Support and information
Help and support can help make life easier. The availability of services may vary depending on where you live. Some services are free, but others may have a cost. Talk to the social worker at the treatment centre or call Cancer Council 13 11 20 to find out what services are available.
Find out what services are available in the areas of:
- Accommodation
- Cancer information
- Carer services
- Counselling and mentoring services
- Equipment and aids
- Financial assistance
- Funerals
- Future planning
- Home help
- Home nursing
- Legal advice and information
- Palliative care
- Respite care
- Spiritual or pastoral care
- Support groups
Accommodation
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Cancer patients and carers who travel a long way for treatment can often get shared accommodation, and the cost is sometimes subsidised. |
Cancer Information
| Cancer Council Call 13 11 20 |
Order our free easy-to-read booklets and fact sheets on more than 25 types of cancer, treatment options, and emotional and practical issues, or download them now. |
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Information about cancer from the Australian Government cancer control agency. |
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Information about cancer from the largest voluntary health organisation in the US. |
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Information about cancer from the leading UK cancer charity. |
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Information and insights for anyone affected by cancer. Separate series on advanced cancer. |
Carer services
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Information for people caring for someone at end of life. |
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Practical information and resources for carers. |
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Carers Australia |
National body working with state and territory Carers Associations to provide information and counselling for carers. |
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National Carer Counselling Program |
Offers short-term counselling for carers. This service is run by your local Carers Association. |
| Young Carers |
Support for young people under 25 caring for a family member or friend. |
Counselling and mentoring services
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Online telehealth counselling service for people experiencing grief. |
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| Australian Psychological Society |
Use the ‘Find a Psychologist’ search to look for a practitioner in your area. |
| Better Access initiative | Medicare-subsidised referral to counselling through your GP. |
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Beyond Blue |
24-hour telephone counselling service; online and email counselling are available seven days a week. |
| Cancer Council’s Peer Support Programs 13 11 20 |
Community of people affected by cancer that you can connect with online, by phone or in person. |
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Camp Quality |
Programs and services for young people aged 0–13. |
| Canteen 1800 835 932 |
Online, phone and face-to-face counselling for young people aged 12–25. |
| Lifeline 13 11 14 |
A 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. |
Equipment and aids
| Independent Living Centres Australia 1300 885 886 |
Advice on a range of products and services to help with aspects of day-to-day living, including mobility, sleeping, eating and transport. |
Financial assistance
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Cancer Council’s Legal and Financial Referral Service |
Referral service for people affected by cancer facing legal or financial issues; free for eligible clients. |
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Centrelink |
Financial support for people with a long-term illness and for primary carers. |
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National Debt Helpline |
Help with debt problems and finding a financial counsellor from Financial Counselling Australia. |
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Assistance with the cost of prescription medicines. |
Funerals
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Australian Funeral Directors Association |
Listing of funeral directors and information about planning a funeral. |
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Listing of independent funeral directors and information about planning a funeral. |
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Directory for finding a funeral celebrant in your local area. |
Future planning
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Advance Care Planning Australia |
Information about planning for your future health care, including advance care directives. |
Home help
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Talk to your palliative care team, GP and/or health fund. |
Some local councils provide services in the home or in the community. |
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My Aged Care |
Information about different types of aged care services and eligibility. |
Home nursing
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Ask your local council or your palliative care team. |
Can be organised as part of your palliative care. Private services are also available. |
Legal and financial information
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Cancer Council’s Legal and Financial Referral Service |
Referral service for people affected by cancer needing help with legal or financial issues; free for eligible clients. |
Palliative care
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Information and resources; can link you to your local palliative care office. |
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CareSearch |
Australian Government website that provides palliative care information and links to services for patients and families, as well as resources for health professionals. |
Respite care
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Carer Gateway |
Links to respite care at home, in respite care centre or, in some cases, a hospital or palliative care unit. |
Spiritual or pastoral care
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Many hospitals have a spiritual care practitioner (pastoral carer). Ask your treatment team how to contact them. |
Support groups
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Face-to-face groups |
Meet with others who understand what it’s like to have cancer. |
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Telephone support groups |
Includes groups for people with advanced cancer, for carers, and for the bereaved. |
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Online discussion forum to ask or answer questions, or write a blog about your experiences. |
Click on the icon below to download a PDF booklet on living with advanced cancer.
