Aged Care Advisory & Advocacy Services
 Advisory and advocacy services can help connect you to support when you need it. This section provides an overview of the range of aged care services you can go to for help, information, support or advocacy.
Overview
It can be confusing trying to navigate the range of aged care and disability support services. Unfortunately, because of this, people eligible for support often miss out. This is where advisory and advocacy services can help.
- Advisory services can give you information, support and help to find the services you need.
- Advocacy can help you exercise your rights and ensure that aged and disability services clearly understand your needs, provide appropriate support and involve you in decisions.
*NB: You will find aged care advocacy information below. Click here for general advocacy information.
Advisory services
You can get information, support and help connecting to aged care or disability services from:
- Your nearest Aged Care Assessment Service
- Disability intake and response
- Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre
- Seniors Information Victoria
- The national Aged Care Information Line
Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS)  can help you work out what kind of support will best meet your needs when you can no longer manage at home without assistance. An aged care assessment team (ACAT) will visit you at home or in hospital to assess and approve your eligibility for community care in the home, residential respite or permanent entry into residential care.
To be put in touch with your local ACAT, contact the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres on 1800 052 222 or the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 555 853.
Disability Intake and Response - 1800 783 783
If you are under 65, disability intake and response can connect you with a range of disability services and programs.
Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres provide information about community aged care, respite for carers, residential care, disability and other support services in your local area. If you wish, these centres can link you into these services.
- To find your nearest centre or get information over the phone, call 1800 052 222
- For emergency respite support outside standard business hours, call 1800 059 059
Seniors
Information Victoria
- (Council Of The Ageing, COTA) provide information on a range of
issues relevant to older Victorians, including: housing options,
home-based and community services, financial and legal issues, health
and wellbeing, retirement and new learning opportunities. For information:
drop into to the centre, talk to one of the staff by phoning 1300
135 090, attend an information session or browse information on
their website.
Aged Care Information Line - 1800 500 853 provides information about community and residential care services.
Advocacy Hotlines
If you have a problem with an aged care service, whether in the community or in residential homes, you can contact the following advocacy and complaints hotlines.
Aged care advocacy - 1800 700 600 can provide advice, support, advocacy and assistance with any queries or concerns you might have.
Aged care complaints investigation scheme - 1800 550 552 can investigate and help you resolve complaints about an aged care service.
*Find more information about general advocacy services here.
Abuse Prevention Services
Find these services in our rights section. |
