Services and Resources
Centrelink
Many brochures and publications containing information about Centrelink services are available from local Centrelink Offices to assist people in special circumstances, and much information is also available from their website: www.centrelink.gov.au.
Booklet titles include:
- Centrelink – the Basics
- Are you ill, injured or do you have a disability?
- Caring for someone?
- Recently moved to Australia?
Helpful Hints
If dealing with Centrelink for the first time, ask for information booklets and leaflets specific to your situation to be sent to you. Contact your local Centrelink Customer Service Centre by phoning 13 27 17 or by visiting www.centrelink.gov.au.
For information in languages other than English, phone 13 12 02.
For TTY service for hearing and speech impaired, phone Freecall 1800 810 586.
The Centrelink payment system for people with ME/CFS is complex. To support your claim, ask your Doctor to indicate your illness in full medical terminology and unabbreviated on application forms, as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or Fibromyalgia, if you have been diagnosed with these conditions. This will assist Centrelink to process your application.
If you need help to negotiate your way through the system, ask to speak with the Disability Officer at your local Centrelink Office (call 13 10 21 to make an appointment).
Take along to the appointment copies of all relevant medical assessments, letters, reports, test results, your symptoms record sheets, articles and information on ME/CFS to support your illness and benefit claim
Original documentation to provide proof of identity will also be required with initial application
If you are having difficulty getting your claim
accepted, you may need the assistance of an Advocate from an Advocacy
Agency to negotiate on your behalf.
Refer to:
Disability Services Victoria
Freecall 1800 783 783 and ask to speak to an Intake Worker for your
nearest Advocacy Agency contact number www.disability.vic.gov.au and
click on Advocacy and Rights
If through disability or illness you need someone else to deal with Centrelink on your behalf, you can authorise a person or organisation to act for you by requesting a form for this purpose by calling 13 27 17, or downloading it from the Centrelink website: www.centrelink.gov.au
Getting a decision reviewed
If you are not satisfied with a Centrelink decision, try the following
options:
Ask for the decision to be reconsidered
Register a complaint with Centrelink Customer Relations staff on
Freecall: 1800 050 004.
Contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman
Phone: (03) 9654 7355 or 1300 362 072
Contact the Social Security Appeals Tribunal
Freecall: 1800 011 140
Services & Information
Check with Directory Assistance if phone numbers have changed.
Advocacy and Complaints
Disability Services Victoria
Information is available in various languages
Freecall: 1800 783 783
www.disability.vic.gov.au
Click on Advocacy and Rights
Action on Disablilty within Ethnic Communities (ADEC)
Freecall: 1800 626 078
Phone: (03) 9383 5566
www.adec.org.au
Association for Children with a Disability
Freecall: 1800 654 013
www.acd.org.au
Office of The Public Advocate
Phone: (03) 9603 9500
In an emergency, after hours service is available.
Health Services Commissioner (Health Complaints)
Freecall: 1800 136 066
Phone: (03) 8601 5200
www.health.vic.gov.au/hsc
Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre
Provides information on local advocacy services
Freecall: 1800 242 636
www.carersvic.org.au
Disability Advocacy Resource Unit
Victorian Council of Social Services
A new initiative of the State Government in 2006
Phone: (03) 9654 5050
www.vcoss.org.au
Australian Council of Social Service
Develops and promotes socially and economically responsible public
policy and action by government, community, and business
Phone: (02) 9310 4844
www.acoss.org.au
National Welfare Rights Network
Provides free and independent information and advice on social security
law and its administration
Phone: (03) 9416 1111
www.welfarerights.org.au
Aged Care
Commonwealth Carelink Centre
Freecall: 1800 052 222
www.commcarelink.health.gov.au
Deaf, hearing or speech impaired callers, may call through the National
Relay Service using their modem or TTY by dialling 1800 555 677, then
asking for 1800 052 222.
Speech impaired callers may also call through Speech-to-Speech Relay by
dialling 1800 555 727 then asking for 1800 052 222.
If you need an interpreter, phone the Translating and Interpreting
Service on 131 450.
Aged Care Information Line
Freecall: 1800 500 853
www.seniors.gov.au
Aged Care Advocacy
Can provide information about your rights and responsibilities, and
assist you to resolve problems and complaints in relation to aged care
services
Freecall: 1800 700 600 or 1800 500 583
www.agedrights.asn.au
Aged Care Complaints Resolution Scheme
Available to anyone who wishes to make a complaint about a Commonwealth
funded aged care service
Freecall: 1800 550 552
www.health.gov.au
Residential Care Rights
Phone: (03) 9602 3066
www.agedrights.asn.au
Children and Younger Persons Support Services
Association for Children with a
Disability
Phone: (03) 9500 1232
www.acd.org.au
Provides a comprehensive information support and advocacy service.
