Aged Care, Older People and Palliative Care - March 2026

We would like to extend an invitation to our next Country SA PHN Residential Aged Care Network Meeting.

This network meeting will provide a valuable opportunity for those working within Country South Australian residential aged care to connect, share insights, explore collaborative opportunities and stay informed with latest news and developments.

Date: Thursday 5 March 2026
Time: 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Location: Online videoconference

Please register your attendance

In January and February, community members in Burra, Renmark and Lobethal came together to take part in TLC Connector training — Talk, Listen, Connect.

Delivered by Palliative Care South Australia, the sessions bring their expertise in compassionate communities and end-of-life education into regional towns.

TLC Connector is a citizen activation training program designed to strengthen communities by building practical skills in communication, connection and compassionate support. The workshops focus on helping people feel more confident to:

• Start meaningful conversations
• Support someone experiencing grief or loss
• Recognise and respond to loneliness
• Encourage stronger connections within workplaces, neighbourhoods and community groups

At its heart, TLC is about equipping everyday people with the skills to notice, respond and gently support others — particularly during times of vulnerability, illness or bereavement.

Increasing Death Literacy

An important aim of the TLC community education is to increase death literacy — improving understanding and confidence around conversations about dying, grief and end-of-life planning. By normalising these conversations, communities are better prepared to support one another practically and emotionally.

These regional sessions brought together a diverse mix of participants, reinforcing the shared commitment across country South Australia to create communities where no one feels alone during difficult times.

Coming Up

Further TLC Connector sessions are scheduled for:

• Quorn: Thursday 5 March 2026, 10.30am - 12.00pm
• Robe: Friday 17 April 2026, 1.00pm - 2.30pm

Details on more sessions are to be confirmed. We look forward to continuing to build compassionate, connected communities across regional South Australia — one conversation at a time.

The Adult Safeguarding Unit (the Unit) joined the February South Australian care finder networking meeting, facilitated jointly with Adelaide PHN, to share information about their work and referral pathways.

The Unit responds to concerns about adults who may be vulnerable and experiencing abuse or mistreatment, providing confidential information and advice. Mutual awareness, between care finder organisations and the Unit allows for greater collaboration, where required. The key messaging was that ssafeguarding is everyone’s business, from community to organisations and professionals.

Thanks go to Belinda Lake, Chief Adult Safeguarding Practitioner and her colleague Prisca Gitonga, Senior Project Officer, Adult Safeguarding Unit - Office for Ageing Well, for a thorough and very informative education session.  

For more information and how to contact the Adult Safeguarding Unit visit the The Department of Human Services website.

The care finder program is supported by Country SA PHN through funding from the Australian Government’s PHN Program.

Country SA PHN supports the care finder program throughout country South Australia through funding from the Australian Government’s PHN Program. Two care finders, Michelle Holman from Resthaven and Kira Thomson from Focus One Health were invited to attend the Elder Care Support State Yarning Circle on Boandik Country/Mount Gambier.

Here is Michelle’s account of her experience.

Michelle presented, ‘A day in a life of a care finder’ and spoke about the vital connections formed between local Elder Care Support coordinator and connector from Pangula Mannamurna. She said, “we often collaborate to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people navigate and access aged care services- we always learn from each other.”

The three days provided so much learning and built positive connections, while demonstrating how both programs can work alongside each other for the benefit of Elders. Michelle invites other care finders to explore and build partnerships with their local and state Elder Care Support teams.

"I came away from the State Yarning Circle with positive self-reflection and growth, professionally and personally and I am looking forward to continuing building connections as a care finder in the Limestone Coast" said Michelle. 

Visit the Country SA PHN care finder web page for more information on how to contact a care finder service near you or AHCSA website for more information about the Elder Care Support Program.

The care finder program is supported by Country SA PHN through funding from the Australian Government’s PHN Program.