For a comprehensive guide to services and support in the City of Melbourne, you can download the Services and Support section of our latest Out and About Guide.
Support for older people
- Connections Program and Understanding the Aged Care System
- Guide to Melbourne for older people - local resources for older people
- Helping Out guide - free and low-cost resources for people experiencing hardship and homelessness
- Community Food Guide - help to access affordable, fresh, healthy food
- Fareshare Library Feeds External link- free healthy, frozen meals for those in need
- Ask Izzy External link - Find the help you need, now and nearby
- 1800RESPECT External link 24/7 support for people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence. 1800 737 732 or use website live chat.
- Better Place Australia: Respecting Elders Service External link - support for addressing conflict with other family members and preventing elder abuse. 1800 214 117
- Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria External link - represents the interests and protects the rights of people aged 50 and older in Victoria. 1300 135 090
- Compass External link - resources and information to navigate and end elder abuse. 1800 ELDERHelp (1800 353 374)
- Elder Rights Advocacy (ERA) External link- helps older people, their families and representatives with issues related to aged care services. Free, confidential and independent. 1800 700 600
- The Orange Door External link - help for people experiencing family violence or who need support to care for children and young people. 1800 271 045
- Safe Steps External link - a 24/7 phone-based family violence service. 1800 015 188
- Seniors Rights Victoria External link - a confidential helpline for people experiencing or know of someone experiencing elder abuse. 1300 368 821.
Carer Gateway External link - an Australian Government program providing free services and support for carers - 1800 422 737
Carers Victoria External link - advocacy and support for carers, nation-wide. 1800 514 845
- Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) External link - volunteer visits to older people to provide friendship and companionship. Fill out a website request form
- Friendline External link / Arabic Line / Mate Line - Friendly volunteers available to chat and connect with. 1800 424 287
- Telecross External link - Provides a daily telephone call to check your wellbeing. 1300 885 698
- National Dementia Helpline (Dementia Australia) External link- Helpline available 24/7 to support and assist those living with dementia, their carers or loved ones. 1800 100 500
- Dementia information sheets External link - If you or a loved one has had a recent dementia diagnosis, here is a starting point.
- Dementia Directory External link - for services within Eastern and North-Western Melbourne
Advance Care Planning Australia External link - Support to make decisions about your future health care. 1300 208 582
Grief Australia External link - Grief and bereavement education in Australia. 9265 2100
Griefline External link - Access free grief support, seven days a week. 1300 845 745
Office of the Public Advocate External link - support, information and documentation relating to power of attorney, medical treatment decision making and advance care planning
Palliative Care Victoria External link - support and information to optimise quality of life for people with a life-limiting illness. 9662 9644
Dying to Know Day: observed annually on 8 August to normalise conversations about death, dying and grief. To get started, download a copy of The Secrets I'm Glad I Shared External link, or head to Dying To Know Day - Proveda External link
Preparing for your future: a conversation guide External link
Not for-profit, low-cost funeral director External link
Safeguarding the end of the rainbow External link - free, tailored guide for older LGBTI community members
A conversation guide for LGBTI older people (PDF 848 KB) External link
Palliative care External link - being prepared as a family decision-maker
Resources for wills, estates and power of attorney
Wills, estates and powers of attorney in Victoria External link
Enduring power of attorney External link
Resources for medical treatment decision-making
Medical treatment decision-makers External link
Resources for legal assistance with your Will
Inner Melbourne Community Legal Centre External link
Local community legal centres External link
Law Institute of Victoria's Legal Referral Service External link
Resources for the death of a loved one
What to do after someone dies External link
Death of a partner (PDF 370 KB) External link
Books about death and dying
Books are our companions through every stage of life. The get dead set booklist External link is curated by our librarians to offer inspiring reading material on this topic.
Moneysmart External link- guidance and tools for people to gain control of their finances
National Debt Helpline External link - free, independent and confidential service provided by financial counsellors
WIRE: Financial Planning Clinic External link- Free support, information and referral service for Victorian women, non-binary and gender diverse people.
Financial Counselling Victoria Inc. External link - free and confidential for those experiencing or at risk of financial hardship
Gamblers Help External link - online support and helpline for gamblers. 1800 858 858
Centrelink External link – Financial Information Service - Financial Information Service - Services Australia External link
Housing - Alternative housing pathways for older women.
LGBTIQA+ - LGBTIA+ services for older people
Transport – more information on public transport.
Parking and transport – more information on parking rules and permits, public transport options, roads, cycling facilities, and transport planning.
Community grants – More information on community funding and grants, including the Community Meals Subsidy.
Multicultural Service Officers External link- Services Australia Help for migrant and refugee communities to connect with services.
Aged care
Understanding the aged care system - further information on the aged care system
Services Australia External link- help for people retiring, accessing aged care or caring for older Australians
Care finder External link- extra, intensive support to access aged care services and other support in the community
My Aged Care face-to-face services External link - various face-to-face support options for aged care matters
