Carer Gateway provides free services and support for unpaid carers.
For family & carers
What support is available for carers?
If you provide unpaid care for an older family member or friend, there are supports for you as well as for the person receiving care.
Practical guidanceUnderstand the options before making the decision.
At a glance
What to know first
Carer Payment and Carer Allowance are different Centrelink payments with different rules.
Planned and emergency respite can help when a carer needs a break or cannot provide care.
The practical detail
Work through the part that matters to you.
Carer Gateway is a practical starting point
Carer Gateway provides free support across Australia, including counselling, coaching, peer support, online skills courses, tailored support packages and access to planned or emergency respite.
Carer Payment is income support
Carer Payment is for people providing constant care in circumstances that substantially limit their ability to work. Residence, income and assets rules apply to the carer and the person receiving care.
Carer Allowance is a separate payment
Carer Allowance is a supplementary payment for people providing daily care and attention. It has an income test but no assets test for the carer.
Respite is not a failure of caring
Respite can be planned in advance or arranged in an emergency. It gives the person receiving care continuity of support while the carer has time away, recovers from illness or manages another responsibility.
Check the current rules
Official sources used for this guide.
Government rules and thresholds can change. These links take you to the source material used to prepare this page.
Carer Gateway
Services and support available
Check the current government information before relying on eligibility, rates or rules.
Open official source →Services AustraliaWho can get Carer Payment
Check the current government information before relying on eligibility, rates or rules.
Open official source →Services AustraliaWho can get Carer Allowance
Check the current government information before relying on eligibility, rates or rules.
Open official source →Related Later Life guides
Keep going only where it is useful.
Care & support
What help can I get to stay living at home?
Government-funded support can help with personal care, cleaning, nursing, allied health, transport, equipment, home modifications and other assessed needs.
Read guide →Money & entitlementsWhat am I eligible for as I get older?
There is no single “over 65” benefit in Australia. Different programs use different ages, income tests, residency rules and care needs. The useful first step is to work out which system matches the kind of help you need.
Read guide →When general information is not enough
Talk it through with Liz.
Liz can help connect the general rules to the care and support questions in your own situation. For legal, tax or financial decisions, she will point you back to the appropriate professional or government source.