September issue of The Link
Welcome to the new issue of The Link.
This issue shares information about the new Department of Human Services website,
concessions to reduce stamp duty, discounts to concession households, help with education
costs and assistance with funeral costs. We also celebrate Carer Card’s first birthday.
A new experience for visitors to the department’s website
The Department of Human Services website has launched a new website at
www.dhs.vic.gov.au
The new website makes it easier for Victorians to access information on services provided by
the department. New user friendly features include a concessions finder enabling low-income
Victorians to find out what benefits and assistance are available to help them pay their council
rates, water, gas and electricity bills. A service directory search also makes it easier for
people to find service providers and practitioners close to where they live.
Victorians seeking information about disaster recovery and relief will also find it much easier
to access the information needed. The new site will not disrupt the department’s business or
working relationships with our partners and the community sector. Many of the functions
visitors are used to will remain the same.
Many of the web addresses of popular sections on the site will be retained; however users
may need to update bookmarked links to documents and pages.
Visit the new Department of Human Services website at www.dhs.vic.gov.au and concessions
at www.dhs.vic.gov.au/concessions
Carer Card turns one
The Victorian Government launched the Carer Card program in July last year. After 12
months the program has reached a significant milestone with more than 20,000 Victorian
carers signed up.
Carers using the card enjoy the discounts, benefits and savings from more than 1400
participating businesses and organisations which including travel, house and home, lifestyle,
retail, food, and automotive services.
The Carer Card is available to all unpaid primary carers in Victoria including Carer Payment
and Carer Allowance recipients, foster, respite and kinship carers.
Department of Human Services
For more information contact the Carer Card Information Line on 1800 901 958 (toll free) or
visit www.carercard.vic.gov.au
Assistance with funeral costs
Bereavement Assistance is a Melbourne-based non-profit charity, funded by the Victorian
Government, providing funeral services for low-income Victorians.
The service provides a dignified funeral service and cremation where the alternative is a
‘pauper burial’ at state expense or a commercial funeral that surviving relatives or friends are
unable to afford. We also provide counsel and advice to bereaved families to assist them to
cope with the death of a relative and obtain the full value of any government benefits that
might be available.
Assistance is available where:
 the deceased was a Commonwealth Government pensioner or beneficiary
 the next of kin, extended family members or close friends can demonstrate insufficient
assets
 to pay for the cost of a funeral
 the next of kin or family has not entered into a contract with a commercial funeral director
 the deceased’s estate is less than $1,500.
Expenses such as the cost of burial and/or cremation, funeral service, mortuary costs, funeral
transport and death certificate costs are funded through the agreement.
Bereavement Assistance’s chapel is located at 92 Atherton Road Oakleigh. For more
information contact Bereavement Assistance on 9564 7778, or visit
www.bereavementassistance.org.au/index.php
Help with education costs from Saver Plus
Eligible households can receive up to $500 in matched savings to help pay for educational
costs including:
 text books
 computers
 excursions
 swimming lessons.
Saver Plus is looking for new participants across Victoria. To be eligible you or your partner
must:
 have a Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card
 be at least 18 years old
 have some regular income from work
 have a child at school, or attend accredited vocational training yourself.
To contact your local Saver Plus Worker call or sms 1300 610 355, email
[email protected] or visit www.bsl.org.au/Saver-Plus
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Good news on stamp duty concessions
The Victorian Government is delivering on the Budget through a range of measures to
improve housing affordability.
Pensioners
From 1 July 2011 eligible pensioners may be entitled to an exemption or concession from
duty on the purchase of a principal place of residence. The State Taxation Acts Amendment
2011 extends the current threshold for the duty concession from $440,000 to $750,000. The
availability of the concession is also extended to holders of the Commonwealth Seniors
Health Card.
Young farmers
For farmers under the age of 35, a new exemption and concession on the purchase of their
first farmland has been introduced. For contracts entered into on or after 1 July 2011 a full
exemption from duty will apply to transactions to the value of $300,000. For the purchase of a
single parcel of farmland valued between $300,000 and $400,000, a duty concession will also
be available.
First home buyers
Owning a first home will now be easier for eligible first home buyers. From 1 July 2011, land
transfer duty on a home purchased up to the value of $600,000 that is a principal place of
residence, will be reduced. The duty reduction of 50 per cent will be phased in over four years
starting with a 20 per cent reduction from 1 July 2011 followed by additional 10 per cent
reductions on 1 January 2013, 1 January 2014 and 1 September 2014.
For information about stamp duty concessions contact the State Revenue Office or visit
www.sro.vic.gov.au
New rebate to switch to gas heating
The Warmer Winter Discount was launched last month. It provides a $700 discount for
concession households to switch from electric heating to an eligible high efficiency gas space
heater. The discount is available for concession cardholders who are either tenants or owner
occupiers, and is a point of sale discount on supply and installation costs, accessed through
participating suppliers.
Other criteria apply and applicants should check the ResourceSmart website for all details. A
list of participating suppliers is also available from the site.
For more information visit www.resourcesmart.vic.gov. au/for_households/rebates
or contact Sustainability Victoria on telephone 1300 366 195.
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