Useful information
If this is an emergency, please call 000 immediately.
At COTA NSW, we know finding the right support can sometimes feel overwhelming. Below you’ll find useful contacts and resources to help with common questions and needs. We’ve grouped them into categories to make it easier to find what you’re looking for.
Key resources (A-Z)
- Advocacy
- Want to know more about advocating for yourself? Visit Seniors Rights Service NSW or call 1800 700 600 for helpful information.
- Aged care
- Need help at home or thinking about aged care homes? My aged care can guide you. If you’d prefer to call the My Aged Care team are happy to support you over the phone on 1800 200 422.
- Concerned about your rights in aged care? Visit Seniors Rights Service NSW or call 1800 424 079.
Some older people need extra, intensive help to access aged care and community services. In these cases, a care finder may be able to help — it’s a free service designed for people with no one else to support them.
- Elder abuse
- Worried about elder abuse? If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Elder Abuse helpline on 1800 353 374.
- If you or someone you know needs help tackling elder abuse, Compass – Guiding action on elder abuse is a good place to start.
- Seniors rights services also offers advice and support: call 02 9281 3600.
Visit the Older Persons Advocacy Network for useful resources on protecting yourself.
- Exercise & healthy ageing
- Active and Healthy has helpful information and exercise programs to support healthy ageing for people living in NSW!
- Visit the NSW Fall prevention & healthy ageing Network for resources and information on exercise and staying active.
- Housing support
- Ask Izzy is a website that connects people in need with housing, a meal, money help, family violence support, counselling and much more.
- Care Finders is a free government funded program which helps connect vulnerable older people to the Australian aged care system and other support services.
- Legal advice & wills
For general legal help, visit Legal Aid (1300 888 529) or Seniors Rights Service (1800 424 079).
Questions about wills or key legal documents?
- Seniors Rights Service NSW explains five important legal documents for protecting your health, finances, and legal matters.
- The NSW Trustee and Guardian website provides comprehensive information and tools related to wills and other legal documents that protect your interests when you are no longer able to. Translated fact sheets are also available.
- Local issues
- To raise a local issue, contact your local member of parliament. You can search for your electorate and local member here.
- Mental health
- If you need someone to talk to, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511.
- Hammond Care offers comprehensive care for older people living with mental health problems or dementia.
- The Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI) is a state wide program that supports people with a mental illness to live independently.
- Community Living Supports (CLS) provides psychosocial supports that help people build independence in daily life and contribute to recovery.
- Retirement village support
- If you are a resident of a retirement village and have questions or need support, please contact the Retirement Village Residents Association. They offer support, advice and information on your rights and obligations as a resident of a retirement village.
Contact COTA NSW Directly
For enquiries regarding membership or business-to-business matters – call COTA NSW on 1800 449 102 between 9.30-11.30am Monday-Friday or email info@cotansw.com.au