Ask for a copy of ‘Through the Maze’, a Guide to Benefits
and Services for Families of Children with a Disability.
The Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS)
Assists young people with a disability (12 – 25 years)
Phone: 1300 727 176
www.yacvic.org.au
Commonwealth Carer Respite Centres
Young Carers Initiative Support (12-25 years)
A program supporting younger persons who are providing care for adults
Freecall: 1800 059 059
Emergency and Counselling Services
Ambulance, Police, Fire
Phone: 000, (TTY) 106
Poisons Information Centre
Phone: 131126
Lifeline
24 hour telephone counselling for personal crises
Phone: 131114
Suicide Help Line
Phone: 1300 651 251
Nurse-On-Call
Provides 24 hour health advice and referral service
Phone: 1300 606 024
Depressionet
Information, help, and 24 hour peer support throughout Australia
www.depressionet.com.au
Association of Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill
A support group offering telephone counselling and home visits
Phone: (03) 9810 9300
www.arafemi.org.au
Association for Children with a Disability
Phone: (03) 9500 1232
www.acd.org.au
Commonwealth Carer Respite Centre
Provides information on a range of services including counselling
Freecall: 1800 059 059
www.carersaustralia.com.au
Centrelink
Centrelink Social Workers provide short term counselling and support,
and referral to other community services.
Phone: 13 10 21 and ask to be connected to a call centre social worker
Or 13 12 02 for languages other than English
Relationship Australia
Provides relationship counselling
Phone: (03) 9205 9570
Interpreting Service (T.I.S.) Victoria
Provides 24 hours interpreting service for people needing assistance
with contacting emergency services and government departments (if the
line is busy, hold on until you are connected to an operator). You will
be asked in English which language is required, then you will be
connected to an interpreter for that language.
Phone: 131450
www.vits.com.au
When you are in a public hospital, if there is an issue or dispute you need help with, ask to speak to a Consumer Advocate for assistance. In a private hospital, ask to speak to the Director of Nursing for resolution of disputes.
Community Health Centres in your area may offer a range of services, including counselling. See under Community Health Centres in the Yellow Pages of the Telephone Directory.
If you need further counselling, talk to your doctor for further advice or referral to a fee for service practitioner of your choice.
Financial Assistance Services
Consumer Affairs Victoria
Provides financial counselling
Phone 1300 558 181
www.consumer.vic.gov.au
Department of Human Services
Provides one-off assistance with gas, electricity, or water bills
through the Utility Relief Grants Scheme. The Capital Grants Scheme
assists people in financial crisis to repair or replace water, gas, or
electrical appliances.
A summer electricity concession is also available to eligible
concession cardholders.
Freecall: 1800 658 521 connects to the Concessions Unit Information Line
www.dhs.vic.gov.au/concessions
Church and Welfare Agencies such as Uniting Church, Salvation Army, St Vincent De Paul, and Brotherhood of St Lawrence may help with financial counselling and practical assistance.
Community Health Services in your local area may provide financial counselling
Centrelink
Phone: 13 27 17
www.centrelink.gov.au
Financial and Consumer Rights Council (FCRC)
Peak body for financial and counselling and consumer support in
Victoria
Phone: (03) 9663 2000
www.fcrc.org.au
Financial Ombudsman Service
A free and independent dispute resolution service for problems with
banks and their financial affiliates
Phone: 1300 780 808
www.abio.org.au
National Information Centre on Retirement Investments Inc.
Provides free, independent, and confidential information and advice on
investment, superannuation, and related matters
Freecall: 1800 020 110
www.nicri.org.au
Home Nursing Services
Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS)
Phone: (03) 9536 5222
www.rdns.com.au
Non-metropolitan hospitals and some rural community health services
may also provide district or community nursing. For more information,
contact your regional hospital or community health service.
www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Legal Assistance
Disability Discrimination Legal Service
An independent community legal centre that specializes in disability
discrimination matters
Phone: (03) 9602 4877
TTY (03) 9602 4135
www.ddls.org.au
The ME/CFS Legal Resources (Australia)
www.mecfslegal.110mb.com
Victorian Legal Aid Service
Provides free legal advice to the financially disadvantaged
Freecall: 1800 677 402
www.legalaid.vic.gov.au
Office of the Public Advocate
Assists with complaints about services as well as provides individual
advocacy.
