Services and Information FAQs

You can find your local Aged Care Assessment Service (link opens a new window) on the Department of Health and Ageing website (link opens a new window).

No. ACAS assessments are free of charge.

Contact your local government's aged services team. They will be able to advise you of local government services available that may be able to assist. If the issues are more complex the council staff can refer you to the Aged Care Assessment Services (ACAS).

The Aged Care Assessment Service makes assessments in a person's home to make sure they gain access to the care services appropriate to their needs. They are able to refer to a wide range of service providers, including Commonwealth Aged Care Packages (CACPs), Home and Community Care (HACC) Services and residential aged care options.

ACAS will accept referrals from any source. So you can refer yourself, be referred through a GP or any other service provider (such as a local government assessment officer).

Each region in Victoria has a Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre who can assist you to arrange respite care on a short, emergency or longer term basis. A Carer Support Worker can help you decide what will work and put the services in place.

Contact your closest centre by ringing the National Aged Care Information Line on 1800 200 422.

You can find out more about respite care on the MyAgedCare website.

There are two forms of regular payment available to eligible carers through Centrelink and the Department of Human Services.

Carer Allowance - a supplementary payment for people who care for an adult with a disability, severe medical condition or who is frail aged at home.

Carer Payment - a means tested income support payment for people who cannot support themselves through participation in the workforce while caring for someone with a disability, severe medical condition or who is frail aged.

For more information visit Department of Human Services (link opens a new window) or phone the Centrelink number for Disability, Sickness and Carers on 13 2717. There may be other financial assistance available for specific purposes.

Carers Victoria operates a Care Line 1800 242 636, 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday (local call cost). The Care Line worker on duty can give you more information about both payments and other financial assistance.

A number of organisations can offer practical help to carers such as personal care, home help or food services.

The Department of Social Services has information for carers on MyAgedCare (link opens a new window) or call them on 1800 200 422.

You can ring Care Line 1800 242 636, or visit Carers Australia (link opens a new window) to get details of the services available to you.

A Seniors Health Care Card is means tested and gives access to subsidised pharmaceuticals.

The Seniors Card is a Victorian Government initiative in partnership with the private sector to encourage people who have retired or who are working part time to continue to engage with the community. It provides discounts from participating businesses and public transport concessions. Read more about the Victorian Seniors Card Program.

The Department of Human Services has information about pensions, pension cards and assistance information for older Australian (link opens a new window).

To apply for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card, telephone the Centrelink Older Australians Line on 13 23 00 or visit your local Centrelink Customer Service Centre. Further information is available from the Department of Human Services (link opens a new window).

To qualify, applicants must be an Australian resident living in Australia, and have reached age pension age but do not qualify for Age Pension (link opens a new window).

For information about payments and concessions for older Australian visit the Department of Human Services (Commonwealth) (link opens a new window).

State concessions are designed to improve the affordability of key services to pension card holders and low income households. Areas covered by State concessions include energy, water and sewerage, municipal rates and transport.

For more information visit the Victorian Government Concessions Made Easy website (link opens a new window).

Yes, there are a number of transport fare concessions available, for full details visit the Public Transport Victoria Seniors page (link opens a new window) or call Public Transport Victoria - 1800 800 007.

The Department of Human Services operates the Financial Information Service (link opens a new window) which provides independent, free and confidential services. The service can provide advice on dealing with a broad range of financial issues.

Your nearest Community Legal Centre (link opens a new window) can provide you with advice on preparing a Will, changing the terms of a Will, challenging the terms of a Will, and Probate. They can also provide information about Powers of Attorney.

Subsidised dental treatment is available through Community Dental Clinics (link opens a new window), some hospital dental clinics and the Royal Dental Hospital. A patient contribution is required for all adult dental services. To see what dental services you may be eligible for visit the Victorian Dental Health Service Boards website (link opens a new window).

Free eye examinations and low-cost glasses are available for pension card holders from the Australian College of Optometry through the Victorian Eyecare Service.

Optometrists who bulk bill Medicare provide only free eye examinations. For further details see the Victorian Eyecare Service page on the department's website.

Check:

• The Community Health Directory (link opens a new window) for your local community health centre.
• Your general practitioner.
• The listing of Podiatrists on the Australian Podiatry Association website (link opens a new window). A fee is usually charged for these services.

Have the influenza vaccine in the early months of Autumn, ideally between March and May. If you have missed that period, immunisation is still worthwhile as late as August. The vaccine takes effect in about two weeks and then protects you right through the influenza season. (Also ask about the pneumococcal pneumonia immunisation).

Both of these vaccines are available from your local doctor, free to:

• Everyone 65 years or older.
• All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 50 years of age.

While the vaccines are free, you may be charged a fee for the doctor's time.

To find out about home and community care services available in your area contact your local council.

To look up your local council's contact details see Find Your Council (link opens a new window).

The Home Renovation Service conducts free home inspections and provides condition reports that include an estimate of the cost of works. The service also provides home renovation loans.

The service is funded by the Department of Human Services and available to people over 60 years of age or people who have a disability or a household caring for someone with a disability. For a free Home Safety Inspection call 1300 136 513.

The Home and Community Care Program (link opens a new window) provides assistance with home maintenance tasks necessary to maintain the security and safety of a client's home, such as the installation of ramps and rails.

Although a fee is charged, people who are unable to pay will not be denied a service. The service is eligible to people who are frail aged, people who have a disability or a household caring for someone who is frail or has a disability. Contact your local council (link opens a new window) to access the service.

Contact your local council (link opens a new window) to ask about assistance in your local area.

There are services to help you and your relative with dementia, including respite and other support. You can get more information from Dementia Australia Vic on 1800 100 500 and Carers Victoria on 1800 514 845.

Visit the Dementia Australia website

Find your local council (link opens a new window) to access contact information or find your council's website.

Local governments provide a range of community services that may be of use to you including the Home and Community Care services, pet registration, waste removal, and rate payments.

Personal Alert Victoria (PAV) is a personal monitoring service that responds to calls for assistance and is funded by the Victorian Government.

PAV enhances the confidence of frail, older people and people with disabilities, who are isolated and vulnerable, to live independently in their own home by providing contact 24 hours a day.

To be eligible for PAV you must be assessed by one of the designated PAV assessment agencies. For more information about assessment for the service please contact one of the following agencies:

• Mt Eliza Personal Assistance Call Service - Phone: 1800 451 300
• Your local council's aged care service

Senior citizens clubs operate throughout Victoria offering opportunities for social engagement, sharing of hobbies and travel with members of your community.

Contact your local council (link opens a new window) to find where the nearest Senior Citizens Club is to you.

The Multi Purpose Taxi Program (link opens a new window) provides half-price fares for eligible people with a severe, permanent disability who cannot use public transport. People must make an application, which is completed by a medical practitioner. Phone: 1800 638 802.