Older person health Archives | South Western Sydney PHN

01 June 2026

Service Announcement

For the first time since care finders were established in our region three years ago, South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) has commissioned an additional provider, Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation (TAC), to deliver the care finder service across our seven local government areas (LGAs).

Care finder is a face-to-face service which connects vulnerable older people with aged care and other support services which are suitable for them, provides guidance in navigating My Aged Care and does regular check-ins with clients to ensure the services are meeting their needs.
Care finder services are for people who need intensive support.

This includes non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 65 and over, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and over. Those eligible for the services may be isolated or have no other supports available to them to navigate the aged care system, have communication barriers or trouble processing information.

TAC is a not-for-profit Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. It is one of six care finder service providers funded by SWSPHN and will deliver services in Fairfield, Bankstown, Liverpool, Campbelltown, Camden, Wollondilly and Wingecarribee LGAs.

Other providers in our region include: Catholic Healthcare, Multicultural Care Limited, Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre, EACH and The Benevolent Society.

According to SWSPHN’s 2025-2028 Needs Assessment, there were about 175,890 older people living in South Western Sydney in 2021. It is expected the number of people aged 65 years and older will reach up to 325,073 by 2041, an increase of 85 per cent over 20 years.

SWSPHN Acting Chief Executive Officer, Amy Prince, said the forecast population increases underscored the importance of care finder services now and into the future.

“It is vital older people can not only access care but are connected with services and support which are tailored to their individual needs,” she said.

“These needs might range from physical proximity to services to culturally sensitive services.

“Care finders understand what services are available and how to access those services.”

Ms Prince said SWSPHN had worked with TAC over many years.

“TAC has a long history of delivering high quality programs supporting the health and wellbeing of our region’s First Nations residents,” she said. “We’re pleased TAC has come on board as a care finder service provider.”

Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Darryl Wright, said TAC was committed to providing holistic, culturally safe and inclusive support for vulnerable Elders.

“Through the First Nations care finder program, all Elders receive personalised assistance to navigate My Aged Care, access appropriate support services, and maintain their health, wellbeing and independence,” he said.

Anyone can refer to the care finder service.

There are four ways for South Western Sydney residents to access support:
• Call Triple I centralised intake to discuss a referral to a care finder service near you (1800 455 511)
• Call and speak to any of the commissioned care finder service providers directly
• GP referral: A GP may decide care finder services are needed and submit a referral on behalf of the patient through the Triple I hub. Download the care finder central intake form
• My Aged Care: A My Aged Care assessor may decide whether care finder intensive support is needed and apply on the person’s behalf

Visit our website to find out more about how care finder services can help.

10 December 2025

Understanding hot weather risks

What is a heatwave?

Heatwaves are times of extreme heat, when the minimum and maximum temperatures are hotter than usual for three or more consecutive days.

Overheating

When the weather is very hot, your body must work harder to produce more sweat to keep cool.

In some conditions, sweating is not enough and your body temperature can rise rapidly. This is more likely to happen when it is humid or when you are dehydrated and can’t produce enough sweat.

It is important your body temperature stays between 36.1 to 37.8˚C. If your body rises above this, you may develop signs of heat-related illness.

Heat-related illness occurs when the body absorbs too much heat. This may happen slowly over a day or two of extremely hot weather.

Act quickly to avoid serious—or even fatal—effects of fully developed heatstroke.

Signs of heatstroke

Rapid pulse or weak pulse
Fast, shallow breathing
Dry, swollen tongue
Trouble speaking
Slurred speech
Problems concentrating or coordinating movements
Aggressive or strange behaviour
Dizziness, confusion, seizures or loss of consciousness
Sudden rise in body temperature
Hot, dry and possibly red skin, possibly with no sweat
Headache, nausea or vomiting
Intense thirst

Signs of heat stress

Rising body temperature
Dry mouth and eyes
Headache
Shortness of breath
Nausea or vomiting
Absence of tears when crying (children)

Who is at risk?

