- Understanding your relative or friend's illness
- Having time for yourself in the day
- Managing your relative or friend's symptoms
- Help with financial, legal and work issues
- Providing personal care for your relative or friend
- Dealing with your feelings and worries
- Who to contact when you're concerned about your friend or relative
- Looking after your own health
- Equipment to help care for your relative or friend
- Beliefs or spiritual concerns
- Talking with your relative or friend about their illness
- Practical help in the home
- What to expect in the future when caring for a friend or relative
- Getting a break from caring overnight
- Young carers
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers
- LGBTIQ+ community
Help with financial, legal and work issues
Helpful resources and links
Advance Care Planning
Advance Care Planning gives people the opportunity to express their wishes for medical treatment in the future. The Advance Care Planning Australia website explains Advance Care Planning and how to prepare an Advance Care Plan.
Barwon Community Legal Centre
The Barwon Community Legal Centre (BCLC)provides free legal advice to people who live in the Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula, Surfcoast and Colac Otway regions. BCLS also provides limited services to people who live in Corangamite, Moyne, Warrnambool, Glenelg and Southern Grampians shires.
The Barwon Community Legal Centre is one of around 200 Community Legal Centres in Australia. These centres all focus on social justice and working with marginalised and disadvantaged people across the country.
- For free independent legal advice call 1300 430 599
Cancer Council Victoria
The Cancer Council Victoria offers:
- Financial assistance to people experiencing financial hardship following a cancer diagnosis.
- Workplace advice service following a cancer diagnosis.
- Small business advice service following a cancer diagnosis.
- Factsheets on debt after death, dealing with debt, help with bills, superannuation, immigration and patient transport.
For further information see their website or call the Cancer Helpline on 13 11 20. *Please note that Cancer Council staff and volunteers do not provide financial advice.
Carer Gateway
Carer Gateway is an Australian Government program providing free services and support for carers. Barwon Health Carer Support if the lead service provider of Carer Gateway Services in the Barwon South West region. Ph 1800 422 737.
Carers Victoria
Carers Victoria has information on finance and advice about your work entitlements including your rights, flexible working arrangements and tips for negotiating with your employer.
Centrelink
Centrelink has payments for carers which help relieve part of the financial burden associated with being a carer. You may be eligible for some the following payments;
Call 132 717 for further information about carer payments.
To speak to Centrelink in another language, call the Multilingual Phone Service: 131 202.
Fitzroy Legal Service
Fitzroy Legal Service offers members from the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Intergender Questioning (LGBTIQ) community free legal advice once a week by appointment only. To make an appointment call 03 9419 3744.
Office of the Public Advocate
The Office of the Public Advocate aims to promote and protect the rights and dignity of people with a disability. It has information on administration and guardianship, medical consent, powers of attorney and a kit for making powers of attorney and guardianship.
Take Control: a kit for making powers of attorney and guardianship
Palliative Care Victoria
The Palliative Care Victoria website has several helpful resources.
State Trustees
State Trustees has information on the different types of enduring power of attorneys and their preparation, making a will and estate administration.
Victorian Department of Human Services
Low-income Victorians experiencing financial difficulty may be eligible for concessions on their council rates, water, gas and electricity bills. For further information, visit the Department of Human Services website.
Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby
The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby have information on your rights.
Victorian Government Carer Card Program
The Victorian Government Carer Card Program offers a wide range of discounts and benefits from businesses, the local government and community organisations. Cardholders are also entitled to free travel on public transport on a Sunday plus two return off-peak travel vouchers each year.
Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme
The Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) may provide financial help to eligible patients living in rural and regional Victoria. VPTAS provides financial subsidies for travel and accommodation costs to eligible patients who need to travel long distances to access medical specialist services. For further information visit their website or call 1300 737 073.
Last Modified: Thursday, 16 February 2023