South Australia

Palliative care organisations

• Palliative Care South Australia. Phone: (08) 8271 1643
• Palliative Care Australia. Phone: (02) 6232 0700.

Carers support and respite

• Carers SA
• Compassionate Friends SA (Bereavement). Phone: 1300 064 068 or 0456 820 133
• Healthdirect lists resources for those caring for others as well as information on respite care and residential care
• Myagedcare website has some helpful information for carers. Phone: 1800 200 422.
• For young carers: Young Carers Australia - South Australia

Respite care

• Aged Care Guide has a list of respite services in your state
• Carer Gateway provides an easy way to find respite service providers in your area. Phone: 1800 422 737
• Commonwealth Home support Programme.
• Carer Gateway Australia has a Carer Counselling Program Freecall 1800 422 737, or go to the webpage and Request a Callback and they will ring you.
• Myagedcare provides an overview of respite care and eligibility and assessment Freecall: 1800 200 422
• Anfe - Aged Care & Disability Services offers short-term respite for carers who live at home with a person with an intellectual disability. Phone: (08) 8234 5550
• Carer Support and Respite Centre operates throughout Adelaide. Phone: (08) 8433 9555.

Health services

Aged care assessments

• The first step to access government-funded care services is to speak with My Aged Care services about arranging for an assessment by calling 1800 200 422. If you have been assessed and are ready to find a suitable local service provider visit Find a provider on the My Aged Care pages.
• Carers Australia: Information sheets on dealing with hospitals
• Health Ombudsman. Freecall: 1800 182 150
• GP helpline. For after-hours medical advice when you cannot access your usual GP, call the GP helpline on 1800 022 222 for assistance.
• National Health Service Directory.

Information and advice

• SA Health Advance Care Directive
• Carer Gateway
• GP helpline. For after-hours medical advice when you cannot access your usual GP, call the GP helpline on 1800 022 222 for assistance.
• Infoxchange Service Seeker
• Kids Help Line. Freecall: 1800 55 1800
• Legal Services Commission of South Australia
• Lifeline. Phone: 13 11 14
• Mensline Australia. Phone: 1300 789 978
• Advance Care Planning Australia: Information on advance care planning
• Office of Public Advocate
• SA Directory of Community Services
• Seniors Information Service.

Equipment and supplies

• Department of Human Services (DHS) Equipment Program. For South Australians requiring equipment and home modifications you can call 1300 130 302 to discuss.
• Independent Living Centre SA provides information and advice about equipment, technology and techniques to assist with everyday tasks. Phone: 1800 445 272.
• In some cases the Australian government also funds payments to help with the cost of running medical equipment at home, such as a dialysis machine or an oxygen concentrator.

Transport and travel

• City Connector is a FREE city and North Adelaide bus service that is accessible to people with disabilities. Also, the free city tram is between South Terrace and the Entertainment Centre.
• Angel Flight Australia Coordinates non emergency flights for financially and medically needy people. Freecall: 1300 726 567
• Australian Transport for the Disabled. Car hire with disabled access and self drive vehicles.
• City Of Marion Community Transport
• National Public Toilet Map
• Plus One Companion Card (Transport Assistance)
• Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS) (SA)
• Transport SA offices (Disabled parking).

Financial assistance

• Centrelink
• Carers' support and other payments
• Disability support pension
• Health care card
• Department of Veterans’ Affairs provides access to a range of services for veterans and war widow/widowers.

Help within your home

• The Commonwealth Government funds a range of services for older Australians. You can find details at the myagedcare website.
• The Australian Government Commonwealth Home Support Programme
• If you want to stay in your own home, but need some help with daily tasks, or require entry level care, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme may be able to help.
• Home modification: Better Health Channel provides a checklist for use when considering home modifications.
• Meals on Wheels
• South Australia Meals on Wheels

Complaints process

• Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner (HCSCC) South Australia.
• The Complaint Line website provides guidance on how to make a complaint about health practitioners, with the details for each state, for AHPRA and provides links to other health professional associations.
• The Australian Government Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission site gives consumers guidance on how to lodge a complaint or raise a concern. This website links to the official online complaint lodgement form which allows the complainant to choose the level of privacy of the complaint.

Last updated 07 August 2020