Supporting carers

Some of these services available in Glen Eira to unpaid carers are listed below.

Many people don’t see themselves as carers. Carers perform an important role in our community by looking after or helping someone who needs support.  Anyone can be a carer, to find out more, visit the Carer Gateway website.

Carers Gateway

Connecting carers to support and services

Through the Australian Government’s Carer Gateway, carers can now access a range of support and services to help manage their emotional health and wellbeing.

No matter where a carer may live, a flexible workforce of service providers are available to ensure carers have access to the support and services they need.

Online coaching, counselling, emergency and planned respite, peer support and financial support through Carer Directed Support Packages are some of the services available through Carer Gateway.

For more information or advice on the supports and services available, contact 1800 422 737 Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm local time, or visit Carers Gateway's website.

Carers Victoria

Carers Victoria is the peak body representing all unpaid carers in Victoria. They provide educational workshops, programs and events for carers and service providers across the state. To find out more visit, Carers Victoria's training and events webpage.  

Become a member of Carers Victoria. Membership is free for carers and supporters and gives you access to the latest news, exclusive invitations to events, discounts and opportunities to create real change. To find out more and join, visit Carers Victoria's Become a member webpage. 

Sign up to Carers Victoria’s monthly eBulletin The Voice to stay informed about the latest news for carers. To sign up, visit Carers Victoria's eBulletin webpage.

To find our more, contact 1800 514 845 or visit Carers Victoria's website.

Alfred Health Carer Services

Alfred Health Carer Services is an advisory and support service for carers located in Melbourne’s south. Alfred Health Carer Services assist with:

• information and resources
• identifying helpful services in or outside the home
• providing support to manage your own health and wellbeing.

If you’re new to caring or have only just discovered carer support they can help. During the year a range of events and activities are run for carers, including events for young carers. To get the latest news to subscribe to their newsletter.

For more information or advice on the supports and services available, contact 1800 512 121 or visit Alfred Health Carer Services' website.

Connect Health & Community

Youth social work service

Connect Health & Community’s youth social work service works with young people aged between 12 and 25 through various supports and services with the aim of keeping young people well connected to their family and community, and in safe and stable housing.

To find out more, contact 03 9575 5333 or visit Connet Health & Community's youth support service webpage.

Dementia Australia

Dementia Australia provides information, education sessions, research and support services.

For free information and advice, contact the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500, chat online or visit Dementia Australia's website.

FriendLine

FriendLine is for anyone who needs to reconnect or just wants a chat. All conversations are casual and anonymous and their friendly volunteers are ready for a yarn and to share a story or two.

Contact the support line on 1800 424 287 or chat online.

Little Dreamers

Little Dreamers works with young people aged four to 25 who provide unpaid care for a family member affected by disability, illness or addiction across a range of direct support programs, such as school holiday programs, mentoring, tutoring and personal development programs.

To learn more or request support, visit Little Dreamers website or Little Dreamers Facebook page. 

The Dreamers Hub is an interactive online platform created by young carers providing other young carers with a dedicated place to connect, learn and have fun. To find out more, visit the Little Dreamers — Dreamers Hub webpage 

Mind Australia

Mind Australia works with people aged 16 to 64 whose ability to manage their daily activities and to live in the community is impacted by mental health issues.

Contact the Carer Helpline on 1300 554 660 for over-the-phone information and advice, as well as find out about the range of services they have available for carers. Note that the person you are caring for does not have to be using a Mind Australia service to access this support.

For more information, visit Mind Australia's website or join the Mind Australia Friends, Family and Carers Discussion Forum.

MOIRA

MOIRA provides a range of supports for people from all walks of life, working across disability, family, and youth services. MOIRA’s vision is that people choose what creates their best future.

Carer Connect is MOIRA’s gateway to a diverse range of services and activities designed to assist and support unpaid carers of people living with disability. Programs include:

• support groups for carers
• online classes and experiences that support carer wellbeing
• a private MORIA Facebook group and safe space online for carers to interact and share. 

For more information, visit MOIRA's Carer connect webpage.

Young Carers Network

The Young Carers Network by Carers Australia offers nation-wide support to Young Carers, providing:

• access to online support services
• young carer resources and information
• links to local events, activities and programs
• providing an online portal for the application process for the Young Carers Bursary (an educational grant of up to $3000 for 1000 successful applicants each year).

For access to grant information, how to apply and to register visit, the Young Carers Network, Young Carer Bursary webpage.

For more information, visit Young Carers Network's website.

Inner South Family and Friends (ISFAF)

Inner South Family and Friends (ISFAF) is a 'grass roots' support group for carers of individuals with mental health challenges.

Established in 1991 by a group of carers of individuals with mental health challenges who recognised that only individuals on similar journeys appreciated the complexity of caring for a loved one with serious mental health issues.

The group hosts monthly meetings with speakers and a variety of social events and provides opportunities for learning, and sharing experiences, strategies, joys, tribulations and camaraderie with each other. Regular emails and newsletters are circulated with current information and provide continuity of support, with some of our founders and earliest members continuing to actively provide support.

For further information leave a message on 9076 4784, phone 0425 723 746 or visit ISFAF’s website.

Ask Izzy

Ask Izzy is a website that connects people in need with services that provide housing, a meal, money help, family violence support, counselling and more. Access is available without credit on the Telstra or Vodafone mobile networks.

Ask Izzy also offers an emergency exit function, that will close the site and load the Bureau of Meteorology Weather website if you feel unsafe and need to close the website quickly.

To use this service, visit Ask Izzy's website.

Association for Children with a Disability

Association for Children with Disability is led by and for, families of children with a disability and provide workshops and peer support, information and resources and a support line.

To find out more, contact 03 9880 7000 or visit Association for Children with Disability's website.

headspace

headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12 to 25-year olds. headspace can help young people with mental health, physical health (including sexual health) alcohol and other drug services, and work and study support. Two headspace centres are located in Glen Eira, Bentleigh and Elsternwick.

For locations of headspace services, as well as factsheets and resources for young people and their families and friends, visit headspace's website

SANE Australia

SANE Australia provides information, research and peer support through forums including the Friends, Family and Carers Forum. Phone and online counselling support is available for people living with complex mental health issues and the people who care about them.

For more information contact 1800 187 263 or visit SANE Australia's website.

Victorian Carers Recognition Act 2012

In all the planning and work we do with carers, we comply with the Victorian Carers Recognition Act 2012 and its supporting charter, the Victorian charter supporting people in care relationships.

The Act

The Victorian Carers Recognition Act 2012 officially recognises care relationships and the role of carers in our community. It also acknowledges the unique knowledge that carers have about the person in their care.

For more information:

• Visit the Department of Health and Human Services' Carers Recognition Act page.
• Download an authorised version of the Act.

The charter

The Victorian charter supporting people in care relationships (DOCX, 68KB) encourages organisations to better respect the important role of carers. It also outlines:

• principles related to carers, care relationships and people being cared for,
• a clear definition of a carer,
• organisations affected by the Act.

For a summary of the charter, download What the Carers Recognition Act says (DOCX, 51KB).