Help is finally at hand for older Australians and their families looking to access help through the Federal Government’s My Aged Care portal.
The Government, in adopting another recommendation from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, is providing in-person advice on aged care at 15 Service Australia offices from Monday.
Building on the My Aged Care website and call centre, the Services Australia offices will offer face-to-face support to let people access information about aged care, health and social services in one location.
Services Australia and My Aged Care now linked
Services Australia has employed Aged Care Specialist Officers to offer financial information, registration and referral for aged care assessments and connect older Australians to local support services, social workers, interpreters and advocates.
“In addition, all Services Australia service centre staff can provide general information about aged care and assist with connecting people to more specialised assistance, including My Aged Care’s online or phone services,” Federal Government Services Minister, Linda Reynolds (pictured above), said.
“We’re also linking Services Australia and My Aged Care call centres, so that callers can be transferred easily between the two services.”
A full list of sites offering the face-to-face service is available on the Services Australia website, or visit My Aged Care for information about government aged care services. It is funded through the Federal Government’s $17.7 billion response to the Royal Commission.
Appointments to speak with an aged care specialist in a participating site are encouraged and can be made by calling Services Australia on 1800 227 475.
500 Care Finders also coming online in 2023
It’s not the only change coming to how older people can access aged care services.
Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia CEO Ian Yates said it is now preparing for the full national rollout of 500 Care Finders to assist people looking to access aged care with face-to-face support, another Royal Commission recommendation which is due to commence from 2023.
The Aged Care Navigator program – led by COTA which is piloting the service – will continue until December 2022 to fill the gap and has already assisted over 100,000 people.
Anyone who has tried to access aged care services know how challenging it can be to find the right information and supports – and how easily some people could fall through the cracks when trying to move through the system.
So it is welcome news that more face-to-face support will be available to help everyone access the aged care services to which they are entitled.
You can find more information about navigating the aged care system at agedcare101.