While most people find extremely hot weather and heatwaves uncomfortable, some people have a higher risk than others of becoming ill. These include:

Adults aged over 75 years, babies and young children
People with long-term health conditions, such as heart or lung disease or diabetes
People living with overweight or obesity
People taking certain medicines
People who are socially isolated
People who work outdoors or in hot and poorly ventilated areas
People who are not accustomed to the heat, for example, overseas visitors

Staying safe in the heat

Be prepared

Find ways to make your home or building cooler like light-coloured window coverings, awnings and shade cloth
Have air conditioners serviced before the start of summer
Ensure you have enough food, medicine and other supplies to avoid going out or if electricity supply is interrupted
If you have a medical condition, ask your GP for advice on how to manage the heat
Make a list of family, friends and neighbours you might want to check in on and ensure you have their current contact details
Drink 2 to 3 litres of water a day at regular intervals, even if you do not feel thirsty. If you are on a limited fluid intake, check with your GP
Limit intake of alcohol, soft drinks, sports drinks, tea or coffee
Eat normally but try to eat cold foods, particularly salads and fruit. Avoid heavy protein foods which raise body heat and increase fluid loss

Keep out of the heat

If you can, avoid going out in the hottest part of the day (11am to 3pm). Avoid strenuous activities and gardening
Do not leave children, adults or animals in parked cars
If you do go out, wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose, porous clothes, a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen
Regularly rest in the shade and drink plenty of water

Stay as cool as possible

Stay inside, in the coolest rooms in your home
Block out the sun during the day and keep windows closed while the room is cooler than it is outside
Use fans and air conditioners at home to keep cool, or spend time elsewhere in air-conditioning like a library, community centre, cinema or shopping centre
Take frequent cool showers or baths and splash yourself several times a day with cold water
Open windows after the sun/heat has gone down to allow for air circulation
Make sure to stay cool while you sleep. Just because the heat has gone down doesn’t mean it isn’t still hot

Keep food safe in hot weather

Put food back in the fridge after using it
Don’t eat food left out of the fridge for 2+ hours
Put leftovers in the fridge after the food has cooled
Eat leftovers within two to three days
Read more about food safety

Being sun smart

If you have to go outside into the heat, follow a few recommendations from the Cancer Council NSW:

Learn to understand the UV index (when the UV index is 3 or above we need to protect the skin from sun damage)
Wear protective clothing (clothing is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect your skin)
Apply sunscreen (choose a water-resistant, broad spectrum sunscreen which is at least SPF 30)
Wear a hat (wear a broad-brimmed, bucket or legionnaire-style hat for the best protection)
Seek shade
Wear sunglasses (protect your eyes properly with close-fitting wrap-around sunglasses)

Checklist for older people

Before a heatwave

Assess which care recipients are at risk – who has limited capacity to keep cool; or which areas of the facility are prone to being hot
Ensure entry/exit points can be monitored
Ensure cooling systems in the home are adequate and working effectively
Ensure alternative forms of fluid, such as jelly, ice-cream or fruit juice blocks are available

During a heatwave

Ensure the temperature in care recipients’ rooms are comfortable, keeping curtains and blinds closed to reduce excess heat
Monitor entry/exit points to avoid the unsupervised departure of care recipients during extreme heat events
Be aware care recipients may be at particular risk following high overnight temperatures
Ensure small amounts of fluids are readily available, rather than large amounts of fluids less frequently
Avoid serving caffeinated or alcoholic beverages
Provide care recipients with frequent small meals
Help care recipients to keep skin covered when exposed to direct sunlight and to wear loose fitting clothing
Avoid taking care recipients outside between 11am and 3pm
Offer tepid showers or sponging
Look for signs of heat stress, such as nausea or changes in appearance including red, pale or severely dry skin
Ask for a clinical assessment if care recipient shows any signs of deterioration

Caring for pets

Our pets are part of the family, and they feel the heat as much as us. The most common summer risks for pets are: overheating; sunburn; dehydration; stroke. Follow some simple steps to ensure they are safe and comfortable during hot weather.

Provide plenty of water and shade
Know the signs of overheating:
Heavy panting
Dry or bright red gums
Thick drool
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Wobbly legs
Never leave your pet in the car (it can take less than 10 minutes to develop heat stroke in dogs and cats inside a hot vehicle)
Apply sunscreen (pets get sunburns too, especially those with short or light hair coats; apply pet sunscreen only)
Don’t shave your pet (a pet’s coat is naturally designed to keep it cool during the summer and warm in the winter; trim but never shave)
Mind your walking hours (don’t walk your pet in the heat of the day; consider early morning and late evening)
Keep your dog’s paws cool (try to keep your pet’s paws off concrete, bitumen and other hot surfaces)
Keep parasites off (In summer, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and other parasites are everywhere)

Download Your health matters in a disaster flyer, five simple steps to help prepare you if a disaster occurs.

