South Australia

Palliative care organisations

• Palliative Care South Australia. Tel: (08) 8271 1643
• Palliative Care Australia. Tel: (02) 6232 0700

Health services

• My Aged Care services: To arrange an aged care assessment Tel: 1800 200 422
  • Find a provider: If you have already been assessed and are ready to find a suitable local service provider
• GP helpline: For after-hours medical advice when you cannot access your usual general practitioner Tel: 1800 022 222
• healthdirect National Health Service Directory

Information and advice

• SA Health Advance Care Directive
• Advance Care Planning Australia: Information on advance care planning
• Carer Gateway
• Infoxchange Service Seeker
• Kids Helpline: Free support and counselling to talk through problems for people aged 5-25 Tel: 1800 55 1800
• Legal Services Commission of South Australia
• Lifeline: For crisis support and suicide prevention Tel: 13 11 14
• MensLine Australia: Free telephone and online counselling service for Australian men Tel: 1300 789 978
• Nightingale Program. A free specialist nursing service supporting people living with dementia, their families and care providers. Freecall: 1800 100 500
• The Office of Public Advocate
• SA Directory of Community Services
• Seniors Information Service

Equipment and supplies

• Department of Human Services (DHS) Equipment Program: For South Australians requiring equipment and home modifications you can call 1300 130 302 to discuss
• Payment funds for essential medical equipment (e.g., for a dialysis machine or an oxygen concentrator)

Transport and travel

• Adelaide Metro – Free and Special Services: For bus services that are accessible to people with disabilities
• Angel Flight Australia: For coordinating free, non-emergency flights and transfers to access specialist medical treatments Tel: 1300 726 567
• City of Marion transport and social support
• National Public Toilet Map
• Plus One Companion Card (Transport Assistance)
• Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS) (SA)
• Disability parking permit

Financial assistance

• Centrelink - Services Australia
• Payments and services for caring for someone
• Disability Support Pension
• Health Care Card
• Department of Veterans’ Affairs: Support for those who serve or have served in defence of our nation, and their families

Help within your home

• The Commonwealth Government funds a range of services for older Australians. You can find details at the My Aged Care website.
• Commonwealth Home Support Programme: If you want to stay in your own home, but need some help with daily tasks or require entry level care
• Home modification: Better Health Channel provides a checklist for use when considering home modifications.
• South Australia Meals on Wheels
• The Australian government My Aged Care website: Find out which services are available and how to access them

Complaints process

• Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner (HCSCC) South Australia
• Health Ombudsman. Freecall: 1800 182 150
• Complaintline: For guidance on how to make a complain about health practitioners
• The Australian Government Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission site: For guidance on how to lodge a complaint or raise a concern, with a complaint lodgement form