Healthy North Coast is pleased to announce the extension of the care finder program in Northern NSW for the next four years, ensuring vulnerable older people continue to receive support to interact with My Aged Care, access aged care services, and other relevant supports in the community.

The care finder service has been operating nationally for almost three years. Attesting to the initial success of the program, and in light of wide-sweeping once-in-a-generation reforms included in the new Aged Care Act due to commence on 1 November 2025, care finders has been identified as an essential element of the new aged care system.

For the 2025-2029 period, following a competitive tender process, the providers of care finder services in the region are:

• Footprints Community | Kyogle, Tweed, Byron and Ballina regions
• Each | Coffs Harbour, Nambucca and Bellingen regions; Clarence Valley, Richmond Valley and Lismore, Port Macquarie Hastings and Kempsey

Care finders is designed to support older individuals who face challenges accessing aged care services on their own, and came about in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The Royal Commission highlighted that the aged care system was challenging to navigate, making it hard for people who were already vulnerable to get the support they need.

This initiative is free, fully commissioned by Healthy North Coast through the Australian Government’s PrimaryHealth Network program , with a commitment of almost $14 million to the North Coast over the next four years.

Care finders can help people with:

• talking to My Aged Care on their behalf to arrange an assessment
• attending and providing support at the assessment
• finding and shortlisting aged care providers in their area
• completing forms and understanding aged care service agreements
• + much more.

Most older adults who need aged care should call My Aged Care on 1800 200 244 or visit myagedcare.gov.au to discuss their needs and arrange an assessment. They can also walk into any Services Australia centre.

If additional support is needed to navigate aged care options, individuals or referrers such as GPs can contact Footprints Community on 1800 366 877 or visit footprintscommunity.org.au, or contact Each on 1300 003 224 or visit each.com.au.

Justine Elliot MP, Member for Richmond said, “For so many in our community, accessing aged care services can be challenging, and that’s why programs like care finders are vitally important.

“Care finders provide free individual support for older people needing help to access My Aged Care and other aged care services.

“The Albanese Labor Government is delivering almost $14 million in federal funding for Healthy North Coast to commission the care finder program on the North Coast. “As your local MP, I’m always working to improve aged care services in our region.” 

Monika Wheeler, Healthy North Coast CEO said, “We’re delighted to welcome Footprints Community and Each as the trusted providers of care finder services on the North Coast for the next four years.

“The opportunity to operate the care finder service on the North Coast was highly contested, with Each and Footprints both demonstrating strong local knowledge and expertise in supporting vulnerable older people.

“The ageing population in our region means it’s essential that all older people can access care and services to allow them to live independently at home for as long as they wish. Part of Healthy North Coast’s ageing strategy is to ensure no one gets left behind.”

Tanya Bell, Footprints Community CEO said, “Over the past two years, our care finders have been working closely with older people in the region, seeing firsthand the hardships, barriers and issues they encounter to accessing support.

“The launch of 4 more years of the care finder program in the region means Footprints Community will still be there on the ground, assisting older people to connect and navigate often complex support systems and services during what tends to be times of high stress in

their lives.”

Natalie Sullivan, Each CEO said, “Each is proud to continue delivering the care finder service across the Healthy North Coast region – now extended for another four years in partnership with Healthy North Coast PHN.

“Since we started delivering the care finder service two years ago, we’ve supported hundreds of older people to navigate a complex aged care system. We see the difference it makes when someone has a care finder by their side - when forms become less overwhelming, when connections to housing or health services are finally made, and when dignity and independence are restored.

“Together with local providers and community organisations, we’re building stronger, more connected pathways to care.”