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
| Patient Travel Assistance Schemes | 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. |
| Cancer Australia | Information about cancer from the Australian Government cancer control agency. |
| American Cancer Society | Information about cancer from the largest voluntary health organisation in the US. |
| Macmillan Cancer Support | Information about cancer from the leading UK cancer charity. |
| Cancer Council podcast | Information and insights for anyone affected by cancer. Separate series on advanced cancer. |
Carer services
| CarerHelp | Information for people caring for someone at end of life. |
| Carer Gateway | Practical information and resources for carers. |
| Carers Australia 1800 242 636 |
National body working with state and territory Carers Associations to provide information and counselling for carers. |
| National Carer Counselling Program 1800 242 636 |
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
| Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement | Online telehealth counselling service for people experiencing grief. |
| 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. |
| Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 |
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. |
| Camp Quality 1800 835 932 |
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. |
| Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 |
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
| Cancer Council’s Legal and Financial Referral Service 13 11 20 |
Referral service for people affected by cancer facing legal or financial issues; free for eligible clients. |
| Centrelink 132 717 |
Financial support for people with a long-term illness and for primary carers. |
| National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007 |
Help with debt problems and finding a financial counsellor from Financial Counselling Australia. |
| Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) | Assistance with the cost of prescription medicines. |
Funerals
| Australian Funeral Directors Association 1300 888 188 |
Listing of funeral directors and information about planning a funeral. |
| Funeral Directors Australia | Listing of independent funeral directors and information about planning a funeral. |
| Funeral Celebrants Association Australia | Directory for finding a funeral celebrant in your local area. |
Future planning
| Advance Care Planning Australia 1300 208 582 |
Information about planning for your future health care, including advance care directives. |
Home help
| Talk to your palliative care team, GP and/or health fund. | Some local councils provide services in the home or in the community. |
| My Aged Care 1800 200 422 |
Information about different types of aged care services and eligibility. |
Home nursing
| 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
| Cancer Council’s Legal and Financial Referral Service 13 11 20 |
Referral service for people affected by cancer needing help with legal or financial issues; free for eligible clients. |
Palliative care
| Palliative Care Australia |
Information and resources; can link you to your local palliative care office. |
| CareSearch 1800 200 422 |
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
| Carer Gateway 1800 422 737 |
Links to respite care at home, in respite care centre or, in some cases, a hospital or palliative care unit. |
Spiritual or pastoral care
| Many hospitals have a spiritual care practitioner (pastoral carer). Ask your treatment team how to contact them. |
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. |
| Telephone support groups Cancer Council 13 11 20 |
Includes groups for people with advanced cancer, for carers, and for the bereaved. |
| Cancer Council Online Community | Online discussion forum to ask or answer questions, or write a blog about your experiences. |
More resources
Prof Nicholas Glasgow, Head, Calvary Palliative and End of Life Care Research Institute, ACT; Kathryn Bennett, Nurse Practitioner, Eastern Palliative Care Association Inc., VIC; Dr Maria Ftanou, Head, Clinical Psychology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and Research Fellow, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, VIC; Erin Ireland, Legal Counsel, Cancer Council NSW; Nikki Johnston, Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, Clare Holland House, Calvary Public Hospital Bruce, ACT; Judy Margolis, Consumer; Linda Nolte, Program Director, Advance Care Planning Australia; Kate Reed- Cox, Nurse Practitioner, National Clinical Advisor, Palliative Care Australia; Helena Rodi, Project Manager, Advance Care Planning Australia; Kaitlyn Thorne, Coordinator Cancer Support, 13 11 20, Cancer Council Queensland.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
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Dealing with the diagnosis
Common reactions to a cancer diagnosis and how to find hope
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