There are many services available to help Aboriginal people look after the person they are caring for. Getting the right services is a different matter. It can be frustrating having to make and keep appointments, travel and talk to different workers to get services. Do not be ashamed if you have to keep asking as sometimes it is the only way to get your rights. This fact sheet contains tips on how to get and keep services.

• Tell the services about your needs as an Aboriginal working carer and ask them to fit in with you. Tell them about appointment times and places that suit you.

• Tell the services about the things that you would like to do that will help you, for example, help at home, or someone else to look after the person you are caring for so you can have a break or some time off. You might like to have a break from caring to go visit a friend, attend a funeral, go fishing, go to a meeting, visit the doctor, go shopping, see the grandchildren or be by yourself for a while. The person you are looking after might be glad to have a break too.

• Fill in forms carefully and ask for help if you need it. Keep copies of all forms so you have a record and you can use the information for other forms.

• Ask for referrals to other services if they don’t offer what you want in the way you want it.

• If there are no services available in your area let people know you need a service. Some working carers have contacted their local newspaper or Member of Parliament and this has led to improvements for them.

• If you are having trouble getting access to services you can get someone else to help you – an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HACC Access Coordinator may work in your area or you could get an advocate

• Once you have a service let the people providing it know as much as possible about the needs and preferences of the person you are caring for.

• Do take advice from professionals but do not allow them to push you to do anything you or the person you are caring for do not want to do. Be firm about your needs and desires.

• You have the right to complain if a service provided is not of high quality.

• If you want a family member to provide services such as respite care they may be able to do training to get a job as a paid carer.

For more information

This Fact Sheet is based on information in from the Commonwealth Carer Resource Centre’s Carer Support Kit. There is a special version of the kit available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers from the Centre at Carers NSW on freecall 1800 242 636. You can ask to speak to an Aboriginal Carer Support Officer on this number.

Commonwealth Carelink Centres can help you with referrals to services and what to do if services are not immediately available. Telephone freecall 1800 059 059.

The Aboriginal Disability Network can provide an advocate to help you get services. Contact them on freecall 1800 422 015, or search our Services Directory database for information on advocacy services in your area.

For information about making a complaint if you are not satisfied with services see our Fact Sheet on Complaints to Services.