Jones, the Middlesbrough goalkeeper, left just days before the Socceroos' opening match with Germany after learning that his four-year-old son, Luca, was reportedly suffering from leukaemia.
Adelaide United's Galevovic was among five players cut last week for the final squad, but has remained in South Africa training with the Australians in case of an unexpected late injury.
According to AFP, Jones left over the weekend to be with his family in France, leaving behind his concerned teammates, many of whom have young families.
Skipper Lucas Neill said the news had been devastating for the squad.
"It puts football as completely irrelevant, even a World Cup, for everybody," Neill told reporters.
"We consider ourselves a family, and the news we heard ... it was devastating. It hit all the boys for six.
Neill admitted the news had proved a major distraction for his team in their 3-1 loss to the United States in a World Cup warmup game in Roodepoort last Saturday.
The Socceroos plan to give Jones time to decide whether he wants to officially withdraw from the tournament and FIFA on Monday gave official approval for Galekovic to replace Jones should the Middlesbrough goalkeeper pull out as expected.
Coach Pim Verbeek said he is working on the basis that Jones will not return to South Africa.
"We expect him not to come back - that says enough about the seriousness of the matter," Verbeek said.
"We have decided he needs to be with (his family), as long as he needs to be there.
"It is a very serious matter and we wish him strength and luck and everything that is necessary for him to be with his family and support his family."
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