End-of-life support and information

A range of services are available to help people throughout the process of dying, and to support their family and friends.

Learn more about:

• Carer services 
• Counselling and mentoring 
• Funerals 
• Future planning 
• Grief 
• Legal and financial information 
• Palliative care 

Carer services

• Carer Gateway − Practical information, resources, links to respite care and counselling for carers. Call 1800 422 737.
• CarerHelp − Information for people caring for someone at end of life.
• Young Carers − Support for young people under 25 caring for a family member or friend.

Counselling and mentoring services

• Australian Psychological Society − Use the “Find a Psychologist” search to look for a practitioner in your area.
• Beyond Blue − 24-hour telephone counselling service; online and email counselling available 7 days a week. Call 1300 22 4636.
• Kids Helpline − Telephone and online counselling service and crisis support for young people aged 5-25. Call 1800 55 1800.
• Lifeline − 24-hour telephone crisis support and suicide prevention service. Call 13 11 14.
• Suicide Call Back Service − 24-hour telephone and online counselling for people affected by suicide. Call 1300 699 467.

Funerals

• Australian Funeral Directors Association − Information about planning a funeral. Use the “Find a Funeral Director” search to look for a funeral director in your area. Call (03) 9859 9966.
• Funeral Celebrants Association Australia − Use the “Find a Celebrant” search to look for a funeral celebrant in your area.
• Funeral Directors Australia − Listing of independent funeral directors and information about planning a funeral.

Future planning

• Advance Care Planning Australia − Information about planning for your future health care, including advance care directives. 
• Dying to Talk − Palliative Care Australia website encouraging Australians to talk about dying; includes discussion starters.
• The GroundSwell Project − Community organisation promoting resilience and wellbeing throughout all phases of life.

Grief

• Grief Australia − Online telehealth counselling service for people experiencing grief.
• Cancer Council − Information and support for people with cancer and their carers as well as telephone and support groups. Call 13 11 20.
• GriefLine − Telephone and online counselling service and support groups for all Australians who have experienced a loss. Call 1300 845 745.
• GriefLink − Online information for the bereaved and grieving carers, friends and colleagues.

Legal and financial information

• Cancer Council − Referral service for people affected by cancer needing professional advice about legal or financial issues; free for eligible clients. Call 13 11 20.
• Centrelink − Offers financial support for people with a long-term illness and for primary carers. Call 132 717.
• QUT End of Life Law in Australia − Information about the law on end-of-life decision-making and voluntary assisted dying in each state and territory.
• Public Trustees in your state or territory − Public and state trustees can help you prepare a will and manage your finances.
• The social worker on the palliative care team − May be able to help you access legal or financial support.

Palliative, respite and other care

• CareSearch − Australian Government website with palliative care information and links to services for patients and families.
• Healthdirect Australia − Links to respite care at home, in a respite care centre or, in some cases, a hospital or palliative care unit.
• My Aged Care − Information about the different types of aged care and respite services and eligibility. Call 1800 200 422.
• Palliative Care Australia − Information and resources; can link you to your local palliative care office.

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