There are a range of palliative care services, with availability depending on where you live. Some are free, others may have a cost. Talk to your health care team or call Cancer Council 13 11 20 for services near you.
Carer services
| Carer Gateway 1800 422 737 |
Information, resources, counselling, support, links to other services, home help or visiting nurses and respite care. |
| Carer Help |
Information for people caring for someone at the end of life. |
| Young Carers |
Support for young people under 25 caring for a family member or friend. |
Counselling and mentoring services
| Cancer Council 13 11 20 | Referrals to counselling services and peer support programs. |
| Australian Psychological Society |
Use the “Find a Psychologist” search to look for a practitioner in your area. |
| Better Access initiative |
Information about Medicare rebates for mental health services. Talk to your your GP for more details and to organise a referral. |
| Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 |
24-hour telephone counselling service; online and email counselling 7 days a week. |
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Carer Gateway Counselling Service |
Free counselling service for carers. Available each day 8am – 6pm. They can also connect you with other carers in your area or an online carer forum. |
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Kids Helpline |
Telephone and online counselling and crisis support for people aged 5-25. |
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Lifeline |
24-hour telephone crisis support and suicide prevention service. |
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Suicide Call Back Service |
24-hour telephone and online counselling for people affected by suicide. |
Financial assistance
| Cancer Council 13 11 20 |
Referral service for financial or legal advice; may be free for eligible clients. |
| Centrelink 132 717 |
Offers financial support for people with a long-term illness and for carers. |
| NDIS 1800 800 110 |
Funding and support for people under 65 with a permanent and significant disability. |
| National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007 |
Help with debt problems and finding a financial counsellor. |
| Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) |
Information about the cost of prescription medicines and safety net thresholds. |
| Talk to the social worker on the palliative care team | They may be able to help you find legal or financial support. |
Future planning
| Advance Care Planning Australia 1300 208 582 |
Information about planning for your future health care, including advance care directives. |
| Discussion Starters | Palliative Care Australia website encouraging Australians to talk about dying; includes discussion starters. |
| The Groundswell Project | Community organisation promoting resilience/wellbeing at all phases of life. |
Home help and home nursing
| Talk to your palliative care team, GP and/or health fund. | Some local councils provide services in the home or in the community. |
| My Aged Care 1800 200 422 |
Information about different types of aged care services and eligibility. |
Legal information
| Cancer Council 13 11 20 |
Information and links to legal services. |
| End of Life Law in Australia | Legal information about advance directives, palliative care and voluntary assisted dying (VAD). |
| Public Trustees Australia Search “public trustee” online |
Help you prepare a will and manage your finances in your state or territory. |
Palliative care
| CareSearch | Information about death and dying and links to services and resources. |
| Palliative Care Australia | Information and resources; can link you to your local palliative care office. Also has a directory of services. |
Respite care
| Carer Gateway 1800 422 737 |
Links to respite care at home, in a respite care centre or, in some cases, in a hospital or palliative care unit. |
Support groups and cancer information
| Cancer Council Online Community | An online discussion forum where people can connect with each other any time, ask or answer questions, or write a blog about their experiences. |
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Telephone support groups |
Includes groups for people with advanced cancer, for carers and for the bereaved. |
| Cancer Council podcasts | Information and insights, with a separate series about advanced cancer. |
| Face-to-face groups Call Cancer Council 13 11 20 or ask a hospital social worker |
It can help to meet with others who understand what it is like to have, or care for, someone with cancer. |
Young people and children
| Camp Quality 1300 662 267 |
Support for children aged up to 15 and their families, at each stage of cancer, including palliative care and bereavement. |
| Canteen 1800 835 932 |
For people aged 12-25 affected by cancer or bereavement. Has an app, interactive online forum, counselling services and palliative care resources. |
| Redkite 1800 733 548 |
Emotional guidance (including bereavement support), financial assistance and educational services to young people and their families. |
| Youth Cancer Services |
Hospital-based cancer treatment and support services for people aged 15-25. |
→ READ MORE: Palliative care stories
More resources
Prof Meera Agar, Palliative Care Physician, Professor of Palliative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, IMPACCT, Sydney, NSW; Anne Booms, Nurse Practitioner, Palliative Care, Icon Cancer Centre Midlands, WA; Nicola Champion, Consumer; John Clements, Consumer; Dr Alexandra Clinch, Palliative Medicine Specialist and Deputy Director, Palliative Care, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, VIC; A/Prof Jaklin Eliott, School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, SA; Dr Jemma Gilchrist, Clinical Psychologist, Mind My Health, NSW; McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer, VIC; Caitlin MacDonagh, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Palliative Care, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Dr Roya Merie, Radiation Oncologist, Icon Cancer Centre, Concord, NSW; Dr Deidre Morgan, Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying, Flinders University, SA; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Palliative Care Australia.
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