02 December 2024

South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) has commissioned Catholic Healthcare to begin delivering the Stepping On program to older adults in the region in January.

The free, seven-week program is for South Western Sydney residents who are aged 65 and over, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 45 and over.

It aims to equip participants with the knowledge, strength and confidence to prevent falls, stay active and remain independent.

SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said the program was developed in response to Australia’s ageing population.

It is projected that by 2066 older people will represent between 21 per cent and 23 per cent of Australia’s total population.

“Stepping On is among the early intervention initiatives the Department of Health and Aged Care has focused on to support senior Australians to age in a healthy way and to delay entry into aged care,” Dr McDonald said.

Fall-related injuries among older people is a major public health concern, with more than 114 people aged 65 and over admitted to NSW hospitals after a fall each day. Falls contribute to 1,200 deaths each year.

In South Western Sydney, falls-related injuries more than doubled between 2010-2021. The number of older people affected by falls is projected to increase by 51.4 per cent by 2031, with the highest increases expected in Camden (151 per cent) and Liverpool (62 per cent).

Campbelltown has the highest fall-related injury hospitalisations in the region.

Dr McDonald said older people in our region would be well served by Catholic Healthcare which delivered the Stepping On program in a number of locations across NSW.

“SWSPHN looks forward to working with Catholic Healthcare to ensure older people in our communities are able to remain healthy, independent and in their homes,” he said.

Catholic Healthcare Chief Communities Officer, Therese Adami, said: “Catholic Healthcare is committed to supporting older people to lead happier, healthier lives. We are proud to be offering the Stepping On falls prevention program to residents in South Western Sydney.”

Stepping On involves weekly sessions for seven weeks and follow-up/booster sessions, with content ranging from balance and strength exercises, home hazard solutions, community safety, safe footwear and medication management.

It is appropriate for older people who: have had a fall in the past year or have a fear of falling; are living independently with or without a walking stick; able to speak conversational English or the language in which the group is facilitated.

Catholic Healthcare will deliver the Stepping On program across our region, which includes Bankstown, Liverpool, Fairfield, Campbelltown, Camden, Wollondilly and Wingecarribee local government areas.

08 October 2024

The Live Well intervention, developed by South Western Sydney Local Health District’s Older People’s Mental Health (OPMH) services, focuses on improving the health of older adults receiving mental healthcare. The intervention aims to address unhealthy lifestyle habits, which are known to contribute to disease and early mortality, particularly among those with mental health conditions. The program encourages mental health clinicians to engage their clients in making small, sustainable lifestyle changes during routine healthcare encounters.

The intervention was based on the Canadian Fountain of Health model, which highlights five key areas for healthy living: physical activity, social connections, mental activity, mental wellbeing and optimism. Live Well added a sixth domain, healthy eating, and adapted resources to be culturally appropriate for diverse populations, providing educational materials in multiple languages. The intervention promotes the use of the Health and Wellness Questionnaire (HAWQ), a self-assessment tool which helps individuals rate their current lifestyle in these six areas. Clinicians guide participants through goal-setting using the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timed) method.

Read research paper

Key findings

The study enrolled 65 participants, with 52 completing the program over a 12-week period. Results showed improvements across most lifestyle areas, especially in physical activity, mental activity, mental wellbeing and optimism. Although healthy eating did not see significant changes, participants expressed high levels of satisfaction with the program and reported feeling better about their health and goal achievements. Clinicians who participated in the study also reported positive experiences, noting the program was easy to integrate into their work and helped their patients achieve meaningful improvements in lifestyle.

What you can do

If you’re caring for older adults or working with those in mental health services, consider how small lifestyle changes can have a big impact. Promoting physical activity, mental wellbeing and social connections can improve health outcomes and quality of life. Tools like the SMART goal-setting method and the HAWQ can help individuals take manageable steps toward healthier living. To learn more about how to use these strategies, you can explore the Live Well resources, which include multilingual educational materials and goal-setting templates.

Visit South Western Sydney PHN’s website for more information.

24 July 2024

GPs are invited to take part in a research study which aims to enable older people to remain independent and functioning and offer the right care at the right time in the right place – which may not be the Emergency Department (ED).

The research team wants to know your thoughts on using artificial intelligence to develop an algorithm to identify older people at risk of potentially preventable ED presentations.

