Aged Care and Palliative Care - July 2025

Recently the Riverland care finder team at FocusOne Health hit the road to visit the more remote areas of the Mid Murray, providing information on My Aged Care and to develop referral pathways within the community. The community’s older population is approx. 270 people, and many represent the vulnerable care finder target group.

Care finders held two information sessions at Morgan Activity Centre and Blanchetown Hub and engaged in discussions regarding My Aged Care, upcoming changes to the system, understanding recent letters sent to older people from My Aged Care, providers and their services, and the new aged care assessment system.

Belinda Maher, care finder said “the sessions were well received, and the team have been invited back on a more regular basis to provide individualized support”. Belinda continued, “this is a great outcome, we (care finders) spend much time creating a safe space for people to feel comfortable navigating aged care options available to them and we are here to help those who particularly find engaging with the system difficult by themselves”.

The care finder team welcomes all opportunities to gain more referrals and support for people living in remote communities.

Care finder is free and for people aged 65 years and over, 50-64 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and for those aged 50-64 on low income, are homeless, or at risk of being homeless. Enquiries from health professionals, community organisations or older people themselves are welcomed. No formal referral is required.

Contact the FocusOne Health care finder team via the head office on 08 8582 3823. For more information on care finder services across all country South Australia, visit the care finder webpage.

This service is made possible by funding and support from Country SA PHN.

Country SA PHN is currently seeking to understand how residential aged care homes across country South Australia are managing access to General Practitioners (GPs) for their residents.  

In particular, we are interested in learning of any challenges in securing regular GP visits, and the level of awareness surrounding the General Practice Aged Care Incentive (GPACI) program.

We have developed a short survey and would appreciate anyone working in this space to complete this survey.  Any insights will be invaluable in helping us identify opportunities to support aged care facilities and improve access to primary care services for their residents.

Complete the survey

Country SA PHN currently facilitates a virtual Residential Aged Care Network meeting once a month, bringing together professionals who work in or with residential aged care homes across country South Australia.

These meetings provide a valuable platform for collaboration, connection, and shared learning.

Participants have the opportunity to:

• Connect with peers from other residential aged care homes across country SA
• Stay up to date on the latest news, reforms, and sector developments
• Share experiences, challenges, and successes in delivering aged care services
• Learn from guest speakers and subject matter experts
• Explore opportunities for partnership and innovation in care delivery

Whether you're in management, clinical care, administration, or a supporting role, your voice and perspective are welcome.

We invite you to join our next meeting and become part of a growing network committed to improving outcomes for older people living in residential aged care.

For more information or to register your interest, please contact [email protected].

Facilitated by Country SA PHN and Adelaide PHN, care finders from across South Australia meet bi-monthly along with the Department of Health Disability and Ageing Country SA Regional Team, and the Elder Care Support Program and invited guest speakers.

The June meeting didn't disappoint, with discussions on aged care reforms, successes, challenges and learnings, all making for a very lively session.

Helen Morley, care finder program lead at Country SA PHN said, "the passion, drive and motivation of the care finders is something I admire very much, and they truly inspire me in my role.

“I am very proud we have created such a cohesive and like minded group of professionals, who are so committed to supporting the most vulnerable older people in South Australia" 

Care finder program is supported by funding from Country SA PHN through the Australian Government's PHN Program.

For more information on care finder and to contact them in country SA, visit the care finder webpage.

Attendees at the June 2025 care finder meeting

Care finder Pauline Welsh from Country & Outback Health connected with the local Tumby Bay community recently. She joined the Country SA Regional Team, from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, during 'their let's talk about aged care' information session. 

Pauline said, "the session was a great success with many people enquiring about the care finder service. I was able to also network with the other agencies who were there for the community also, Dementia Australia, Services Australia and Country Health Connect."

Helen Morley, Country SA PHN’s Program Lead – care finder Program, said that "the benefits for a regional community to have key services together in one place to ask questions and receive guidance, is of immeasurable benefit.

“The aged care systems are complex and can be overwhelming to navigate, especially if an older person has no-one else to assist”.

For more information on care finder and to contact them in country SA, visit the care finder webpage.

Care finder program is supported by funding from Country SA PHN through the Australian Government's PHN Program.