Health and Community Services Information For People With Chronic Conditions
Updated June 2024
To live well with chronic conditions it helps to have access to a wide range of health services and reliable information, such as allied health, counselling, support groups and online resources.
Your local community is one place to find helpful, low-cost services. Other places to look for health information and services are government and non-government websites, peak body organisations and patient organisations related to your condition.
To make the search easier, we have combined some of our favourite and most reliable websites for you to use, all in one place. We hope you find this resource helpful.
Local Health Centres and Services
Community Health Centres are providers of a vast range of primary care and allied health services. They are not-for-profit organisations funded through a mix of council, state and federal government health programs. The services available will vary depending on the centre and practitioners may include GPs, counsellors, podiatrists, dieticians, physiotherapists and dentists.
Many councils, community health centres and neighbourhood houses can also provide you with information about other service suppliers such as volunteer drivers, home help, meals-on-wheels and occupational therapy programs.
See the health services directories list below to help find a health service in your area.
Government Health Information Sites
National
➤ National Health Service Directory (NHSD)
State and territory
Australian Capital Territory
➤ ACT Health – Find a Health Service
New South Wales
➤ Service NSW – Health and Care
Northern Territory
➤ Northern Territory Primary Health Network
Queensland
➤ Queensland Government – Health and Wellbeing
South Australia
Tasmania
➤ Tasmanian Government Department of Health – Find a Health Service
Victoria
➤ Health Vic – Hospital and Health Services Directory
Western Australia
➤ WA Health – Young Pain Health
Non-Government Health Information Sites
➤ Jean Hailes for Women’s Health
➤ Beyond Blue (Mental health support)
➤ Lifeline (Mental health crisis support)
➤ Black Dog Institute (Mental health support)
Arthritis Peak Health Bodies and Patient Organisations
National
➤ Musculoskeletal Health Australia (formerly Musculoskeletal Australia)
➤ Juvenile Arthritis Foundation of Australia
State and territory
Australian Capital Territory
➤ Arthritis Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Northern Territory
➤ Arthritis and Osteoporosis Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
➤ The Hospital Research Foundation Group – Arthritis (includes Arthritis SA)
Tasmania
➤ Arthritis and Osteoporosis Tasmania
Victoria
➤ Musculoskeletal Health Australia (formerly Musculoskeletal Australia)
Western Australia
➤ Arthritis and Osteoporosis Western Australia
Related Peak Health Bodies and Patient Organisations
➤ Crohn’s and Colitis Australia
➤ Emerge Australia (for people with ME/CFS)
➤ Bridges and Pathways (for people with ME/CFS)
➤ Australian Patients Association
Disability Service Organisations
➤ Australian Government – Disability Gateway
➤ Australian Government – Job Access
➤ Australian Human Rights Commission – IncludeAbility
➤ Disability Services Australia
➤ People with Disabilities Australia
➤ Disability Advocacy Network Australia
Other Resources
➤ Multi-Purpose Taxi Program and Taxi Card
➤ Australian Disability Parking Scheme
➤ AidaCare Healthcare Equipment
➤ Pain Australia – National Pain Services Directory
Consumer Representation and Advocacy
National
➤ Consumers Health Forum of Australia
➤ National Rural Health Alliance: Friends of the Alliance
State and territory
Australian Capital Territory
➤ Health Care Consumers’ Association
New South Wales
Queensland
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
➤ Health Consumers’ Council of WA
NB: Not all health and community organisations are listed in the above directories. See your local directories or contact your council for more information about services available in your area.
Keep Reading
➤ Government Support for People With Chronic Illness
➤ Choosing Your Healthcare Team
