Help and support can help make life easier. The availability of services varies depending on where you live – some are free, others may have a cost. For more information, talk to the social worker at a treatment centre or call Cancer Council 13 11 20.
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 and nursing
- Legal advice and information
- Palliative care
- Respite care
- Support groups
Accommodation
| Cancer Council | Cancer patients and carers who travel a long way for treatment can often get help finding accommodation, and the cost is sometimes subsidised. |
Cancer Information
| Cancer Council 13 11 20 | Cancer Council produces easy-to-read booklets and fact sheets on many types of cancer, treatment options, and emotional and practical issues. |
| Cancer Council podcast | Information and insights for anyone affected by cancer; includes a series on advanced cancer. |
| 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. |
Carer services
| Carer Gateway 1800 422 737 | Practical information and resources and counselling for carers. |
| CarerHelp | Information for people caring for someone at end of life. |
| Carers Australia 1800 242 636 | National body working with state and territory Carers Associations to provide information and counselling for carers. |
| Young Carers Network | 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. |
| Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 | 24-hour telephone counselling service; online and email counselling available 7 days a week. |
| Camp Quality 1300 662 267 | Cancer programs and services for young people aged 0–15. |
| Canteen 1800 835 932 | Online, phone and face-to-face counselling for people aged 12–25 affected by cancer. |
| Cancer Council’s Cancer Connect 13 11 20 | Community of people affected by cancer that you can connect with online, by phone or in person. |
| Lifeline 13 11 14 | 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
| Australia’s National Equipment Database | Advice on a range of products and services to help with aspects of day-to-day living, including mobility, sleeping, eating and personal care. |
Financial assistance
| Cancer Council 13 11 20 | Referral service for people affected by cancer needing help with 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 (03) 9859 9966 | Information about planning a funeral. Use the “Find a Funeral Director” search to look for a funeral director in your area. |
| 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 and home nursing
Talk to your palliative care team, GP and/or health fund about the services that may be available for you. Some local councils provide services in the home or in the community and these can be organised as part of your palliative care. Private services are also available.
| My Aged Care 1800 200 422 | Information about different types of aged care services and eligibility. |
Legal and financial information
| Cancer Council 13 11 20 | Referral service for people affected by cancer needing help with legal or financial issues; free for eligible clients. |
| End of Life Law in Australia QUT | Information about the law on end of life decision-making in each state and territory. |
Palliative care
| Palliative Care Australia | Information and resources; can link you to your local palliative care office. |
| CareSearch | Australian Government website with palliative care information and links to services for patients and families. |
Respite care
| Healthdirect Australia | Links to respite care at home, in respite care centre or, in some cases, a hospital or palliative care unit. |
Support groups
| Telephone support groups Cancer Council 13 11 20 | Includes groups for people with advanced cancer, for carers, and for dealing with grief. |
| Cancer Council Online Community | Online discussion forum to ask or answer questions, or write a blog about your experiences. |
→ READ MORE: Caring for someone with advanced cancer
More resources
Dr Lucy Gately, Medical Oncologist, Alfred Health and Walter and Eliza Institute for Medical Research, VIC; Dr Katherine Allsopp, Supportive and Palliative Care Specialist, Westmead Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Megan Best, The University of Notre Dame Australia and The University of Sydney, NSW; Dr Keiron Bradley, Palliative Care Consultant, Medical Director Palliative Care Program, Bethesda Health Care, WA; Craig Brewer, Consumer; Emeritus Professor Phyllis Butow, Psychologist, The University of Sydney and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Louise Durham, Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Outpatients, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Palliative Care, QLD; Dr Roya Merie, Radiation Oncologist, ICON Cancer Centre, Concord, NSW; Penny Neller, Project Coordinator, National Palliative Care Projects, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology, QLD; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Xanthe Sansome, Program Director, Advance Care Planning Australia, VIC; Sparke Helmore Lawyers; Peter Spolc, Consumer.
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