Caring for someone you love is one of the most meaningful things you can do — and one of the most exhausting. This guide walks Victorian carers aged 60 and over through the real, practical support available: from Carer Gateway counselling and funded packages to local peer groups and planned respite. It complements the Carer Allowance payments guide by focusing on support, not money.
Why this guide exists — and who it is for
Across Victoria, a quiet army of people over 60 are managing the daily reality of caring for a partner, parent, sibling or friend. Many have been doing it for years, absorbing the physical load, the emotional weight and the paperwork without ever stopping to ask what support exists for them. This guide is for those people.
The focus here is not on the payments — there is a separate guide covering Carer Allowance and Carer Payment. This guide is about the human side: the counselling, the peer connection, the planned and emergency respite, and the funded practical support that can make caring more sustainable. For women in their 60s and 70s who have spent decades as the person others lean on — and who may also be managing their own health — the idea of asking for help can feel unfamiliar. It should not have to.
All of the services described here are real, government-funded or well-established community programs. None of this is financial, legal or medical advice. For decisions that affect your personal situation, speak with a qualified professional or your GP, and always verify current eligibility and costs directly with the relevant organisation.
What is Carer Gateway and what does it actually offer?
Carer Gateway is the Australian Government's national support service for unpaid carers. You access it at carergateway.gov.au or by calling 1800 422 737. It is not just a phone line — it is a network of local service providers across Victoria who can organise real, hands-on support. The starting point is a conversation with a carer support planner who helps you work out what you need.
The services available through Carer Gateway include in-person and phone counselling, online and telephone peer support groups, skills and coaching programs (practical things like managing stress, navigating health systems, and planning for the future), and emergency respite when something unexpected happens and you simply cannot be in two places at once. There is also access to tailored support packages — funded amounts that can be used for practical help such as cleaning, gardening, transport or in-home assistance, freeing you up from tasks that have accumulated on top of your caring role.
Eligibility is based on being an unpaid carer — you do not need to be receiving a Carer Payment or Carer Allowance to access Carer Gateway services. However, availability and the size of funded packages can vary, so it is worth contacting them directly to understand what applies to your situation right now. The website has an online registration option if you prefer not to phone.
Carer support groups and counselling for carers
One of the most consistently valued parts of Carer Gateway is access to peer support — the chance to talk with other people who genuinely understand what caring looks like from the inside. These groups run in different formats: some are in-person, often hosted through local community health centres or libraries; others are telephone or online groups, which suit carers who cannot easily leave home. Carer Gateway can connect you to groups relevant to your specific caring situation, whether you are caring for someone with dementia, a physical disability, a mental health condition or a chronic illness.
Carers Victoria (carersvictoria.org.au) also runs carer support programs across the state, including education workshops, peer support and individual support services. They have strong connections to multicultural communities and can often connect carers with support in community languages — worth knowing for those whose first language is not English, or whose family networks span cultures with different expectations about who does the caring.
Individual counselling through Carer Gateway is provided by qualified counsellors and is available to carers at no cost. Sessions can be by phone, video or in person depending on your provider and location. If you have been putting off speaking to someone because you thought it would be complicated or expensive, it is worth knowing that the barrier is lower than many carers realise. Your GP can also provide a referral to a mental health professional through a Mental Health Treatment Plan, which may give you access to Medicare-subsidised sessions beyond what Carer Gateway provides.
Are there programs for carers and carer respite?
Respite — time away from your caring role — is not a luxury. It is a recognised part of sustainable caring, and there are several ways to access it in Victoria. Through Carer Gateway, you can access planned respite (organised in advance as part of your support plan) and emergency respite (arranged at short notice when something unexpected means you cannot continue caring temporarily). The national 1800 422 737 number operates around the clock for emergency respite situations.
For respite that involves the person you care for receiving professional support while you step away, My Aged Care (myagedcare.gov.au) is the relevant entry point if your care recipient is an older person. Residential respite — where someone stays in an aged care facility for a short period — is available through this system, as is in-home respite where a support worker comes to your home. Costs are subsidised but there may be an out-of-pocket component; the My Aged Care website and phone line (1800 200 422) can give you current information.
Some carers are also eligible for respite funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) if the person they care for is an NDIS participant — in that case, the NDIS plan may include support worker hours that create natural respite time. If you are unsure whether the person you care for might be eligible for the NDIS, ndis.gov.au is the starting point. The key thing to know is that respite programs do exist across different funding streams, and a Carer Gateway support planner can help you navigate which one fits your circumstances.
The honest conversation about carer guilt
Many carers — particularly women, and particularly those from cultural backgrounds where family care is a deeply held value — find it genuinely difficult to step back, even briefly. There is a persistent, quiet guilt attached to taking a break: the sense that needing rest means you are not doing enough, or that asking for help reflects poorly on the family. It is worth naming this directly, because it stops people from accessing support that would make them better carers in the long run.
Carer Gateway counsellors are trained to work with exactly this. The conversation does not have to start with 'I need a break' — it can start with 'I am finding it hard' or simply with a phone call to find out what is available. Peer support groups are particularly useful here because other carers understand the guilt without needing it explained. Hearing that someone else felt the same way — and that taking respite did not make them a worse carer — carries a different kind of weight than being told it by a professional.
