Community Links
Victorian Government
Better Health Channel
The Better Health Channel provides health and medical information to help individuals and their communities improve their health and wellbeing. The information provided quality assured and reliable, up to date and easy to understand.
Information on the Better Health Channel is provided to help people stay healthy or understand and manage their health and medical conditions. It does not replace care provided by medical practitioners and other qualified health professionals.
Victorian State Concessions
State Concessions are designed to improve the affordability of key services to pension card holders and low income households. Areas covered by State Concessions include energy, water and sewerage, municipal rates and transport.
See: Victorian State Concessions
Consumer Affairs Victoria
Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) is Victoria's consumer affairs regulator and aims to help Victorians be responsible and informed traders and consumers.
CAV:
- review and advise the state government on consumer legislation and industry codes, advise and educate consumers, tenants, traders and landlords on their rights, responsibilities and changes to the law
- register and license businesses and occupations
- conciliate disputes between consumers and traders, and tenants and landlords
- enforce and ensure compliance with consumer laws.
See: Consumer Affairs Victoria
Carer Card Program
A collaboration between the government, businesses and the community, the Carer Card Program gives recognition, understanding and support to Victorian carers.
The program has a wide range of discounts and benefits on offer from businesses, the local government and community organisations.
Cardholders are also entitled to free travel on public transport on a Sunday plus two return off-peak travel vouchers each year.
See: Carer Card
Department of Planning and Community Development
The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) administers a number of grant programs. The grants provided support planning, strengthening communities and building community infrastructure. The DPCD website contains detailed information and application forms.
See: Department of Planning and Community Development - Grants
VicRoads
VicRoads supports Victoria's liveability and economic prosperity by planning, developing and managing the arterial road network and delivering registration and licensing services. Information of interest to older drivers and their families, including the Older Driver's Handbook and how to get round without a car are available on the VicRoads website.
See: VicRoads - Older Driver Safety
Travellers Aid
Travellers Aid Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that supports travellers by providing simple, practical travel-related support and aid that helps people travel independently and confidently.
Until December 2011, Travellers Aid is trialling the Melbourne Medical Companion Project. Trained volunteers meet medical travellers and accompany them by public transport to and from their appointment in central Melbourne. Find out more online or by calling Travellers Aid.
Phone: 9654 2600
See: Travellers Aid
Metlink
Metlink is the face of public transport in Melbourne. A partnership of Melbourne's train, tram and bus operators, Metlink provides customers with a 'one-stop-shop' for information about services, fares and ticketing.
Using public transport in Melbourne is made easy thanks to the Metlink website and journey planner, customer call centre, timetables and user-friendly pocket guides.
The Metlink journey planner enables you to plan journeys throughout Melbourne and Victoria on public transport.
See: Metlink
Aged Care in Victoria
The Aged Care in Victoria site is designed to assist members of the public and health professionals navigate the aged care sector from a Victorian perspective.
Victoria Online
Victoria Online is the fastest way for you to find local, state and federal Government information and services.
See: Victoria Online
Back to TopLocal Government
Local government in Victoria comprises 79 municipal councils representing almost 5 million people. Local government provides for the peace, order and good government of its municipal area, delivers services and facilities for the community and manages the resources of the district.
Local government is responsible for implementing many diverse programs, policies and regulations set by State and Commonwealth Governments. Councils also have to respond to local community needs and have powers to set their own regulations and by-laws and provide a range of discretionary services. Local governments provide a range of community services that may be of use to you including the Home and Community Care services, pet registration, waste removal, and rate payments.
The Municipal Association of Victoria's website for links to every local government in Victoria.
See Municipal Association of Victoria
See also Find Your Local Council.
Our Community
Our Community is a social enterprise that provides advice and tools for not-for-profit community groups and state, private and independent schools, as well as practical linkages between the community sector and the general public, business and government. This includes information about grants and fundraising, insurance and volunteer management.
See: Our Community
Back to TopCommonwealth Government
Seniors.gov.au
Seniors.gov.au is a national portal to information for people aged over 50 years. It includes information on a range of topics, including health, finances, care and rights.
See: Seniors.gov.au
Australia.gov.au
Australia.gov.au is a portal to government information and services throughout the country and draws content from around 900 Australian Government websites as well as selected state and territory resources.
See: Australia.gov.au
Department of Health and Ageing
The role of the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) is to achieve the Australian Government's priorities for health and ageing by developing evidence-based policies, managing programs and undertaking research and regulation activities.
The DoHA website includes the "Australian Government Directory of Services for Older People" which has been produced as a comprehensive guide to the range of services provided for older people by the Australian Government.
See: Australian Government Directory of Services for Older People
The DoHA website also contains a range of other relevant information on their Ageing page.
See: Department of Health and Ageing
Centrelink
Centrelink delivers a range of payments and services for retirees, the unemployed, families, carers, parents, people with disabilities, Indigenous Australians, and people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and provides services at times of major change.
See: Centrelink
Medicare
Medicare delivers a range of health related programs including the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register and the Australian Organ Donor Register.