Instructions for downloading and reading EPUB files
Apple devices
The iBooks application must be installed on your Apple device before you can read the EPUB.
Different ways to download an EPUB file to your Apple device:
- email EPUB files to yourself and transfer the attachment to iBooks.
- copy EPUB files into DropBox (or a similar service) and use the DropBox app to send them to iBooks.
- open EPUB files directly from Mobile Safari and open them in iBooks, where they are saved automatically by downloading the EPUB from the website.
Need more help? Visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4059
Kobo
To download an EPUB file to your Kobo from a Windows computer:
- download and save the EPUB directly onto your desktop.
- connect your Kobo to your computer using the USB cable and tap “Connect” on your eReader.
- select “Open folder to view files” to view the contents of your Kobo.
- navigate to where you have stored your EPUB file in “Finder”, in documents or downloads, and drag and drop it into the Kobo window. You can now disconnect your Kobo to read the eBook.
To download an EPUB to your Kobo from a Mac:
- download and save the EPUB directly onto your desktop.
- connect your Kobo to your computer using the USB cable and tap “Connect” on your eReader.
- open your “Finder” application.
- select “Kobo eReader” from the listed devices to view the contents of your Kobo.
- navigate to where you have stored your EPUB file in “Finder”, probably in documents or downloads, and drag and drop it into the Kobo window. You can now disconnect your Kobo to read the eBook.
Turn on your Kobo and your EPUB will be located in “eBooks”, while a PDF will be located in “Documents”.
Need more information? Visit: http://www.kobo.com/help/koboaura/response/?id=3784&type=3
Sony Reader
To download an EPUB file on your Sony Reader™:
- ensure you have already installed the Reader™ Library for PC/Mac software
- select the eBook you want from our website and click the link to download it.
- connect the Reader™ to your computer.
- open the Reader™ Library software and click “Library” in the left-hand pane and select the eBook to view it.
Need more help? Visit: https://au.readerstore.sony.com/apps_and_devices/
Amazon Kindle 2nd Generation devices
EPUB files can’t be read on the Amazon Kindle™. However, like most eReaders, Kindle™ 2nd Generation devices are able to display PDFs. We recommend that you download the PDF version of this booklet if you would like to read it on a Kindle™.
To transfer a PDF to your Kindle™ via USB cable from your computer or Mac:
- download the PDF directly onto your computer.
- connect the USB cable to your computer’s USB port, and the micro USB end of the cable to your Kindle™. Note: the Kindle™ won’t be available as a reading device while it is connected to your computer until it has been disconnected.
- open the Kindle™ drive and several folders will appear inside. The “Documents” folder is where you will need to copy or drag the PDF to.
- safely eject your Kindle™ from your computer and unplug the USB cable. Your content will appear on the Home Screen.
Kindle also provides a Kindle Personal Documents Service that allows users to send documents as an attachment directly to your eReader. For more information on this service, visit http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=help_search_1-1?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200767340&qid=1395967989&sr=1-1
For more information on accessing a PDF on your Kindle™, visit www.amazon.com/manageyourkindle, log in to your account and click on Personal Document Settings.
Need more help? Visit https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200375630
Android and PC
You can also download and open eBooks on Android devices and PCs with appropriate apps or software installed. Suitable eReader apps for Android include Google Play Books, FBReader and Moon+ Reader. Suitable software for PCs include Calibre and Adobe Digital Editions.
This information was last reviewed in December 2019
Support services
Coping with cancer?
Speak to a health professional or to someone who has been there, or find a support group or forum
Looking for transport, accommodation or home help?
Practical advice and support during and after treatment
Cancer information
Dealing with the diagnosis
Common reactions to a cancer diagnosis and how to find hope
View our publications
Guides and fact sheets for people with cancer, their families and friends
