Carers Australia

Carer Gateway - 1800 422 737
Text size
Contact Us
  • About Us

    About Us

    Who we are, what we do, and information about our organisation.

    Contact Us
    • Our Organisation
      • Our Mission
      • What We Do
      • Our Member Organisations
      • Our CEO
      • Our History
      • Contact Us
      • Feedback and Complaints
      • Donate
    • Our Governance
      • Constitution
      • Board of Directors
      • Annual Reports & Strategies
  • About Carers

    About Carers

    Key information about carers and how they can be supported.

    Who Is a Carer?
    • About Carers
      • Who Is a Carer?
      • Young Carers
      • Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Carers
      • Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Carers
      • Carers In the Workplace
      • Carer Wellbeing Survey
      • Carer Offers
  • Information for Carers

    Information for Carers

    Providing a range of information and supports to carers, such as NDIS, Aged Care and advanced care planning.

    Carer Gateway
    • Carer Discounts and Concessions
    • Digital Health Literacy
    • Disability and NDIS
      • Early Childhood Intervention
      • Mainstream and Community Supports
      • NDIS and Carers
      • Reviewing Your NDIS Plan
      • Other NDIS Supports
    • End of Life Care
      • Advance Care Planning and Advance Care Directives
      • Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care
    • Aged Care
      • My Aged Care
      • Caring For Someone With Dementia
    • Government
      • Carer Gateway
      • Centrelink Payments For Carers
  • Programs & Projects

    Programs & Projects

    Services we provide for carers, including advocacy, advice, and information.

    Young Carers Network
    • Programs
      • Young Carers Network
      • Carer-Inclusive Workplace Initiative
      • Defence and Veteran Carers Network
    • Projects
      • Mindfulness on Demand
      • SANE Forums
      • Women Who Care
    • Medicine Safety
      • Caring for someone living with pain and taking opioids
      • Opioid Medicines Information Pack and Checklist
      • Smoking cessation, nicotine products and e-cigarettes
  • Policy & Advocacy

    Policy & Advocacy

    Advocacy, engagement and research focused on achieving increased recognition and support for carers.

    • Submissions & Positions
      • Submissions
      • Position Statements
      • Carer Recognition Inquiry
      • Federal budget: what it means for carers
      • Federal Election: carers can’t quit
    • Research & Resources
      • Carer Wellbeing Survey
      • Superannuation
      • Caring Costs Us
      • Research & Reports
      • Factsheets
      • Get Involved
      • National Carer Strategy
  • News & Media

    News & Media

    • News & Articles
      • News Articles
      • Our Newsletter
      • Media Releases
      • Subscribe to the eNewsletter
    • Media Centre
      • Media Contact
      • Secret Life of Carers podcast
      • Videos
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • What We Do
    • Our History
    • Our Governance
      • Our Constitution
      • Our Member Organisations
      • Annual Reports & Strategies
      • Board of Directors
    • Our Staff
    • Contact Us
    • Donate
  • About Carers
    • Who Is a Carer?
    • Carers In the Workplace
    • Young Carers
    • Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Carers
    • Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Carers
  • Information for Carers
    • Advance Care Planning and Advance Care Directives
    • Palliative care and end-of-life care
    • NDIS and Carers
    • Reviewing Your NDIS Plan
    • Other NDIS Supports
    • Early Childhood Intervention
    • Mainstream and Community Supports
    • My Aged Care
    • Caring For Someone With Dementia
    • Carer Gateway
    • Centrelink Payments For Carers
  • Programs and Projects
    • Young Carers Network
    • Women Who Care
    • Digital Health Literacy
      • My Health Record – Authorised and Nominated Representatives
      • Advance Care Planning and Advance Care Directives
    • Mindfulness on Demand
    • SANE Forums
    • Caring for someone living with pain and taking opioids
    • Opioid Medicines Information Pack and Checklist
    • Smoking cessation, nicotine products and e-cigarettes
  • Policy & Advocacy
    • Submissions
    • Research & Reports
    • Position Statements
    • Carer Recognition Inquiry
    • Federal Budget: What it means for carers
    • Federal Election: Carers can’t quit
    • Carer Wellbeing Survey
    • Caring Costs Us
    • Factsheets
  • News & Media
    • Media Releases
    • News Articles
    • Our Newsletter
    • Subscribe to the eNewsletter
    • Media Contact
    • Secret Life of Carers podcast
    • Videos

Home  | Programs & Projects  | Digital Health Literacy

Digital Health Literacy

What’s on this page
Digital Health Literacy Information about digital health platforms you can access Help to improve your digital health literacy

Digital Health Literacy

There is a National Digital Health Strategy and its vision is “Better health for all Australians enabled by seamless, safe, secure digital health services and technologies that provide a range of innovative, easy to use tools for both patients and providers.”

This is great news for carers because a lot of health information for yourself and the person you care for can now be accessed digitally (online) easily and securely.

Where to start

A good place to start is to create a ‘digital identity’. A digital identity is a safe and secure way to prove who you are online every time you access government services. Your ‘digital identity’ is created by myGovID. They verify your identity using key information from documents like your passport, Medicare card or driver’s licence. When verifying your identity, your details are checked against existing government records to prove your identity. It is like when you provide information for getting a new licence or other government service.