Participants will be asked to participate in a 30 to 45-minute Zoom or telephone interview which will focus on your understanding of the factors which help the implementation of an algorithm. Each participant will receive $75 for their time and expertise.

If you have any questions about the study, please contact project officer Joelle Metri on j.metri@westernsydney.edu.au or call 0411 622 021.

Find out more

18 June 2024

The Safer Families Centre is encouraging GPs to enrol in self-paced modules on child and elder abuse for tips and resources on how to be more ready to respond to warning signs of abuse which your patients might be exhibiting.

The Identifying and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect module teaches practical ways to strengthen your skills in identifying and responding to child abuse and neglect and outlines how to respond safely and appropriately to children and their families and determine when reporting is mandated.

It illustrates key challenges in responding to child abuse and neglect within the practice environment and guides you on selecting methods and resources for seeking support for yourself.

The Six Steps to Support you to Assess and Respond to Elder Abuse module looks at the nature, severity, and impact of abuse of older people and explains how to recognise the risk factors, types and signs.

It describes barriers and enablers for seeking help, and strategies to identify and safely respond to older patients experiencing abuse or violence.

15 May 2024

South Western Sydney residents will benefit from a boost in funding for additional Medicare Urgent Care Clinics and a network of new Medicare Mental Health Centres – two of the standout commitments from last night’s Federal Budget.

In handing down the government’s third budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said overall spending on health and aged care in 2024-25 would be $146.1 billion, including investments to strengthen Medicare ($2.8 billion), deliver cheaper medicines ($4.3 billion) and invest in a fit and healthy Australia ($1.3 billion).

The government committed $227 million in last night’s budget to increase the number of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics by 29 to 87, enabling more patients to receive fully-bulk billed urgent care from GPs or nurses in more locations.

A $361 million boost over four years to the range of free mental health services was also announced, including funding for 61 walk-in Medicare Mental Health Centres, building on the established Head to Health network. The centres will provide free, walk-in access to a psychologist or psychiatrist for adults with complex and high mental health needs.

This investment includes funding Primary Health Networks to work in partnership with general practice to provide mental health nurses and other allied health workers, for free wraparound care and support to patients with complex needs, in between GP and specialist appointments.

South Western Sydney PHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said the bolstering of access to bulk-billed services both through Urgent Care Clinics and new mental health measures was welcome at a time when the cost of living was impacting access to healthcare.

Dr McDonald said the Australia Bureau of Statistics found the proportion of people who reported delaying or not going to a GP due to the cost grew from 7 per cent 2022-23 compared to 3.5 per cent in 2021-22.

“South Western Sydney was lucky enough to benefit from the opening of a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) at Campbelltown Medical and Dental last December,” he said.

“The UCC has made it easier for local residents to access free, high quality care from highly trained GPs and nurses, while freeing up emergency departments to focus on life threatening emergencies,’’ he said.

“We’re looking forward to future announcements about the expansion of the network to additional sites across our region.”

Other announcements of note in last night’s budget include:

$91.1 million to boost the supply of healthcare in areas of shortage, including Primary Health Networks supporting health services at risk of closing.
$882.2 million to ensure older people get the medical support they need. This includes funding to upskill the residential aged care workforce and provide virtual care services, and deliver complex care for older people outside of the hospital.
From 1 August 2024, people in residential aged care will be more likely to receive quality and continuous care from a GP, with GPs and practices eligible to receive quarterly incentive payments, on top of Medicare rebates, to manage the health of their MyMedicare registered residents.
$1.4 billion to upgrade technology systems and digital infrastructure across the aged care sector in preparation for the new Aged Care Act.
$38.8 million for people aged 45 to 49 to join already eligible 50 to 74-year-olds in screening for bowel cancer by requesting a free test kit.
$598.9 million for the continuation of the National COVID-19 Vaccine Program to enable vaccinations to prevent severe COVID-19 disease.
$588.5 million over eight years for a national low intensity digital mental health service, which is free of charge and free of need for referral.
$35.9 million over four years to extend terminating mental health measures, to enhance the delivery of mental health and suicide prevention services and to provide greater funding certainty for service providers. $21 million of this will fund the PHN Targeted Regional Initiatives for Suicide Prevention (TRISP) for 2024-25.
Indexation on Medicare Benefits Schedule rebates is expected to deliver almost $900 million in additional benefits in 2024-25. This is on top of around $940 million in additional Medicare benefits already delivered in 2023-24.
Students in nursing, midwifery and social work will benefit from the establishment of a Commonwealth Prac Payment. This will support them while they undertake mandatory placements required for higher education and vocational education and training qualifications. Eligible students will be able to access $319.50 per week during their clinical and professional placement periods.

