On the Telecross Waiting List? Your Mum Needs Daily Calls Now
The Australian Red Cross Telecross program is wonderful — but in most states it has a waiting list measured in weeks or months. Meanwhile, your elderly parent is alone, unchecked, and every day without a welfare call is a day something could go unnoticed.
There is a no-waitlist alternative you can set up in the time it takes to have a cup of tea. Kindly Call is a daily AI wellness check-in service that works on any phone — landline or mobile — across all of Australia, seven days a week.
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Why Does Telecross Have a Waiting List?
Telecross is a volunteer-run program. Trained Red Cross volunteers call registered participants each weekday morning to check they are safe. It is a genuinely valuable service — one of the longest-running elderly welfare programs in Australia.
But because it depends entirely on volunteer capacity, demand consistently outpaces supply. In metropolitan areas especially, waiting lists have grown as Australia’s elderly population has increased faster than the volunteer base. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that more than 1.2 million Australians aged 65 and over live alone (ABS Census 2021) — a number that grows every year.
Waitlists in most states
Weeks to months in metropolitan areas. Rural wait times vary but availability is limited by postcode.
Weekday-only coverage
In many regions, Telecross operates Monday to Friday only. Weekends and public holidays are uncovered.
Postcode restrictions
Not all postcodes are serviced. Your parent may live outside the current volunteer catchment area.
What Families Say While They Wait
The gap between applying for Telecross and receiving calls is a vulnerable period. Families report doing one of two things: personally calling their parent every morning (which becomes exhausting for both sides), or accepting the risk and hoping nothing happens. Neither is a sustainable solution.
Kindly Call was built specifically to fill this gap — and to serve the many families whose parent doesn’t qualify for Telecross at all, or whose needs go beyond what a brief weekday call can provide.
Telecross vs Kindly Call: Side-by-Side
Both services do daily check-in calls — but they differ significantly on availability, coverage, and what happens after the call.
| Feature | Red Cross Telecross | Kindly Call |
|---|---|---|
| Wait time to start | Weeks to months (waitlist) | Minutes (start today) |
| Cost | Free | From $1/week (7-day free trial) |
| Days covered | Weekdays only (in most areas) | 7 days including weekends & public holidays |
| Who calls | Trained volunteer (human) | AI companion (warm, natural voice) |
| Call length | Brief check (~5 min) | Full wellness chat (5–10 min) |
| Health tracking | None | Mood, sleep, appetite, pain, activity |
| Family report after call | No | Yes — daily summary with trends |
| Emergency alert if no answer | Emergency contact called | Family alerted immediately via app |
| Emergency keyword detection | Caller notes concern | AI detects and alerts family instantly |
| Works on any phone | Yes (landline or mobile) | Yes (landline or mobile) |
| Device required | No | No |
| Availability | Limited postcodes, waitlists | National, all postcodes |
| Weekend & holiday cover | Limited | Always |
| Lock-in contract | N/A | No — cancel anytime |
What Families Can Do Right Now
Stay on the Telecross list
Keep your parent’s name on the Telecross waiting list. The service is free and staffed by genuinely caring volunteers. It’s worth waiting for as a supplement.
Start Kindly Call today while you wait
Kindly Call covers the gap immediately — seven days a week, any postcode in Australia. Your parent starts receiving daily wellness calls while you wait for Telecross to come through. Many families choose to keep both once they’re running.
Contact My Aged Care for additional services
My Aged Care (1800 200 422) can assess your parent’s eligibility for funded home support. The new Support at Home program (launched November 2025) may cover social support services in your area.
Consider a personal alarm alongside daily calls
If your parent is at fall risk, a personal alarm handles acute emergencies while Kindly Call handles daily wellness monitoring. They complement each other. See our comparison of alarms vs daily calls.
Start Kindly Call in Under 5 Minutes
You can have your first call scheduled before you finish reading this page. No device to install, no technician visit, no weeks of paperwork. Just your parent’s phone number and a preferred call time. Try it free for 7 days — no credit card needed.
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