To set up a ‘digital identity’ visit myGovID.


What can I access online?

There are many platforms through which you can access services and information digitally. Including Telehealth, myGov and Electronic Prescriptions.

 

Information about digital health platforms you can access

What is myGov?

myGov  is a federal government website that can be accessed using a computer or by downloading the official myGov app (Apple App Store or Android Play Store ) on a smartphone.

Some of the services you can link to and use via your myGov account include:

  • Centrelink
  • Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Medicare
  • My Aged Care
  • My Health Record
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme

To find out more, create a myGov account or link services visit:

  • myGov or call the myGov helpdesk on 13 23 07
  • Services Australia myGov help guides
My Health Record

My Health Record is a safe and secure place to keep your key health information and is available to you and your healthcare providers whenever it’s needed, including in an emergency. It includes key health information like immunisations, pathology and diagnostic imaging reports, prescription and dispensing information, hospital discharge summaries and more, all in one place.

The key benefits of creating a My Health Record include:

  • Fast access to key health information in an emergency
  • Secure and convenient access to health information
  • Safer, faster more efficient care for the person you care for
  • Less need for you, as a carer, to remember key aspects of medical history and medications
  • Improved management of health information
  • Informed self-management of health conditions

Most Australians have a My Health Record. Information to set up My Health Record can be found here. To access your My Health Record, you need to have a myGov account.

If you don’t already have a My Health Record, you can register for one at any time. This includes if you have previously opted out or cancelled your record. You can register for a My Health Record through myGov or by completing an application form.

More information about My Health Record and carers can be found here.

 

Electronic prescriptions

Your medicines can be prescribed using an electronic prescription. An electronic prescription is a digital version of your paper prescription which is given to you by the doctor via an SMS or email. As a carer, the person you are caring for can forward the message to you so that you can collect the medicine. They can also nominate to have the electronic prescription sent straight to you from their healthcare provider.

Once the electronic prescription is received, you can show your pharmacist on your device or you can send it to them.  If you have repeats, a new SMS or email will be sent to you. The Australian Digital Health Agency has recorded a helpful podcast episode on Electronic Prescriptions here.

Through electronic prescriptions, a person can also have an Active Script List set up with their pharmacist to help manage multiple medications.

To find out more about electronic prescriptions talk to your doctor or pharmacist, visit the Australian Digital Health Agency.

How can I use Telehealth for my appointments?

Telehealth is when a patient uses a phone or a video call to consult with a health professional. This may include a GP, specialist, nurse practitioner, Aboriginal Health Worker or allied health service. This is not intended to replace essential visits to the doctor or health professional, but rather be a convenient solution for when you or the person you care for can’t see a doctor ‘face to face’.

In many cases, a person can access telehealth with the support of Medicare, however, patients need to have an existing clinical relationship with their GP telehealth provider to meet eligibility requirements.

It is important to keep in mind that Telehealth has changed throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and you should check you are able to continue to access this service with your chosen service provider.

To find out more about telehealth services visit:

  • Australian Government Department of Health
  • Australian Digital Health Agency
  • Department of Veterans’ Affairs for DVA clients

Help to improve your digital health literacy

 

 

We get it! Accessing information and services digitally can be overwhelming if you are not currently as “technology savvy” as you would like. There are initiatives and facilities that can help you improve your digital literacy so you can confidently and safely access health services for you and the person you care for.

  • Be Connected is an Australia wide initiative empowering all Australians to thrive in a digital world. You can also call the helpline on 1300 795 897 (9am-5pm, AEST/AEDT Sydney) to find a community organisation partner in your local area.
  • Public libraries often provide access to Wi-Fi, computers, laptops and tablets. For information on public libraries visit the Australian Public Library Alliance.
  • Good Things Foundation Australia’s Your Health in Your Hands is a health digital inclusion program that supports people aged over 18 years to gain the essential digital skills and confidence to manage their health and wellbeing.
  • Telstra’s Tech Savvy Seniors helps build the skills and confidence to use computers, tablets and smartphones. It includes face-to-face training, how-to guides and training materials in over 14 languages.
  • Stay Safe Online provides information on how to protect yourself, your family and your devices with tips and resources.
  • The Australian Government Office of the Australian Information Commissioner also provides resources for online safety and protecting your privacy.

 

What’s on this page
Digital Health Literacy Information about digital health platforms you can access Help to improve your digital health literacy
Related topics
Defence and Veteran Carers Network Mindfulness on Demand Women Who Care Caring Costs Us Digital Health Literacy Carer-Inclusive Workplace Initiative
Contact Us

[email protected]

Unit 1A, 11 McKay Lane, Turner ACT 2612

Registered Charity
Subscribe to our fortnightly newsletter
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Pride flags

Carers Australia acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities as the traditional custodians of the land we work on and pay our respects to elders past and present. As an inclusive organisation we celebrate people of all backgrounds, genders, cultures, and abilities.

Disclaimer
Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Sitemap
Staff Login
© Copyright 2025 Carers Australia Limited - ABN 12231938308
Site by Coordinate

Your Story is Important to Us

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Close