Caring for carers

If you have caring responsibilities for a family member or friend, you can access free support from Carer Gateway. Carers might be supporting someone with disability, a medical condition or a mental health condition, or someone who is becoming more frail as they age. Carers can be anyone – a parent, child, sibling, partner or friend.

An Australian Government initiative, Carer Gateway offers services including:

• In-person and online peer support groups
• Tailored support packages, including planned respite and transport services
• In-person and phone counselling
• Self-guided coaching
• Online skills courses; and
• Access to emergency respite if you are injured or become ill.

If you have different communication needs, Carer Gateway is accessible in a variety of forms, including:

• Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) for people whose first language is not English
• Easy Read fact sheets for people with lower literacy or who have trouble reading; and
• National Relay Service for people with a hearing, speech or vision impairment.

For more information phone 1800 422 737 or go to www.carergateway.gov.au.