How to Contact Dementia Australia's National Dementia Helpline

Dementia Australia's National Dementia Helpline can be reached by free call on 1800 100 500, by live chat through its website, by email at [email protected], or by submitting a personal referral form. The helpline is described as available 24/7, all year round, and is staffed by expert Advisors who provide information and support. It is open to people living with dementia, their families, friends and carers, and anyone concerned about a person close to them.

Contact options at a glance

When to use each option

Free call: 1800 100 500

Choose the phone line when you want to speak with someone directly. Dementia Australia describes its Advisors as friendly and expert, and the line as answering "when the world feels quiet" — a reference to its around-the-clock availability. The site's example of Danny, who cared for his wife Resina and needed support late at night, illustrates the intended use: after-hours help when other services are closed.

Live chat

The live chat link connects you to a Dementia Australia expert Advisor online for information and support. It suits people who want a real-time conversation without phoning, for example when you are researching options during the day and prefer to type.

Email

Send a message to [email protected] when your question is not urgent. The site states that Advisors will respond as soon as they can, so treat this as a channel for non-immediate needs rather than a crisis line.

Personal referral

Use the personal referral form if you have dementia or mild cognitive impairment, or if you are concerned about someone close to you. Submitting the form passes your details to the Dementia Australia team, who can then follow up. This is the right route when you want the organisation to make contact rather than simply answer a one-off question.

What to expect and how to prepare

• State your situation briefly. Whether you are the person with dementia, a carer, or a concerned relative or friend, saying so up front helps the Advisor route you to the right information.
• Have key details ready for a referral. For the personal referral form, you will need information identifying the person the referral concerns and your relationship to them.
• Match the channel to urgency. For immediate support, call or use live chat. For follow-up requests, email or the referral form is more appropriate.

Common sticking points

• Assuming the helpline is only for diagnosed dementia. The site explicitly invites people who have noticed changes or early signs, and those concerned about someone else, so you do not need a diagnosis to make contact.
• Using email for time-sensitive needs. Because email responses come "as soon as we can," the phone line or live chat is the better choice when you need an answer now.
• Confusing the helpline with general enquiries. The channels above are specifically for information and support; the referral form exists for cases where you want the team to take up your situation directly.

Beyond the helpline, the same site lists peer support, dementia education sessions, carer support and profession-specific training, so an Advisor can also point you to ongoing services if a single conversation isn't enough.