Skip to main content
For information on COVID-19, scheduled website maintenance and other important news, see News and updates.
My Aged Care Home My Aged Care
  • Home
  • Types of care
    • Where to start?
    • Learn about types of care
    • Am I eligible?
    • Help at home
    • Short-term care
    • Aged care homes
  • Assessment
    • The assessment process
    • How to apply for assessment
    • Prepare for your assessment
    • After your assessment
    • When to get re-assessed
    • Apply for assessment online
  • Find a provider
    • Search for a provider
    • Compare providers
    • What to consider
    • Understanding costs
    • Setting up services
  • Manage my services
    • How to make changes
    • Arranging someone to support you
    • Access your Online Account
  • Contact us
    • How to contact us
    • Accessible services
    • About My Aged Care
    • Complaints process
  • News
    • News and updates
    • Improving Australia's aged care system
Languages

Support for people living in rural and remote areas

Facebook Twitter Email Copy

There is a growing number of services and providers of aged care in rural and remote areas. Call us on 1800 200 422 for more information about services near you.

Services in small communities

A Multi-Purpose Service (MPS) provides combined health and aged care services for some rural and remote communities. They are generally located in small communities where it would not be viable to operate a separate hospital and aged care home. There are Multi-Purpose Services in all states, the Northern Territory and Norfolk Island.

Multi-Purpose Services deliver a flexible mix of services to best meet the community’s health and aged care needs. All Multi-Purpose Services deliver residential care and some services deliver care in the home. Contact your local MPS to find out more about the services they deliver and the support they can provide. You can use the Find a provider tool to search for services in your area.

Services near country centres

There are aged care homes in many country centres, and there is a growing range of services, including hospitals, community services, and family support.

To see what aged care services are available in your area, use the Find a provider tool or call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.

Other programs and services in rural and remote areas

To make sure people living in rural and remote areas have access to similar services to people living in cities, the Australian Government has programs and services in these areas. Examples include:

  • primary health services in over 900 rural communities
  • extra health services, such as mental health and social workers, podiatrists, physiotherapists and dietitians
  • improved access to specialist medical services
  • support for local doctors
  • support for rural private hospitals and aged care services
  • aged care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • higher Medicare rebates for visits to doctors who haven’t received their vocational registration.

Government funding

There are also supplements and limited capital grants available to aged care homes and services in rural and remote areas. This funding helps providers to offer quality aged care services in these areas.

What can I discuss with potential aged care providers?

If you’re looking to move into an aged care home, the 10 Questions to Ask brochure can be a helpful resource. It provides a list of questions that can help people living in rural and remote areas to find a suitable provider. The questions are written by doctors, nurses, and other experts with experience in aged care.

In this section
Accessible for all
Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Support for Care Leavers
Support for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Support for financially disadvantaged people
Support for people living with disability
Support for people facing homelessness
Support for veterans
Support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people
Helpful tools
Apply online Contact us Find a provider
Back to top

Further information

  • For health professionals
  • For service providers
  • For carers
  • Support and advocacy
  • Non government-funded providers
  • Quality
  • Aged care reforms
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • News and updates
  • Resources

Tools

  • Apply for assessment
  • Income and means assessments
  • Eligibility checker
  • Fee estimator
  • Non-compliance checker
  • Make a referral
  • Find a provider
  • Help explorer
  • My guide to aged care

Contact us

1800 200 422 (Freecall)

Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm

More contact options
Accessible for all
Complaints
About us

Footer site info links

  • Terms of use
  • Privacy
  • Glossary
  • Sitemap
© Commonwealth of Australia.
Site Version: c4cab08d-master