Indigenous Australians
A range of payments and services are available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians.
Who does this information apply to?
People who identify themselves as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian.
Financial Support
There may be payments and services available to support you whatever your situation; whether you are a parent, looking for work, studying or training, or caring for someone.
Centrelink also has a national phone service for Indigenous people across Australia. Phone - 13 6380. You can talk to a Centrelink Indigenous specialist officer or have a person who works with a Remote Servicing Team come to talk to you about income support programs.
If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student, ABSTUDY may help you with staying in school or going on to further studies.
You might also be able to get other payments and services provided by Centrelink.
Separated parents
If you are a parent who is separated or divorced, you can talk to Child support about getting assistance.
More information
- Centrelink website – Indigenous Australians
- Child Support website – Your child support options
Health Services
If you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australian, you can get medical benefits and services such as Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register. Being enrolled in Medicare means that visiting a doctor will cost you less, or may even be free. You can also get prescription medicines cheaper.
If you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australian who has, or is at risk of having a chronic disease, you may be able to receive your medicines for a lower price, or free.
If you need to see a doctor often, have regular tests or take a lot of medication, you could end up with large medical bills. The Medicare Safety Net and PBS Safety Net can help you with this. Once you reach a safety net threshold, visiting your doctor or buying PBS medicines will be less expensive or free.
Children who are under 7 years of age and enrolled in Medicare are automatically included on the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register.
Medicare has a free call telephone service to help Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians access its services. This is supported by a network of Medicare Liaison Officers who are culturally aware of the special conditions that may affect Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians.
More information
- Medicare website - Indigenous Services
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Line - 1800 556 955