Support and information
Help and support can help make life easier. Below is an overview of different organisations and services that can provide information and help for you and your family. The availability of services may vary depending on where you live. Talk to the social worker at the hospital 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
- Carer services
- Counselling and mentoring services
- Equipment and aids
- Financial assistance
- Funerals
- Home help
- Home nursing
- Legal advice and information
- Palliative care
- Spiritual or pastoral care
- Respite care
- Support groups
Accommodation
|
Cancer Council 13 11 20 Contact the hospital social worker. |
Cancer patients and carers who travel a long way for treatment can often get accommodation at or near the treatment centre. Facilities may be self-contained or shared, and the cost is sometimes subsidised. |
| National Rural Health and search for ‘PATS’ | Every state and territory has a government scheme that provides financial help to people who need to travel long distances to access specialist medical treatment that is not available in their local area. |
Carer services
| Carers Australia 1800 242 636 |
National body representing Australia’s carers; can direct you to local counselling and support services. Carers Associations are available in each state and territory. |
| Carer Gateway 1800 422 737 | Provides practical information and resources for carers, and helps them connect to local support services. |
| National Carer Counselling Program (NCCP) 1800 242 636 |
Offers short-term counselling for carers. The NCCP service is run by your local Carers Association. |
Counselling and mentoring services
| 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. |
| beyondblue 1300 22 4636 |
Offers 24-hour telephone counselling service. Online and email counselling are available 7 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. |
| Canteen 1800 835 932 |
Online, phone and face-to-face counselling for young people aged 12–25. |
| Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 |
Phone, email and webchat counselling for young people aged 5–25. |
| Lifeline 13 11 14 |
A 24-hour telephone crisis support and suicide prevention service. |
| MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78 |
A 24-hour telephone and online support and referral service for men with family and relationship issues. |
Equipment and aids
| Independent Living Centres Australia 1300 885 886 |
Offers 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
| Centrelink 132 717 |
Offers financial support for people with a long-term illness and for primary carers. |
|
Financial Counselling Australia |
Information about financial counselling and help to find a qualified counsellor. |
Funerals
| Australian Funeral Directors Association 1300 888 188 |
Provides a listing of funeral directors and estimates of funeral costs. It also has information on prepaying or planning a funeral. |
| Funeral Directors Australia | Includes a listing of independent funeral directors in your local area. |
| Funeral Celebrants Association Australia | Includes a directory for finding a funeral celebrant in your local area. |
Home help
| Ask your local council or your palliative care team. | Some local councils provide a range of community and in-home services, such as Meals on Wheels or respite care. |
| My Aged Care 1800 200 422 |
Provides information about different types of aged care services and eligibility. |
Legal advice and information
| Cancer Council’s Legal and Financial Service 13 11 20 |
Supports people affected by cancer needing legal advice. This service is free for eligible clients. |
Palliative care
| CareSearch | Online palliative care information, services and evidence for patients, carers and families. |
| Palliative Care Australia | Provides information and resources, and can link you to your local palliative care office. |
Spiritual or pastoral care
| Contact your hospital. | Most large hospitals have a pastoral carer who can talk to you about spiritual concerns (from religious and non-religious viewpoints). |
Respite care
| Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres 1800 052 222 1800 059 059 (emergency) |
Available at home, in a respite care centre or, in some cases, a hospital or hospice. |
Support groups
|
Face-to-face groups Call Cancer Council 13 11 20 for details of local support groups. |
Meet with others who understand what it’s like to have cancer. Many people find they benefit from the close bonds formed at these groups. |
| Telephone support groups Cancer Council 13 11 20 |
There are groups for people with advanced cancer and for carers. |
| Online discussion forum | People can connect with each other at any time, ask or answer questions, or write a blog about their 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 2016
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
What is cancer?
How cancer starts and spreads
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