For carers who are also managing their own health conditions, or who are in their 70s and aware that their own capacity has limits, the practical reality is that burnout is a genuine risk. GPs can be an important ally here — if you are not already talking to your doctor about your caring role, not just the health of the person you care for, it is worth raising it at your next appointment. Some GP practices can connect you with a social worker or care coordinator who knows the local support landscape well.
Planned respite as a travel consideration
For carers who love to travel — or who once did, before caring made it feel impossible — planned respite opens a door that many assume is closed. A solo trip to see family interstate, a short break with a friend, or even a few days of rest at home while someone else manages the caring: these are things that can be planned, funded in part through Carer Gateway packages or My Aged Care, and organised with enough lead time to feel manageable rather than chaotic.
The practical steps involve talking to your Carer Gateway support planner about what funded respite you might be eligible for, arranging an assessment through My Aged Care if residential or in-home respite is needed for the person you care for, and giving yourself enough planning time — at least several weeks for planned respite, longer if residential placement is involved. Some carers find it helpful to do a 'trial' of shorter respite before planning something more substantial, both to test how the person they care for manages and to work through their own feelings about stepping away.
Carers Victoria also runs some programs specifically designed to give carers a genuine break, including social outings and short retreats. Check their current calendar at carersvictoria.org.au, as offerings change across the year. For carers who are also interested in day trips or short travel experiences — which is, after all, what this publication is about — the idea of building respite into your year as a regular rhythm, rather than a one-off emergency, is worth considering.
Where to start if you are not sure what you need
The most common reason carers do not access support is not that they are ineligible — it is that they do not know where to begin, or they have tried one door and found it confusing and given up. The simplest starting point is the Carer Gateway phone line: 1800 422 737. It operates seven days a week during business hours, and the team will ask you some questions and connect you with a local provider in Victoria who can do a proper needs assessment with you.
If you prefer to start online, carergateway.gov.au has a service finder and an option to register and be contacted. Carers Victoria (carersvictoria.org.au) is a good second contact point, particularly if you want to find a local support group or speak with someone who understands the Victorian community landscape specifically. For anything related to the person you care for accessing aged care services — including respite — myagedcare.gov.au is the right starting point.
It is worth keeping a note of the calls you make and the organisations you contact, including dates and the names of people you speak with. The system can involve multiple steps and it helps to have a record. And if the first conversation does not feel right, try again with a different person or a different organisation — the support is there, and it is worth persisting to find the version of it that fits your life.
Key takeaways
- Carer Gateway (carergateway.gov.au or 1800 422 737) is the main entry point for free counselling, peer support, coaching and funded practical help for unpaid carers in Victoria.
- You do not need to be receiving Carer Payment or Carer Allowance to access Carer Gateway services — being an unpaid carer is the key eligibility criterion.
- Emergency respite through Carer Gateway is available around the clock when something unexpected means you cannot continue caring temporarily.
- Planned respite — including residential respite for the person you care for — can be accessed through My Aged Care if your care recipient is an older person.
- Carer guilt is a recognised and commonly experienced barrier to accessing support; Carer Gateway counsellors and peer support groups are specifically equipped to work with it.
- Carers Victoria (carersvictoria.org.au) offers local support groups, multicultural programs and education workshops across Victoria that complement Carer Gateway services.
Recommended partners and links
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Frequently asked questions
Carer support groups and counselling for carers.
Carer Gateway connects unpaid carers with free individual counselling (by phone, video or in person) and peer support groups tailored to different caring situations. Carers Victoria also runs support groups and workshops across Victoria, including programs for multicultural communities. To find what is available near you, contact Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 or visit carergateway.gov.au, or check carersvictoria.org.au for Victorian-specific programs.
Are there programs for carers and carer respite?
Yes. Carer Gateway offers both planned and emergency respite support for carers, including funded practical assistance packages. For respite that involves the person you care for receiving professional care, My Aged Care (myagedcare.gov.au or 1800 200 422) manages access to in-home and residential respite for older Australians. If the person you care for is an NDIS participant, their plan may also include support hours that create respite time. A Carer Gateway support planner can help you work out which pathway suits your situation.
What is Carer Gateway and is it free?
Carer Gateway is the Australian Government's national support service for unpaid carers. Most of its services — including counselling, peer support, coaching programs and access to funded support packages — are available to eligible carers at no cost. You can access it online at carergateway.gov.au or by calling 1800 422 737. Always confirm current eligibility and what is available in your area directly with Carer Gateway, as offerings can vary by location and change over time.
How do I access respite if I need it urgently?
For emergency respite — when something unexpected means you cannot continue caring right now — call Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737. The line operates seven days a week and can arrange emergency respite support at short notice. For planned residential respite (where the person you care for stays in an aged care facility while you take a break), contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au, as an assessment is usually required and lead time is needed.
Can I get support as a carer if I am from a non-English speaking background?
Yes. Carers Victoria has specific programs for carers from multicultural communities and can often connect people with support in community languages. Carer Gateway also works with interpreters. The free Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) can assist with calls to government services — you can reach TIS on 131 450 and ask them to connect you to the service you need.
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