Support in Rural and Regional Australia

financial assistance schemes to help with the costs of travelling to medical appointments and treatment 

subsidised accommodation near your treatment centre 

other financial or practical assistance programs or services available in your state or territory. 

Patient Assisted Travel Schemes (PATS). These schemes provide financial assistance to help with the cost of travel and accommodation for people living in rural and remote areas who need to travel some distance for medical care. All states and territories have a PATS with varying rules and amounts of assistance. For more information about PATS support, visit Healthdirect.

Consider contacting Angel Flight. This is a charity which coordinates non-emergency flights for people in medical and financial need. Bookings must be made by a health professional, so talk to your doctor if you think you may benefit from this service. 

Ask your breast care nurse, hospital social worker, GP or Cancer Council what financial and practical assistance may be available in your local area.  

You or a member of you family may be eligible for an income assistance payment from the Australian government. For more information visit Services Australia.

Telstra Priority Assistance is a service for people diagnosed with cancer who live in remote areas of Australia. It offers priority repairs on any faults to the line, whether you’re a Telstra customer or not. Call 13 22 00 for more information.

AHVise supports farming families by providing volunteer tutors to help isolated students with their learning and education.  They can also provide domestic and personal support in the case of illness or if respite is required. You can find out more by visiting the AHVise website.

Try to organise several appointments for one trip. 

Take any forms that need signing by your medical team, so you don’t need to post them. 

Before travelling for appointments and treatment, phone ahead to check whether there are likely to be significant waiting times - in which case you may be able to leave home a little later than you had planned. You can also ask whether there is parking available and what other support might be provided for people who travel long distances. 

If you are having radiotherapy treatment away from home in week-long blocks, try to make your appointments as early as possible on Fridays and as late as possible on Mondays to give yourself more time at home. 

Take a supply of creams to apply when you have finished your radiotherapy treatment for the day. Apply them before getting dressed and travelling home. 

If you are travelling somewhere unfamiliar, take a map with you. 

See if a friend can attend appointments with you or, if there is no-one available, consider asking a breast care nurse to go with you. 

If you’re travelling to another city for your treatment, think about contacting the hospital where you will be treated to see if there is a breast care nurse who can meet with you. If not, a breast care nurse in your local area could provide support when you return home. 

Let your support people know that you may not be up for sightseeing or shopping after appointments and that you may prefer to head straight home. 

If you’re not feeling well or if there is even a remote possibility of receiving news you don’t want to hear, make sure you take a friend who can drive with you. Consider staying overnight if you must drive yourself. 

Take pillows in the car to rest your arm or head. 

Make contact with a support group or person near your treating hospital so you can share your experiences with other people who have been through breast cancer. You can also join our Online Network to speak to others in the same situation who may also live in rural areas.

advising on and organising accommodation if you are travelling for treatment 

arranging for someone to come to your home to provide practical help, e.g. housework 

explaining treatments to you and your family 

helping you to manage side effects of treatments 

helping you to talk to your family about your diagnosis 

liaising with your medical team and coordinating your appointments 

linking you to support services in your local area 

providing emotional support 

providing information on breast prostheses and breast reconstruction 

assisting you in organising telehealth appointments with your specialists, when possible, to avoid travel.