Commonwealth Carelink and Respite

Do You Care for or Assist a Family Member, Friend or Neighbour?

Do You Need Assistance to Find the Best Service to Help You?

We can assist you by:

1 Information Support Services to Provide:

• Information and advice about the range of community services available in the Southern Highlands region. The service can be accessed by older Australians, people with disabilities their families and Carers, general practitioners and other service providers.
• The information provided by Centres makes it easier to find care and support to continue to live independently in your own home.
• The Centre can assist people to access information on services in other areas of Australia.

The service can be accessed by older Australians, people with disabilities, families, Carers, GP’s and health professionals.

2 Respite and Carer Support to Provide:

• Assistance with organising emergency or planned respite.
• Assistance with accessing residential respite in nursing homes and hostels.
• Support to local Carer support groups.
• Assistance for Carers to access counselling.
• Assistance with respite fees.
• Assistance with Carer education and training.

What is Respite?

Respite is a break from the responsibility of looking after someone. It may be for a few hours, a day, a night or even weeks.

Respite can be provided in the Carers/family home, in a residential setting, in a community or recreational setting, in a holiday environment or in a day program setting.

The Centre operates on a brokerage model and care is purchased from local HACC and disability services, Government funded agencies and Private Nursing agencies.

What is an Emergency?

An emergency is when a Carer needs to make alternative caring arrangements outside normal business hours. The emergency line is staffed 24 hours a day and on all weekends and public holidays. Examples of any emergency situation are: 

• Carer illness or extreme stress
• Death or illness in the family where the Carer needs to attend
• Urgent need for emotional support
• Potential breakdown of the Caring relationship

The Service can Assist People Who are Providing Ongoing Support, Assistance or Daily Care for Other People Who are:

• frail aged
• a younger person with a disability
• person with a mental health/psychiatric disability
• person with a chronic illness
• a person with dementia
• people with palliative care needs
• carers who are working and require assistance to stay at work
• young carers (12-24 years)

Funding

The program is part of a National Initiative and is funded by the Departments of Health and Ageing and Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

We cover the Southern Highlands Region of NSW incorporating the Local Government Ares of; Bega Valley, Bombala, Boorowa, Cooma-Monaro, Eurobodalla, Goulburn, Harden, Palerang, Queanbeyan, Snowy River, Upper Lachlan, Harden, Yass and Young