Aged Care, Older People and Palliative Care - April 2026
Country SA PHN Newsletter April 2026
This month we hear from FocusOne care finders in the Riverland and Limestone Coast and learn more about the SAPMEA led ECHO program in Palliative Care.
Care finders building networks and supporting individuals
Country SA PHN commissions FocusOne Health to provide the care finder program in the Riverland and Limestone Coast regions. The FocusOne Health Riverland and Limestone Coast care finder team has written the following account of their experiences providing the care finder program.
The FocusOne Health Riverland and Limestone Coast care finder team, collaborate with a diverse multidisciplinary network to provide comprehensive, integrated and tailored support for vulnerable older people, accessing My Aged Care and community supports. These networks aim to deliver a holistic client centred approach, very much in line with the New Aged Care Act (2024) which came into effect in November last year.
Care finders hold discussions with many key stakeholders and community members, discovering key challenges older people are experiencing in rural regions that prevent them from accessing help.
Factors identified were:
financial hardship,
communication and language barries,
difficulty processing information,
reluctance to engage with government and/or support services due to attached stigma,
trauma backgrounds and
system barriers.
The outreach meetings help the care finders understand the challenges facing clients and service providers. Care finders are then able to empower and support clients to work towards their goals, ensuring older people have an informed choice.
Care finders at FocusOne Health, have attended many events to showcase and promote the care finder program including:
The care finder program is supported by funding from Country SA PHN through the Australian Government's PHN Program.
Pictured (L-R) at the Ageing, Wellness and Diversity Expo 2026: Amelia Dix – Team Leader Community Development – The Rual City of Murray Bridge Council, Madison Manning – Senior Project Officer – Country SA Regional Team – Dept of Health, Disability and Ageing Local Network, Belinda Maher - Riverland care finder - FocusOne Health
Free ECHO Program launched – Managing Complexity in Palliative Care ECHO
Enhance your ability to manage complexity and support patients earlier in their care journey.
Join this free interactive program designed for health professionals wanting to strengthen their palliative care skills in primary care. Delivered by SAPMEA, the ECHO program connects you with an expert panel through case-based learning and practical discussion.
What you’ll gain:
Practical symptom management strategies
Confidence in identifying palliative care needs earlier
Skills for navigating complex conversations
Approaches to better support patients and families
Open to all health professionals.
Expert panel includes Dr Gerry Considine, Dr Chloe Furst, A/Prof David Holden, Dr Peter Allcroft, Linda Mervart and Jason Gabriel, with guest panellists.
Monthly sessions are scheduled on Tuesdays from 6.30pm – 7.30pm via Zoom. Register or learn more via the SAPMEA website.
Funded by Country SA PHN and Adelaide PHN through Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care – an Australian Government Initiative.
