Support Services

Dying with Dignity NSW does not have the expertise to provide support and counselling to people who are suffering with terminal or chronic illness, but we appreciate the importance of getting this help. Support is also important for the families are carers of people who are suffering. Following is a list of some of groups that can provide help to people at this time.

Counselling and Crisis Support groups

Beyond Blue is working to reduce the impact of anxiety, depression and suicide in the community by raising awareness and understanding, empowering people to seek help, and supporting recovery, management and resilience.

Support Service:  Phone 1300 22 4636 or click to chat on-line

Lifeline  It is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. Phone 13 11 14 available 24 hours a day. Between 7 pm and 4 am they also have an Online Live Chat service for confidential one-to-one internet chat with a Lifeline Online Crisis Supporter.

Suicide Call Back Service provides free phone, video & online counselling for anyone affected by suicide. 24/7 Helpline Phone 1300 659 467

The NSW Mental Health Line is a 24-hour telephone service operating seven days a week across NSW.

Carers NSW is the peak non-government organisation for carers in NSW and a member of the National Network of Carers Associations. Our focus is on improving the lives of carers.

Carers NSW is based in Sydney, has a number of regional offices, and provides supports to carers across NSW.

For carer information, support and counselling between 9am to 5pm Freecall: 1800 242 636

For carers wanting emergency respite call 1800 052 222

Australia Counselling was created as a resource for all Australians to connect with counsellors and therapists in their local area. Phone 1300 855 148

The Quest for Life Foundation was established in 1989 by Petrea King. Up until 1995 the Foundation was based in Sydney where it hosted hundreds of support and meditation groups for people living with cancer, grief, AIDS, depression, anxiety and other traumas as well as teaching programs. In 1995, Petrea and the work of Quest for Life moved to Bundanoon in the beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW.
Feeling depressed? Have cancer or other chronic illness? Experiencing loss or grief? Then we can help by teaching you valuable life skills and strategies for healing and peace.
Phone 1300 941 488
General Enquiries & Bookings
9.00am to 5.00pm (M-F)
02 4883 6599
MensLine Australia is a 24/7 professional telephone and online support and information service for Australian men
Phone 1300 78 99 78 or click here for on-line counselling

ReachOut.com is a web-based service that provides practical tools and support to young people.

Relationships Australia is a leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities. They are a community-based, not-for-profit Australian organisation with no religious affiliations, offering services around the country that include counselling, family dispute resolution (mediation) and a range of family and community support and education programs.

Phone 1300 364 277 

Medical help and Illness-specific support groups

Palliative Care NSW is the peak body and leading voice in NSW promoting quality palliative care for all. Palliative care addresses physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs for people with a life-limiting or terminal illness, so they can live their life as fully and comfortably as possible.

Palliative Care New South Wales
5/414 Elizabeth Street Surry Hills NSW 2010
PO Box 487 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012
Tel: 02 9206 2094
Fax: 02 9281 0157
Email: [email protected]

Phone 1800 548 225
The new helpline provides professional information, support and advice for palliative care patients, their carers and their families as well as health professionals where similar services do not exist. Intended to give people more choice about the care they receive at home, the helpline provides tailored advice and support at night, on weekends and public holidays:

  • weekdays: 5pm-9am (AEST)
  • weekends: 5pm Friday – 9am Monday
  • public holidays (National and NSW): from 5pm the day before to 9am the following business day.

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/palliativecare/Pages/after-hours-helpline.aspx

HealthDirect  is a government-funded service that provides 24 hour health information, including local service providers as GPs, psychologists, counsellors etc.

Phone 1800 022 222

Pain Management Network This government-sponsored website contains information to enable you to develop skills and knowledge in the self management of your pain in partnership with your healthcare providers.

Painaustralia Limited is Australia’s leading pain advocacy body working to improve the quality of life of people living with pain, their families and carers, and to minimise the social and economic burden of pain on individuals and the community.

Established in 2011, our focus is to work with governments, health professional and consumer bodies, funders, educational and research institutions, to facilitate implementation of the National Pain Strategy Australia-wide.

PAINAUSTRALIA LIMITED
3 Manning Street,
Potts Point, NSW 2011
PO Box 3277
Tamarama NSW 2026
Telephone: (02) 9332 3448
Email: [email protected]

MND NSW provides information, support and education for people living with motor neurone disease, their families, friends and carers in NSW, ACT, the Gold Coast and NT. We also provide information and education about motor neurone disease for health, community and residential care professionals.

