Are you caring for someone in your family or maybe a friend or neighbour? Many people don’t see themselves as carers. There is a range of support services, activities, training and events available to carers from government, service providers and community organisations.
Many people don’t see themselves as carers. Carers perform an important role in our community by looking after or helping someone who needs support. Anyone can be a carer, to find out more, visit the Carer Gateway website.
Services available in Greater Dandenong to unpaid carers
Carers Gateway
Carers Gateway connects carers to support and services.
Through the Australian Government’s Carer Gateway, carers can now access a range of support and services to help manage their emotional health and wellbeing.
No matter where a carer may live, a flexible workforce of service providers are available to ensure carers have access to the support and services they need.
Online coaching, counselling, emergency and planned respite, peer support and financial support through Carer Directed Support Packages are some of the services available through Carer Gateway.
For more information or advice on the supports and services available, contact 1800 422 737 Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm local time, or visit Carer Gateway's website.
Carers Victoria
Carers Victoria is the peak body representing all unpaid carers in Victoria. They provide educational workshops, programs and events for carers and service providers across the state. To find out more visit, Carers Victoria's training and events webpage.
Become a member of Carers Victoria. Membership is free for carers and supporters and gives you access to the latest news, exclusive invitations to events, discounts and opportunities to create real change. To find out more and join, visit Carers Victoria's Become a member webpage.
Sign up to Carers Victoria’s monthly eBulletin The Voice to stay informed about the latest news for carers. To sign up, visit Carers Victoria's eBulletin webpage.
To find our more, contact 1800 514 845 or visit Carers Victoria's website.
Alfred Health Carer Services
Provides free information and support to carers who live in Melbourne’s southern metropolitan region. Includes information, support and resources for carers who provide ongoing unpaid personal care or support to someone who has a disability, mental illness, chronic (long-term) illness, aged related condition, or someone receiving palliative care.
Provide Carer Gateway (Commonwealth-funded) and Support for Carers (State-funded) services:
- Support for carers to focus on their own needs and personal goals
- Information and assistance to connect carers with the right support services
- Support to access respite and equipment
- Carer coaching
- Facilitated peer-to-peer support to enhance carer wellbeing
- Events for carers focusing on education, peer support and social connection
- Respite services, resources and supported activities for older people with care needs, and their carers, via the Commonwealth Home Support Program. Fees apply for this program.
For more information or advice on the supports and services available, telephone 1800 512 21 (Monday to Friday during business hours) or visit Alfred Health Carer Services website.
Dementia Australia
Dementia Australia provides information, education sessions, research and support services.
For free information and advice, contact the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500, chat online or visit Dementia Australia's website.
FriendLine
FriendLine is for anyone who needs to reconnect or just wants a chat. All conversations are casual and anonymous and their friendly volunteers are ready for a yarn and to share a story or two.
Contact the support line on 1800 424 287 or chat online.
Little Dreamers
Little Dreamers works with young people aged four to 25 who provide unpaid care for a family member affected by disability, illness or addiction across a range of direct support programs, such as school holiday programs, mentoring, tutoring and personal development programs.
To learn more or request support, visit Little Dreamers website or Little Dreamers Facebook page.
The Dreamers Hub is an interactive online platform created by young carers providing other young carers with a dedicated place to connect, learn and have fun. To find out more, visit the Little Dreamers — Dreamers Hub webpage.
Mind Australia
Mind Australia works with people aged 16 to 64 whose ability to manage their daily activities and to live in the community is impacted by mental health issues.
Contact the Carer Helpline on 1300 554 660 for over-the-phone information and advice, as well as find out about the range of services they have available for carers. Note that the person you are caring for does not have to be using a Mind Australia service to access this support.
For more information, visit Mind Australia's website or join the Mind Australia Friends, Family and Carers Discussion Forum.
MOIRA
MOIRA provides a range of supports for people from all walks of life, working across disability, family, and youth services. MOIRA’s vision is that people choose what creates their best future.
Carer Connect is MOIRA’s gateway to a diverse range of services and activities designed to assist and support unpaid carers of people living with disability. Programs include:
- support groups for carers
- online classes and experiences that support carer wellbeing
- a private MORIA Facebook group and safe space online for carers to interact and share
For more information, visit MOIRA's Carer connect webpage.
Young Carers Network
The Young Carers Network by Carers Australia offers nation-wide support to Young Carers, providing:
- access to online support services
- young carer resources and information
- links to local events, activities and programs
- providing an online portal for the application process for the Young Carers Bursary (an educational grant of up to $3000 for 1000 successful applicants each year)
For access to grant information, how to apply and to register visit, the Young Carers Network, Young Carer Bursary webpage.
For more information, visit Young Carers Network's website.
Ask Izzy
Ask Izzy is a website that connects people in need with services that provide housing, a meal, money help, family violence support, counselling and more. Access is available without credit on the Telstra or Vodafone mobile networks.
Ask Izzy also offers an emergency exit function, that will close the site and load the Bureau of Meteorology Weather website if you feel unsafe and need to close the website quickly.
To use this service, visit Ask Izzy's website.
Association for Children with a Disability
Association for Children with Disability is led by and for, families of children with a disability and provide workshops and peer support, information and resources and a support line.
To find out more, contact 03 9880 7000 or visit Association for Children with Disability's website.
headspace
headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12 to 25-year olds. headspace can help young people with mental health, physical health (including sexual health) alcohol and other drug services, and work and study support.
For locations of headspace services, as well as factsheets and resources for young people and their families and friends, visit headspace's website.
SANE Australia
SANE Australia provides information, research and peer support through forums including the Friends, Family and Carers Forum. Phone and online counselling support is available for people living with complex mental health issues and the people who care about them.
For more information contact 1800 187 263 or visit SANE Australia website.
Victorian Carers Recognition Act 2012
In all the planning and work we do with carers, we comply with the Victorian Carers Recognition Act 2012 and its supporting charter, the Victorian charter supporting people in care relationships.
The Act
The Victorian Carers Recognition Act 2012 officially recognises care relationships and the role of carers in our community. It also acknowledges the unique knowledge that carers have about the person in their care.
For more information:
- Visit the Department of Health and Human Services' Carers Recognition Act page
- Download an authorised version of the Act
The Charter
The Victorian Charter Supporting People in Care Relationships - 68KB encourages organisations to better respect the important role of carers. It also outlines:
- principles related to carers, care relationships and people being cared for,
- a clear definition of a carer,
- organisations affected by the Act
For a summary of the charter, download What the Carers Recognition Act says - 51KB.