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care finder

care finder program

Connecting older Australians in country South Australia to aged care services and other community supports

The care finder service (the service) provides a network of staff across country South Australia, to assist people 65 years or older, or 50 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.


Is the service available to all older people?

This service is supported by funding from Country SA PHN through the Australian Government's PHN Program.

To be eligible for the service, people should require individual and intensive help to understand, access and connect with aged care services and other community supports.

This may be due to:

  • having no-one else to assist,
  • communication difficulties,
  • finding that processing the aged care information is too difficult, or
  • difficulty engaging with help, due to past experiences with aged care, institutions or government.

This service is available for both:

  • those who have never accessed aged care
  • people already in the system who may have lost their way

A care finder will contact, meet, listen and begin to provide expert support, guidance and practical help to those they assist. This assistance can range from:

  • helping to register with My Aged Care,
  • completing relevant forms,
  • guidance through the assessment process,
  • support to find aged care or community services, including housing and homelessness.

The care finder will keep in contact and support until services are in place.

The care finder service is free.

Why is this service needed?

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety's final report in 2021 made 148 recommendations on a wide range of areas in aged care. It heard the aged care system is complex, with some people finding it more difficult than others to navigate and access the services they need.

While My Aged Care is the starting point to find out about and access aged care services for most people, there have long been calls for more localised and face-to-face support, especially for people who require intensive help. The care finder service helps address this need.

In January 2023, the care finder program commenced when Country SA PHN and the other 30 PHNs across Australia established a network of care finders within each of their regions.

How do I access or refer to care finder services in Country SA?

In line with the care finder Policy Guidance provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Country SA PHN has commissioned care finder services in our region.

The organisations below can be contacted directly. No formal referral to the services is required but each organisation will ask for some information to make sure the service is applicable.

If you are contacting the service on behalf of someone else, please ensure they have provided permission for you to do this for them.


care finderarea service providedphone numberonline referral form/ Further information
Country & Outback HealthAll of country SA(08) 8644 4900cobh.com.au/care-finder/
AgedCare AlternativesSouth East, Riverland and Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island(08) 8408 4600agedcarealternatives.net.au/care-finders/
Centacare Catholic Country SACeduna(08) 8628 7600www.cccsa.org.au/services/care-finder/

Helpful resources

Download and print care finder brochures
Infographic of care finder activity in country SA 2023-2024
Housing and Homelessness sector education module

This education module was created and funded by Country SA PHN for care finders and other interested professionals to understand the navigation of this sector in country South Australia. The module is free to register and complete.

What if I'm not eligible for the care finder service?

Other aged care navigation support services include:

Elder Care Support program

The Elder Care Support program is designed to deliver Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care support, connection and coordination.

Through this progra, NACCHO is working with the Aboriginal community-controlled sector to ensure older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families are supported to understand, navigate and access aged care services they are entitled to.

Country SA PHN and their care finders are well connected with the Elder Care support program at a state and local level.

Learn more.

My Aged Care contact centre

To learn about, register, and connect with the aged care systems, get in touch with My Aged Care's contact centre. 

You can also find care finder services for metropolitan Adelaide and interstate locations through this service.

More information.

Services Australia Aged Care Specialist Officers

Visit or contact your local Services Australia office for assistance with general aged care related matters.

More information.

Contact Us

Helen Morley

care finder Lead

Phone: (08) 8303 7710

 

Contact Us

Published on: November 12, 2020

Last updated on: April 4, 2025