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- Finding end-of-life support and information
Finding end-of-life support and information
Listed below are a range of services that can help people throughout the process of dying and provide support to their family and friends.
Learn more about:
- Carer services
- Counselling and mentoring
- Funerals
- Future planning
- Grief
- Legal and financial information
- Palliative care
- Support and information
Carer services
- Carer Gateway − Practical information and resources for carers.
- Carers Australia − National body working with state and territory Carers Associations to provide information and counselling for carers.
- Young Carers − Support and information for young people under 25 who are caring for someone who is ill.
Counselling and mentoring services
- Australian Psychological Society − Use the “Find a Psychologist” search to look for a practitioner in your area.
- Better Access Initiative − Information about the Medicare-subsidised referral to counselling through your GP.
- Beyond Blue − 24-hour telephone counselling service; online and email counselling available seven days a week.
- Kids Helpline − Telephone and online counselling service and crisis support for young people aged 5-25.
- Lifeline − 24-hour telephone crisis support and suicide prevention service.
- Suicide Call Back Service − 24-hour telephone and online counselling for people affected by suicide.
Funerals
- Australian Funeral Directors Association − Listing of funeral directors and information about planning a funeral.
- Funeral Celebrants Association Australia − Directory for finding a funeral celebrant in your local area.
- Funeral Directors Australia − Listing of independent funeral directors and information about planning a funeral.
Future planning
- Advance Care Planning − 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 using creativity to promote resilience and wellbeing throughout all phases of life.
Grief
- Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement − Online information for people experiencing grief.
- GriefLine − Online information for the bereaved and grieving, their carers, friends and colleagues.
- GriefLink − Telephone counselling service for all Australians who have experienced a loss.
Legal and financial information
- Cancer Council Legal and Financial Referral Service − Referral service for people affected by cancer needing professional advice about legal or financial issues; free for eligible clients.
- Centrelink − Offers financial support for people with a long-term illness and for primary carers.
- End of Life Law in Australia − Information from the Australian Centre for Health Law Research on the law relating to advance directives, stopping treatment, palliative care and euthanasia.
- Public Trustees Australia − Gateway to all public and state trustees in Australia, who 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 care
- CareSearch − Australian Government website that provides palliative care information and links to services for people affected by cancer, as well as resources for health professionals.
- Palliative Care Australia − Information and resources; can link you to your local palliative care office.
Support and information
- Cancer Council Online Community − An online discussion forum where people can connect with each other at any time, ask or answer questions, or write a blog of their experiences.
- Telephone support groups through Cancer Council − Includes groups for people with advanced cancer, for carers, and for the bereaved.
- The Thing About Cancer podcast series − Information and insights for anyone affected by cancer. Separate series about advanced cancer.
Podcast for people affected by advanced cancer
Listen now
More resources
Dr Megan Ritchie, Staff Specialist Palliative Medicine, Palliative Care Service, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, NSW; Gabrielle Asprey, Cancer Support Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Rosemary Cavanough, Consumer; Louise Durham, Nurse Practitioner, Metro South Palliative Care Service, QLD; Tracey Gardner, Senior Psychologist, Cancer Counselling Service, Cancer Council Queensland; Karen Hall, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Linda Nolte, Program Director, Advance Care Planning Australia, VIC; Rowena Robinson, Clinical Advisor, Palliative Care Australia, ACT; Helena Rodi, Program Manager, Advance Care Planning Australia, VIC.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
View all publications or call 13 11 20 for free printed copies.
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Information for family and friends providing care to someone at any stage of cancer