17 April 2024

The aged care system is not always simple or straightforward.

For older Australians, it can be daunting navigating and accessing aged care services through My Aged Care and other relevant community supports.

Assistance is available from care finders which provide face-to-face assistance to vulnerable older people needing different help to that provided by the My Aged Care call service or website.

SWSPHN has commissioned care finder services across South Western Sydney which cover a range of cultural needs.

What is care finder?

Care finder is a program resulting from the Royal Commission into Aged Care and provides specialist and intensive assistance to a subset of the older Australian population to help them understand and access aged care and connect with other relevant supports in the community.

The service is designed to reach older Australians who are eligible for My Aged Care services and meet one or more of the below criteria:

Why is this work important?

The aged care system is complex to navigate and access the services which are needed.

Some groups of older Australians may face barriers in accessing and engaging with the essential supports and services which contribute to better health.

Evidence indicates there is an under-utilisation of aged care services among older Australians.

Indigenous Australians represent only 2.6 per cent of people using aged care services, compared with a population of 3.4 per cent.

This is similar for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) populations, with only 18 to 20 per cent of older people born in non-English speaking countries using aged care services in South Western Sydney compared with a NSW average of approximately 34 per cent.

Challenges for CALD communities include English being their second language, not knowing where to access services, lack of confidence to ask for help and social isolation due to language barriers.

Older Australians who are hesitant to engage with institutions and government are also at risk of not accessing services and supports which they may need as they age.

Care finders aim to see:

improved coordination of support when seeking access to aged care
improved understanding of aged care services and how to access them
improved client willingness/openness to engage with the aged care system
increased access to aged care services and connections with other relevant supports
increased rates of clients staying connected to the services they need post service commencement

What do care finder services do?

assist eligible older people with their My Aged Care applications, provide 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 required)
help people connect with health services, mental health services, housing services, drug and alcohol services, community groups and transport as needed
complete high-level check-in on a periodic basis and follow up support once services have commenced
build a rapport with clients and providers

How do people access the service?

Referrals can be made through the Triple I Hub. GPs can use the referral form or install templates for MedicalDirector and Best Practice via the link on this webpage.

Your patients can also self-refer by contacting the services directly. The services’ contact details are listed on the webpage above.

09 April 2024

APNA’s Chronic Disease Management and Healthy Ageing program provides an online, evidence-based education framework to support nurses in primary healthcare to increase their knowledge, skills and confidence in key chronic disease management and healthy ageing topics.

The six-month, intermediate-level program includes monthly workshops on key health priority areas.

Workshops are complemented by access to self-assessment tools and online learning modules, and participants are encouraged to share their learning, experiences and progress through a community of practice.

Subsidised by the Australian Government, the course costs $220.

The first workshop will be held on Monday, 29 April.

To secure your spot, visit APNA’s website.

18 December 2023

The aged care system is not always simple or straightforward.

For older Australians, navigating and accessing aged care services through My Aged Care and other relevant community supports can be daunting.

Assistance is available through care finders who provide face-to-face assistance to vulnerable older people needing different help to that provided by the My Aged Care call service or website.

There are care finder services available in each different region across in South Western Sydney and covering a range of cultural needs.

The care finder tasks can include:

Assist eligible older people with their My Aged Care applications, provide 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 required)
Help people connect with health services, mental health services, housing services, drug and alcohol services, community groups and transport as needed
Complete high-level check-in on a periodic basis and follow up support once services have commenced
Build a rapport with clients and providers

Referrals are centralised through the Triple I Hub.

GPs can use the referral form or install templates for MedicalDirector and Best Practice via the link on this webpage.

Topic: Older person health

Service Announcement

Jump to:

Understanding hot weather risks

What is a heatwave?

Overheating

Signs of heatstroke

Signs of heat stress

Who is at risk?

Staying safe in the heat

Be prepared

Keep out of the heat

Stay as cool as possible

Keep food safe in hot weather

Being sun smart

Checklist for older people

Before a heatwave

During a heatwave

Caring for pets

Key findings

What you can do

What is care finder?

Why is this work important?

What do care finder services do?

How do people access the service?