See: Medicare
Public Toilet Map
The Commonwealth Government publishes a map of public toilet locations around Australia. You can search for information about public toilets based on location.
See: National Public Toilet Map
Back to TopSeniors Organisations
Council on the Ageing Victoria
The Council on the Ageing (COTA) is a seniors membership organisation that undertakes policy development, provides information on issues of importance to seniors, and represents the views of older Victorians to government, community and business organisations, the media and service providers.
COTA members also get access to benefits through the COTA Rewards and Savings program.
Ph: 9654 4443
See: Council on the Ageing
National Seniors Australia
National Seniors Australia is a not-for-profit membership based organisation for over 50s providing members with social and economic support by representing views to all levels of Government and providing them with specialised benefits.
Ph: 1300 76 50 50
See: National Seniors Australia
Association of Independent Retirees
First formed in 1990, the Association of Independent Retirees (A.I.R.) Limited is a non-party political organisation, and is the peak body representing the interests of those who are fully or partly self-funded in retirement.
It's a not-for-profit volunteer organisation whose major purpose is to represent this growing section of the Australian population at all levels of Government.
A.I.R. members enjoy many benefits and are kept up to date with developments affecting senior Australians. There are 72 branches around Australia, which have regular meetings to discuss issues relevant to independent retirees.
Ph: 1800 063 304
See: Association of Independent Retirees
Housing for the Aged Action Group
The Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) is a community organisation that works towards the alleviation of housing related poverty for Older Australians. HAAG assists older private renters, holds regular general meetings, has an annual statewide forum, visits country regions of Victoria, conducts research, runs campaigns, and meets with government representatives on critical housing issues for older people.
Ph: (03) 9654 7389
See: Housing for the Aged Action Group
Community Groups
Probus
Probus is an association for active retirees who join together in clubs, the basic purpose of which is to provide regular opportunities for them to keep their minds active, expand their interests and to enjoy the fellowship of new friends. PROBUS derives from two words, PROfessional and BUSiness.
Ph: 9787 1665
See: Probus South Pacific
Senior Citizens Clubs
Senior citizens centres or clubs provide social and recreational opportunities for older people.
Information on the clubs in your area can be found from your local council.
Universities of the Third Age
Universities of the Third Age (U3As) are learning cooperatives of older people which encourage healthy ageing by enabling members to share educational, creative and leisure activities.
The U3A Network Victoria represents 97 U3As in Victoria with over 24,600 individual members.
Ph: 9670 3659
See U3A Network
Life Activities Clubs
Life Activities Clubs are not-for-profit community organisations which provide education, motivational support and social activities to help mature men and women plan and manage change in their lives such as retirement, and to develop and maintain an active and enjoyable lifestyle.
A growing network of Life Activities Clubs has been established in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. There are over twenty clubs with total membership approximately 4,000. The clubs provide support for the members as they pursue an active and enjoyable lifestyle.
Ph: 9662 2930
See: Life Activities Clubs
Neighbourhood houses
Neighbourhood Houses (also known as Community Houses, Living and Learning Centres, Neighbourhood Centres, and Learning Centres) are local organisations that provide social, educational and recreational activities for their communities in a welcoming supportive environment. Many Neighbourhood Houses offer activities for older people. Visit the website to locate the Neighbourhood House in your area.
See: Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres
Golden Days Radio
Golden Days Radio provides nostalgic music and information that has broad appeal for people of any age, particularly the senior members of the community. You can find Golden Days at 95.7 on the FM band.
See: Golden Days Radio
Back to TopSeniors Information Victoria
Seniors Information Victoria (SIV) offers free information as an independent service, funded by the Victorian Government, on a wide range of issues of interest to older Victorians including:
- Housing options from independent living to residential care
- Home-based and community services
- General information on financial and legal issues
- Health and wellbeing
- Retirement
- New learning opportunities, and much more.
Contact SIV:
- Phone: 1300 135 090
Interpreters are available via the Telephone Interpreting Service on 13 14 50 - Call in and visit the Melbourne CBD shopfront at 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Vic 3000. It is open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm.
- Email: askcota@cotavic.org.au
SIV also presents Need to Know? Information Sessions. Presentations on topics of interest to older people every month.
If you would like to be kept informed about Need to Know? sessions, please contact SIV to be added to the mailing list.
Back to TopEmergency Services
In an emergency, dial triple zero (000)
- If you are deaf or have a speech or hearing impairment call 106
- This is a Text Emergency Call, not SMS
- You can call from teletypewriters.
Police
Find your local police station; see Your Local Police.
State Emergency Services
For windstorm, tree fall, hailstorm, flood or similar assistance.
Phone 132 500
Victorian Bushfire Information Line
Phone 1800 240 667
Crime Stoppers
Phone 1800 333 000
Lifeline
Lifeline provides access to crisis support, suicide prevention and mental health support services.
Phone 13 11 14
Nurse-on-Call
NURSE-ON-CALL is a phone service that provides immediate, expert health advice from a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Phone 1300 60 60 24
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