MND NSW Centre
Building 4, Gladesville Hospital
Victoria Road
Gladesville NSW 2111
Telephone: 02 8877 0999
Freecall: 1800 777 175 (NSW and ACT)
Fax: 02 9816 2077

MS is the preeminent source of information, advice and services for people living with multiple sclerosis. We’re a combined entity of ACT, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania with 60 years’ insight into how to live well with the disease. We are part of the national body, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Australia (MSA).

MS offers a suite of services and support to help minimise the impact of multiple sclerosis on your life and ensure your journey is not undertaken alone, while the search for a cure continues.

Our service is for people living with the disease, family members, friends and carers. We also support health professionals providing care to people affected by multiple sclerosis.

Cancer Council Australia – provides a confidential telephone support and counselling service (cost of a local call). When you call you will automatically be directed to the Cancer Council Helpline operating in your state or territory.

Phone 13 11 20

Cancer Voices Australia is the independent, 100% volunteer voice of people affected by cancer, working to improve the cancer experience for Australians, their families and friends. We are active in the areas of diagnosis, information, treatment, research, support, care, survivorship and policy. To achieve this we work with decision-makers, ensuring the patient perspective is heard.

P.O. Box 713
MILSONS POINT NSW 1565

email: [email protected]

The Heart Foundation Helpline provides free personalised information and support on heart health, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.

Phone 1300 36 27 87 during business hours in your capital city or email [email protected]

Parkinson’s NSW provides essential services to everyone who is affected by Parkinson’s such as Counselling, Support Groups, InfoLine, Neurological Nurses in the community – all free of charge!

Click for Information sheets on Parkinson’s Disease

Macquarie Hospital Building 17
51 Wicks Road
North Ryde NSW 2113

PHONE 02 8051 1900
Infoline: 1800 644 189

Huntington’s NSW is the leading specialist service in NSW that supports individuals impacted by Huntington’s disease. The Australian Huntington’s Disease Association (NSW) Inc. was established in 1975 to develop support and educational programs for people affected by Huntington’s Disease in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory; to assist their families to understand and cope; and to give these families a strong single voice.

  • Telephone: 02 9874 9777
  • Freecall (Regional New South Wales): 1800 244 735

The Stroke Foundation is a national charity that partners with the community to prevent, treat and beat stroke. We stand alongside stroke survivors and their families, healthcare professionals and researchers. We build community awareness and foster new thinking and innovative treatments. We support survivors on their journey to live the best possible life after stroke.

StrokeLine’s health professionals provide information and advice on stroke treatment, prevention and recovery.
Call StrokeLine on 1800 787 653
Operating hours: 9am – 5pm EST, Monday to Friday

Kidney Health Information Service provides a free, national, phone support service for people living with and/or affected by kidney and urinary disease, via our Kidney Health Information Service (KHIS) line.

The service offers information, support, referral and advice to both patients and their families and health professionals, and callers are directed to the most appropriate service to meet their needs.

Need to talk? Call us on 1800 454 363

Lung Health Alliance is a collective of national respiratory not-for-profit organisations working together to improve the lung health of individuals and communities in Australia and to contribute to the global effort for lung health.

The members of the alliance include:

The Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia (adfa) is a not-for profit organisation working to provide support to people living with asbestos related diseases, family members, carers and friends.

Phone:         (02) 9637 8759

Counselling Support Services available on our:
HELPLINE: 1800 006 196 (24 hours)

Muscular Dystrophy Australia as an organisation was established in 1984 as a support group for individuals and families affected by Muscular Dystrophy. MDA is working towards a world without Muscular Dystrophy, whilst providing support and hope as an organisation respected by, and a proponent of, the Muscular Dystrophy community.

Phone: 03 9320 9555

ACON is a NSW-based health promotion organisation specialising in HIV prevention, HIV support and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) health.

Established in 1985 as the AIDS Council of NSW, we’re here to end HIV transmission among gay and homosexually active men, and promote the lifelong health of LGBTI people and people with HIV.

Positive Life NSW provides information, targeted referrals and advocates to change systems and practices that discriminate against people with HIV, their friends, family and carers in NSW.

Positive Life NSW works to promote a positive image of people living with and affected by HIV with the aim of eliminating prejudice, isolation, stigma and discrimination.

Alzheimer’s Australia – We advocate for the needs of people living with all types of dementia, and for their families and carers, and provide support services, education and information.

Phone 1800 100 500