Phone: 1300 309 337
(03)
9603 9500
Family Relationship Hotline
Freecall: 1800 050 321
The Ombudsman Victoria
Phone: (03) 9613 6222
Commonwealth Ombudsman
Phone: 1300 362 072
(03)
9654 7355
The Law Institute of Victoria
Provides a referral service to a private lawyer
Phone: (03) 9607 9550
The Victorian Government Legal Online website
Contains useful legal information and links
www.legalonline.vic.gov.au
General Information
Aids and Equipment Program (A&EP)
A Victorian Government Program which aims to assist people with a
disability to access subsidized aids, equipment, and home
modifications, to enhance their safety and independence.
Freecall: 1800 783 783
www.dhs.vic.gov.au/disability
Equipment Recycling Network Inc
Buys and sells secondhand items for people with a disability
Phone: (03) 9879 5211
www.erni.asn.au
Independent Living Centre
Therapists provide information and advice, conduct courses and
seminars, and display equipment for people with a disability
Freecall: 1800 686 533
Phone: (03) 9362 6111
Migrant Information Centre
Provides a range of services for migrants and refugees for the eastern
suburbs of Melbourne
Phone: (03) 9285 4888
www.miceastmelb.com.au
Tenants Union of Victoria
Provide information about emergency housing and other public and
private rental housing assistance programs
Freecall: 1800 068 860
Phone: (03) 9416 2577
Translation and Interpreter Services
Phone: Interpreter: (03) 9280 1955
Translations: (03) 9280 1990
www.vits.com.au
Organic and Health Links
Bio-Dynamic Research Institute (Demeter)
Phone: (03) 5966 7333
National Association for Sustainable
Agriculture (Australia) Ltd
Phone: (08) 8370 8455
www.nasaa.com.au
Blessed Earth
A range of organic cotton clothing, Manchester and bedding
www.blessedearth.com.au
Consumer Food Network
Phone: (07) 3217 3187
www.ozemail.com.au/~confoodnet/
The Green Line Online Supplies
Phone: (03) 9889 2299
www.thegreenline.com.au
The Organic House
www.theorganichouse.com.au
The Organics Directory
www.theorganicsdirectory.com.au
Useful Links
M.E.Tips and Severe M.E. Website
www.metips.co.uk
A Hummingbirds Guide to M.E.
By Jodi Bassett
www.ahummingbirdsguide.com
Not Done Living!
By Ricky Buchanan
http://notdoneliving.net
Prohealth ImmuneSupport.com
Resource site for CFS and FM
www.immunesupport.com
Co-Cure ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia Information
www.co-cure.org
Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation
www.ahmf.org
CFS Knowledge Center
www.cfsknowledgecenter.com
CFIDS and Fibromyalgia Self-Help
www.cfidsselfhelp.org
National ME/FM Action Network
www.mefmaction.net
25% ME Group Website
www.25megroup.org
Action for M.E.
www.afme.org.uk
The CFIDS Association of America
http://cfids.org
Better Health Channel
Quality consumer health information for Australians
www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Cheney Research
Get an insight into latest Chronic Fatigue Syndrome news,
research and findings
www.cheneyresearch.com
Phoenix Rising
Readable and accessible research by Cort Johnson,
a noted research reporter
www.aboutmecfs.org
Whittemore Peterson Institute For Neuro-Immune Disease
The first institute in the world dedicated to neuro-immune
disease integrating patient treatment, basic and clinical
research and medical education
www.wpinstitute.org
The ME Association
www.meassociation.org.uk
Useful Books
Shattered-Life with M.E.
Lyn Michell
Harper Collins 2003.
M.E. The New Plague
Jane Colby
1996
Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Dr Alastair Jackson
Allen and Unwin 2000 Australia
Stop Parkin and Start Livin
Reversing the Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
John C. Coleman
Warwick Publishing, 2006.
Eastern Resource Directory
Resource Guide for People with Brain Injury and their Families
Acquired Brain Injury Advisory Network and The Brain Foundation
Freecall: 1800 677 579
www.brainlink.org.au
Carer’s Handbook
A practical Australian guide to caring for people who are sick,
elderly, or have a disability
An authorized manual of The Carers Association of Australia, St
John’s Ambulance Australia and The Australian Red Cross
Carers Association Freecall: 1800 242 636
St John’s Ambulance Australia Phone: 1300 360 455