Most people will request aged care services through My Aged Care. Care finder services are available for vulnerable older people needing extra support. Read on to understand the difference between My Aged Care and care finder services and how people living in South Western Sydney may access support.
Support can be a short-term, intermittent, or ongoing arrangements and can include:
- housekeeping
- home modifications
- transport
- meal delivery
- social support
- respite care
- mental health services
- drug and alcohol service and supports
- community groups
- guidance when it is time to investigate aged care homes
Read on to find where to access support for elderly people living in South Western Sydney.
My Aged Care
When you are not sure where to begin finding help for yourself or someone you care for to stay in their own home longer, or consider moving to an aged home, start the journey with My Aged Care.
My Aged Care offers information on services available, eligibility assessments, finding the right type of care and service referrals. You will gain insight into what services may cost and whether you are eligible for subsidised aged care.
Apply as soon as you believe you need help, it may take many weeks for your My Aged Care assessment to occur.
My Aged Care is a service provided by Australian Government for people to find access to government-funded aged care services.
You can access My Aged Care online, on the phone or in person:
Visit My Aged Care online
Get started with My Aged care in four easy steps.
- Learn about the different types of care
- Apply online for an assessment
- Find a care provider to suit your needs
- Manage your services
Visit My Aged Care in-person
My Aged Care services are available at select Service Australia locations, including Bowral, in South Western Sydney.
An Aged Care Specialist Officer can help:
- supply in-depth information on the different types of aged care services
- check you are eligible for government-funded services
- make a referral for an aged care assessment
- appoint a representative for My Aged Care
- supply financial information about aged care services
- connect you to local support services.
Book a free in-person appointment with an Aged Care Specialist Officer through the Service Australia Aged Care Line: 1800 227 475. This service is available Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, except national public holidays.
Phone the My Aged Care contact centre
Call My Aged Care for free on 1800 200 422*.
- For translating and interpreting services, call 131 450 and ask for 1800 200 422.
- To use the National Relay Service to choose your preferred access point on their website or call the NRS Helpdesk on 1800 555 660.
Services are open Monday to Friday between 8am and 8pm, and on Saturday between 10am and 2pm. Closed on Sundays and national public holidays.
* 1800 numbers are free from landlines and most mobile phones. Check with your mobile phone provider for more information.
Read more on how to contact My Aged Care
Care finders provide extra support for people unable to access My Aged Care
A care finder helps vulnerable older Australians access appropriate aged care services through face-to-face support. Care finders are available for anyone who needs extra support to access My Aged Care.
Support from a care finder is available in English and these languages:
- Arabic
- Assyrian
- Hindi
- Vietnamese
An eligible person experiencing one or more of the following can get support from a care finder:
- isolation or no support from a person (e.g. care giver, family, or representative) they are comfortable to have act on their behalf, and/or who is willing and able to support them to access aged care services via My Aged Care
- communication barriers, including limited literacy skills
- difficulty processing information to make decisions
- resistance to engage with aged care for any reason and their safety is at immediate risk or they may end up in a crisis situation within (approximately) the next year
- past experiences result in a hesitance to engage with aged care, institutions, or government.
- homeless or at risk of homelessness and has no family or close friends who live nearby to help them find and choose services
The role of a care finder
Care finders have a thorough understanding of aged care services and how to access them for different regions and cultural needs within South Western Sydney.
A care finder’s tasks typically include:
- Help eligible older people with their My Aged Care applications, offer guidance on services to apply for and attend the My Aged Care assessment where appropriate
- Work through income/means testing and costs (with support from Services Australia as needed)
- Help clients connect with services for physical and mental health, housing, drug and alcohol support, community groups and transport as needed
- Complete high-level client check-ins on a periodic basis and follow up support once services have commenced
- Build a rapport with clients and providers
Care finder eligibility
Care finder services are intended for elderly Australians who need intensive support, who could otherwise fall through the cracks. This will include people who are not yet receiving aged care services, do not have already have someone they may rely on to assist them, as well as those who are.
- 65+ years for non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
Premature ageing (e.g. early onset degenerative health condition)
- 50+ years for non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- 40+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
Apply for care finder services
There are two ways to apply for care finder services for people living in South Western Sydney:
GP referral
A general practitioner may decide care finder services are needed and submit a referral on behalf of the patient.
Find a care finder through My Aged Care
Contact a care finder organisation directly. Find care finder details via the My Aged Care website.
My Aged Care care finder help
Care finders also conduct assertive outreach to proactively find and engage with people outside of the referral process.
If you are a health care provider, visit How to refer to care finder services
South Western Sydney PHN commission care finders throughout South Western Sydney in accordance with the Department of Health and Ageing Care Finder Policy, developed following the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Services will be rolled out progressively in the first half of 2023.