feel you're in crisis, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, any time.

Help in your language

You can use the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask them to connect you to Carer Gateway, My Aged Care or Services Australia.

Quick contacts

There is help available for MyAgedCare families

You just need to know where to find it!

• There's free support just for carers, starting with Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737.
• Respite lets you take a break, and you're allowed to need one.
• You may qualify for carer payments through Services Australia.
• Looking after yourself is part of looking after them.

This guide is general information, not personal advice. Eligibility and services can change, so confirm current details with Carer Gateway, My Aged Care or Services Australia.