An Australian woman who helped her Alzheimer's victim partner commit suicide has been sentenced to jail.

Shirley Justins, who had faced a possible life term, was given 22 months "periodic detention", which means she will serve the sentence a few days at a time over several years.

Justins, 60, was found guilty in June of the manslaughter of Graeme Wylie, who died of a barbiturate overdose aged 71 at their home in 2006. Justins handed Mr Wylie a lethal mixture, which he drank himself.