Carer supports through Carer Gateway: what you can access & how

Caring for someone with young onset Parkinson’s (YOP) often means managing a caring role alongside work, children, finances and everything else that comes with mid-life. Many YOPD care partners are in their 30s, 40s or 50s, a stage of life that was not supposed to include this.

Free support for unpaid carers is available through Carer Gateway Australia (1800 422 737), the Australian Government’s national program for unpaid carers. You should sign up and access it now to get support in place before things become harder.

What is Carer Gateway?

Carer Gateway is a free national program for unpaid carers, funded by the Australian Government. Services are delivered by local organisations but accessed through 1800 422 737 and the website.

You can use Carer Gateway regardless of whether the person you support receives NDIS/other funding, and regardless of whether you receive Centrelink carer payments. Accessing Carer Gateway does not affect any other supports.

Who can use Carer Gateway?

Carer Gateway is for anyone who supports a family member or friend with Parkinson’s… partners, parents, adult children and friends are all eligible. There is no age limit for carers, the person you support can be any age, and you do not need to be providing full-time or hands-on care.

What supports are available?

Tailored support packages

Tailored support packages provide practical, short-term help matched to your situation. They are not a cash payment. Carer Gateway arranges and funds specific services or items that ease the pressure of your caring role. These may include:

  • Planned and emergency respite so you can take a break
  • Help with cleaning, cooking or shopping
  • Transport for medical appointments
  • Education or training support, including equipment for study or work

What you receive depends on your situation and local availability. Packages can be reviewed if your needs change.

Counselling

Free counselling is available with a qualified counsellor, in person, by phone or online. It can help with stress, relationship and role changes and the emotional weight of caring for someone with a fluctuating condition like Parkinson’s.

Carer coaching

Carer coaching is one-to-one, practical and goal-focused. A coach can help you work through problems, set goals and find ways to balance caring with work, study or family life.

Peer support

Peer support groups connect you with other carers who understand what you are going through. Groups run face-to-face and online, and some focus on specific caring situations. There is at least one for Parkinson’s Carers in AUS & NZ on Facebook.

Emergency respite

If something unexpected prevents you from caring, such as a sudden illness or injury, emergency respite can provide short-term cover. This is for urgent situations, not ongoing care.

Financial counselling & employment support

Carer Gateway can connect you with financial counselling and employment support. For care partners who are mid-career, staying financially stable and remaining in work are often pressing concerns. Carer Gateway can help you think through your options.

How to get started

  1. Call 1800 422 737, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. You can also request a callback or register online at carergateway.gov.au.
  2. Register as a carer. You’ll be connected with your local service provider and asked about your caring role.
  3. Have a support planning conversation. This helps identify what will make the biggest difference for you.
  4. Access your agreed supports. Carer Gateway arranges these directly.
  5. Get in touch again if things change. Your supports can be reviewed at any time.

No referral from a health professional is needed.

Carer Gateway, NDIS & My Aged Care (Support at Home)

Carer Gateway supports you as a carer. The NDIS and My Aged Care fund supports for the person living with Parkinson’s. These systems can be used alongside each other, and Carer Gateway staff can help you understand how they fit together.

If the person you care for is under 65, they are not eligible for My Aged Care. The NDIS is the relevant funded support pathway for people under 65, including those living with YOP. This is a common point of confusion for YOP families, speak with your GP or a Carer Gateway adviser if you are unsure where to start.

Centrelink carer payments | are you eligible?

Many YOP care partners do not realise they may be eligible for Carer Payment or Carer Allowance through Centrelink, particularly as care needs grow. These are separate from Carer Gateway.

Carer Payment supports people whose caring responsibilities limit their capacity for paid work. Carer Allowance is a supplementary payment that is available to many carers regardless of employment status. Contact Services Australia on 132 717 or ask a Carer Gateway adviser to point you in the right direction.

Your rights as a carer

The Carer Recognition Act 2010 formally recognises carers as making a vital contribution to Australian society and affirms that carers should have the same rights, choices and opportunities as other Australians in work, education and family life. While it does not create individual enforceable rights, it shapes how government agencies and service providers are expected to treat carers and it can be useful grounding when advocating for yourself.

You don’t need to be at breaking point to call

Parkinson’s is a progressive condition, so caring needs tend to grow over time. Getting support in place early, before you reach burnout,  is one of the most practical things you can do for yourself and for the person you care for.

A lot of carers hold off because they feel their situation is not “bad enough,” or that others have it harder. Carer Gateway is not just for crisis. If you are an unpaid carer for someone with Parkinson’s, you are eligible, full stop.

Contact Carer Gateway: 1800 422 737  Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm

References

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. (2025). Carer Gateway. https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/carer-gateway

Carer Gateway. (2026). Tailored support packages and planned respite. https://www.carergateway.gov.au/tailored-support-packages

Australian Government. (2010). Carer Recognition Act 2010. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2010A00123

Services Australia. (2026). Carer Payment. https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/carer-payment

Services Australia. (2026). Carer Allowance. https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/carer-allowance

Share

Other articles

  • CARERS | Carer Gateway support packages

    Parkinson’s is a progressive condition, so caring needs tend to grow over time. Getting support in place early, before you reach burnout,  is one of the most practical things you can do for yourself and for the person you care for. A lot of carers hold off because they feel their situation is not "bad enough," or that others have it harder. Carer Gateway is not just for crisis. If you are an unpaid carer for someone with Parkinson’s, you are eligible, full stop. Free support is available for Parkinson's care partners through Carer Gateway. Read more to find out what you can access and how to get started today.

  • NDIS | Impariment Notices, what are they?

    Parkinson’s is complex, and its impact on your daily life is not static. Moving to an NDIS system that focuses on impairments rather than just a diagnosis has the potential to better reflect your actual lived experience. By ensuring your Impairment Notice is accurate, you can protect your funding, explain your needs more clearly, and advocate for the support you need to maintain your independence and wellbeing.

  • 101 | Richie’s PD glossary

    Why Medical Terms Are Mostly in Latin (A Short, Sober Reality Check) & What the Heck Do They Mean? By: Richie Pikunis Medicine didn’t choose Latin to be pretentious. It chose Latin because it’s dead. Dead languages don’t change. That matters when you’re trying to describe the same muscle, nerve, or symptom the same way [...]