Tell me the hardest part of caring right now — the lifting, the nights, the money, the appointments, never getting a break. I'll hand you back your call list: the one or two free, government-funded supports that exist for exactly that, the real numbers to ring this week, and the sentence to say when you call.
A support-mapping tool built on Carer Gateway (the national front door, funded by the Australian Government), Carers Australia and Dementia Australia. It points you at services and the words to ask for them — it doesn't assess, diagnose or score how you're coping.
This tool helps you find support and prepare what to ask — it can't tell if something is serious. If you're worried something might be urgent, call 000 or your GP now.
Your load · what to ask for · who to call
Up to three things, with the free service for each and a real number. The numbers are buttons — tap to ring.
| What you're carrying | What to ask for | Who to call |
|---|
"I'm caring for someone and I need a break. What respite can I get?" You don't have to explain it perfectly. That one sentence is enough to start.
These services exist, but they don't come to you — you have to ring, and there can be waitlists and assessments, especially for regular respite. Emergency respite is faster than planned respite. Carers also wait, on average, years before they ask for help at all. Asking early — before you hit the wall — is the single thing that changes how this goes. Making one call this week is the whole point of this page.
(Carers Australia — about carers · Carer Gateway — getting started)
One field, email only.
This is the general version. The full Carer's Kit walks you through the respite assessment, the Carer Payment and Carer Allowance questions to ask Services Australia, an emergency backup plan for if you get sick, and the conversation to have with the rest of the family — for your exact situation.
More carer tools at drhblo.com/tools
Eligibility for any payment is decided by Services Australia, not by us — you're allowed to ask whether you qualify. Carer Payment · Carer Allowance.