What government services are available for older Australians?

If you’ve retired or are planning to do so soon, it’s worth taking some time to check out the wide range of services, concessions and discounts available for older Australians.

Travel concessions, discounts on your household bills, aged care information and free advocacy services on issues facing older Australians are just some of the things on offer.

Many of these services are available nationally, while others depend on the state or territory where you live.

National services

The Australian Government’s online portal for older Australians has links to a wide range of payments and services.

You can find direct links to national services below, including:

• My Aged Care, which helps you find aged care services and arrange assessments for home care through the Support at Home Program
• Information about free vaccines available to older Australians via the Department of Health
• Services Australia’s Financial Information Service, which can help you make decisions about managing your finances in retirement.

While the following services are not government-run, they are independent and, in some states and territories, provide services on behalf of the government.

• The not-for-profit COTA provides information and advocacy services for older Australians in areas such as aged care, retirement income and elder abuse. Go to the homepage for links to COTA branches in all states and territories.
• National Seniors Australia is another independent information and advocacy group for older Australians, offering member discounts on a wide range of products and services. It has branches in all states and territories.

New South Wales (NSW) services

Service NSW provides a range of services and discounts, including: