Tailored support packages

Tailored support packages v3

Tailored support for your caring role

What is it?

Tailored support packages are designed to support and assist you with the specific needs of your caring role.

You may be able to get free:

  • Services or equipment to support your education, such as tutoring, educational supplies, or training courses
  • Planned respite, allowing a service provider to care for your loved one while you take a break
  • Cooking and cleaning services
  • Assistance with shopping
  • Transport for tasks like attending medical appointments or grocery shopping

Tailored support is designed to help you, as a carer, balance your responsibilities while prioritising your own wellbeing, ensuring you can continue to provide care and support to your loved ones.

For example, our tailored support packages could provide a cleaner to help around the house, giving you one less task to worry about. If shopping and cooking feel overwhelming, we can arrange support to lighten that load. Or, if you're studying, we might assist by providing equipment like a laptop to help with your learning.

Every caring situation is unique, and what works for one person may not suit another.

To start planning the support that’s right for you, call Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm local time or visit www.CarerGateway.gov.au.

Who can use this service?

All carers can access Carer Gateway services.

If you are looking after someone with disability, a medical condition, mental illness or who is frail due to age, you may be a carer.

Any carer can use these services at any time in their caring journey.

More information

Anyone may become a carer even temporarily. Carers can be any age and could be caring for anyone, a parent, friend, child, sibling or neighbour. It may be because they have disability, a medical condition, mental illness or are frail due to age.

Merri Health Carer Services supports carers throughout Melbourne's Northern and Western suburbs, including the councils of Hume, Whittlesea, Nillumbik, Merri-Bek, Darebin, Banyule, Yarra, Melton, Brimbank, Moonee Valley, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Wyndham, and Hobsons Bay.

We provide support services that are tailored to your individual caring needs. These may include:

Coaching: Reflect on how your caring role impacts your life and learn new ways to manage stress and improve your wellbeing.

  • Self-guided coaching – undertake online interactive courses.

Counselling: If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, sad or frustrated, a professional counsellor can talk with you about your worries and offer help. Reflect on how your caring role impacts your life and learn new ways to manage stress and improve your wellbeing.

  • Self-guided coaching
  • In-person
  • Phone counselling

Respite Care:

  • Emergency respite
  • Planned respite

Peer Support: Meet with people in similar caring situations and share your stories, knowledge and experience.

  • In-person
  • Online forum
  • Online skill courses

Tailored support packages: Get tailored support to assist you in your caring role.

  • One-off practical support in the form of equipment or an item to assist you in your caring role.
  • A range of ongoing practical supports, such as planned respite or transport, provided over a twelve-month period.

Support for young carers: Young carers can face unique challenges. Carer Gateway supports young carers to manage their caring responsibilities and assist with daily tasks, helping them to stay in school and connected with other young carers and the community.

Activities, events, workshops and carer engagement: Connect with other carers, socialise and share your experience and learn practical information to support you in your caring role.

You can learn more by visiting Carer Gateway tailored support packages or by calling Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm local time. You can also click the link to register your caring role and request a callback. 


Carer Gateway is an Australian Government initiative.