More Information - Catalyst Foundation

COVID-19 Disability Information Helpline

The Australian Government has funded a dedicated helpline – the Disability Gateway – to provide accessible information and services for people with disability, their families and carers to find the support they need in Australia.

The Disability Gateway is free, private and fact-checked. People can contact the Disability Gateway on 1800 643 787 to talk about their concerns in relation to COVID-19. For example, if you are having trouble accessing the COVID-19 vaccine or looking for general assistance and advice.

The Disability Gateway can provide information, and refer people to advocacy, counselling and other supports across multiple areas of life such as Housing, Transport, Education, Health and Employment.

The Disability Gateway is available Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm (AEST). It’s not available on national public holidays.

Advocacy for Disability, Access and Inclusion

Advocacy for Disability, Access and Inclusion (ADAI) is funded by the Australian Government to provide a free Advocacy service for people living with disability across South Australia.

They aim to provide advocacy support for persons living with disability to have a voice in decisions that affect their life, they offer advocacy support for family members who need to speak on behalf of the family member living with disability and they stand with and help individuals living with disability and families caring for a person living with disability to gain access to services or to improve services.

They are located at 1/47 Tynte Street, North Adelaide and they can be reached at (08) 8340 4450 (Country Callers 1800 856 464)

Trauma-informed counselling

Trauma-informed counselling is available to help people with disability who have experienced violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation.

The National Counselling and Referral Service, which was established to support the Disability Royal Commission, will continue to offer emotional support to people with disability, their families and carers.

This service is delivered by Blue Knot Foundation. It is available for people with disability who have experienced violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, and anyone affected by the Disability Royal Commission.

This service is free, independent and confidential. It is available over the telephone and online, and a video conference can be arranged where needed. Referrals to advocacy and long-term counsellors can be arranged as well.

Call the National Counselling and Referral Service on 1800 421 468 or 02 6146 1468 (9am to 6pm weekdays and 9am to 5pm weekends). If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, phone the National Relay Service on 133 677.

Special Disability Trust

Nour Harb at Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers has put up a very informative blog about Special Disability Trust to help families plan for and secure the financial future of their loved ones who suffer with a disability. For more information about this, please click here.

Useful Contact Numbers

• Australian Human Rights Commission 1300 656 419
• Carer Gateway 1800 422 737
• Companion Card 1800 667 110
• Department for Communities and Social Inclusion 1300 786 117
• Disability Advocacy & Complaints Service of SA (08) 7122 6030
• Disability SA (08) 8415 4250 – Emergency after-hours service: (08) 8372 1414
• Housing SA 13 12 99
• Independent Living Centre 1800 445 272
• National Disability Coordination Officer (08) 8207 8652
• National Disability Insurance Agency 1800 800 110
• Office of the Public Advocate (08) 8342 8200
• Public Trustee (08) 8226 9200
• State Government Concessions 1800 307 758
• Technology for Ageing and Disability (SA) Inc. 1300 663 243