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Useful government contacts
Aged Care Information
For information on aged care call 1800 200 422Department of Health and Ageing Central Office
Email enquiries@health.gov.au
Address GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT or ACAS in Victoria) (more information)
For information on how to contact your local ACAT, call 1800 200 422.Health centres and local hospitals can also provide you with information on the ACAT in your area.
ACATs can also be found by looking up the ‘Age Page’ at the front of your local White Pages telephone directory.
Next step: Aged Care Assessment Team Finder
Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme (more information)
1800 550 552Or write to –
Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
GPO Box 9848 in your capital city.
Advocacy Services
National Aged Care Advocacy Line (more information) – 1800 700 600.The Aged Care Advocacy service . There is an advocacy service available in each state and territory.
Australian Government Directory of Services for Older People 2011
This free guide provides information and contact details on a range of Australian Government services for older people. The directory has chapters on health services, accessing aged care, legal rights, finance choices and employment choices. You can obtain a copy of this directory by ringing 1800 200 422. The directory can also be accessed on the Health website.Allied health services
Office of Hearing Services– 1800 500 726, or 1800 500 496 (TTY)Email – hearing@health.gov.au
You can obtain an application form for a hearing services voucher from your doctor or from a hearing services provider who is contracted to the Office of Hearing Services.
Alternatively, you may telephone the Office of Hearing Services and give your postal address, and an application form will be posted to you.
For aged care information call 1800 200 422.
If you need an interpreter, telephone the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 13 14 50. Deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired callers may contact us through the National Relay Service using their modem or TTY by dialling 1800 555 677 then asking for 1800 200 422. Speech-impaired callers may also call through Speech-to-Speech Relay by dialling 1800 555 727 then asking for 1800 200 422.
Community Aged Care Package (CACP) (more information), Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) (more information)and Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (EACH D) (more information)
You may contact your doctor, community nurse, your local hospital or ACAT for more information about CACPs, EACH and EACHD services or ring 1800 200 422.Day Therapy Centres (more information)
For aged care information call 1800 200 422.You can find out more about Day Therapy Centres by contacting your doctor, community nurse or your local hospital or ring 1800 200 422.
Dementia support
National Dementia Helpline – 1800 100 500Interpreter Service – 131 450
Dementia Behaviour Management Service - 1800 699 799
Carers Australia online
Centrelink (financial assistance for carers) – 13 27 17 or for multilingual information – 13 12 02
The Carer Experience: An essential guide for carers of people with dementia is a very popular and practical booklet for carers that can be ordered, free of charge, by calling 1800 200 422.
Financial information (pensions and allowances)
Centrelink (financial assistance for carers) – 13 27 17 or for multilingual information – 13 12 02There are also useful website publications for carers of frail aged, ill or disabled persons.
Home and Community Care program (more information)
For aged care information call 1800 200 422.HACC contacts in your state or territory:
You may also contact your doctor, community nurse or your local hospital for more information about HACC services.
HACC services can also be found by looking up the Age Page at the front of your local White Pages telephone directory.
Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) (more information)
Queensland 07 3846 1099New South Wales 02 9378 1378
Victoria 03 8823 7900
Tasmania 03 6221 0940
South Australia 08 8241 9900
Western Australia 08 9381 0660
Australian Capital Territory 02 6205 1302
Northern Territory 08 8941 1004
Short-term care
For respite services call 1800 200 422. Alternatively talk to your local doctor or Aged Care Assessment Team.Veterans’ Home Care (more information)
For information about services available for veterans, war widows and war widowers, contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 13 32 54 or 1800 555 254.Help is also available through the Veterans' Affairs Networks (VANs). They provide up-to-date information for veterans, war widow(er)s and their carers, and are located in all capital cities and in areas with large veteran communities. For more information contact 13 32 54, or for the nearest VAN office, call 1300 551 918.
Next step: Community Care Service Finder
Note – These numbers are charged at local call rate (or toll-free for the 1800 number) only if calling from a fixed (landline) telephone. Calls from mobile telephones may cost more.