It takes courage and strength to be a carer, but you don’t need to do it alone.

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Carers often put the needs of others before themselves, but they also need support. Carer Gateway is an Australian Government program providing free services and supports for unpaid carers.

If you care for a family member or friend with disability, a medical condition, mental illness, or who is frail due to age, then Carer Gateway can help you.

Carer Gateway provides many services to support carers in their caring role. One of these supports is free counselling services.

Carer Gateway counselling services

Caring for someone can be mentally and physically exhausting. That’s why carers need support too. Speaking to someone about your caring experience can help you to understand and explore your concerns.

Regardless of how long you have cared for someone, or how much you love them, you may be feeling stressed, upset or overwhelmed. A counsellor can provide strategies to help you work through your emotions.

Carer Gateway provides free counselling services in person or over the phone.

Carer Gateway in-person counselling service

The national network of Carer Gateway service providers can assist carers with access to in-person counselling no matter where a carer lives.

This type of counselling allows you to speak openly and honestly about how you’re feeling in relation to your caring role. A professional counsellor will work with you to understand and help you explore your concerns. Your counsellor will provide a safe space to explore specific issues and work together on the way forward.

To access this type of counselling, call your local Carer Gateway service provider on 1800 422 737 Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm local time and select option 1 to speak to a Carer Gateway staff member who will register you with Carer Gateway (if you aren’t already) and start the planning process.

Carer Gateway phone counselling service

The Carer Gateway Phone Counselling Service provides counselling sessions to support carers. Professional counsellors talk one-on-one with you about any concerns you have including how you feel about your carer role.

For more information or to book a phone counselling appointment, call the Carer Gateway phone counselling team on 1800 422 737, Monday to Friday 8am-6pm local time and select option 2.

You can also request a call back by visiting the phone counselling page on the Carer Gateway website at the following link www.counselling.carergateway.gov.au/s/. The Carer Gateway counselling page also provides carers with resources and practical information to help carers maintain their wellbeing.

The Carer Gateway Phone Counselling Service is available to carers over 18 years.

If you are a carer under 25 years of age, you can talk to a counsellor at the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or visit the Young Carers Network website to find a support service in your area. Visit youngcarersnetwork.com.au

Immediate support

If you are distressed and need urgent support, please call one of the following 24-hour crisis support services:

Lifeline 13 11 14 (for anyone)
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
In an emergency or if someone is in danger call Triple Zero 000.

What carers say about Carer Gateway counselling services

Juggling work or study, family and caring responsibilities can leave carers feeling stretched. Friends and family may not always understand what carers are going through, which can make carers feel isolated or alone.

Carers who have used counselling through Carer Gateway report a range of benefits. They say counselling gave them time and space to talk through what they were managing and feel listened to.

Carers say counselling helped them to:

understand their feelings about caring
feel heard and less isolated
learn ways to manage stress and difficult emotions
look at their situation in a different way
receive support during difficult times
build confidence in their caring role and daily life
find other services and resources for support.

For many carers, counselling can be a practical step towards looking after their own wellbeing while continuing to care for someone else.

Carer Gateway: More than counselling

Carer Gateway also offers a range of supports in addition to its counselling services. These services are for anyone who is an unpaid carer. Whether you are receiving a government carer payment or the person you care for receives support through programs such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), My Aged Care or other government-funded services, you can still access support through Carer Gateway.

Carer Gateway supports and services include:

Needs assessment and support planning to help ensure services are tailored to a carers’ specific caring situation and local availability.
In-person and online peer support group.
In-person and online self-guided coaching.
Vocational Pathways support if you are looking at joining or re-engaging with the workforce.
Tailored support packages which may include access to planned respite, transport services and practical support.
Assistance with access to emergency respite if you suddenly find you can’t provide care, for example if you become ill or injured.
Information, advice and assistance with navigating services relevant to carers including the NDIS, My Aged Care and state-based programs
Online skills courses to support you in your caring role.

How do I access Carer Gateway services?

Carers can talk to someone about accessing services by calling their local Carer Gateway service provider on 1800 422 737 Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm local time and select option 1 or visiting the website carergateway.gov.au Carer Gateway’s helpful staff will talk you through the registration and planning process. This helps the Carer Gateway team learn more about you and your caring role so they can match services to your individual caring needs.