With very little time left before some of the largest changes to hit the industry are set to land, Aged Care Providers must act to align their operations with the updated requirements.
We’ve successfully transitioned:
78% of the industry from RCS to ACFI
Over 45% of the Industry (and counting) from ACFI to AN-ACC
Almost 70% of the Industry from Concessional and Supported Funding Systems to the Low Means Funding System
Our clients in the implementation of the Fair Work Commission’s Aged Care Work Value Case
Our Transformation Process:
Step 1
A specialist from one of our diverse teams will conduct an analysis to identify your gaps and prepare a Gaps Analysis for you
Step 2
Develop an Action / Project Plan of what needs to be done
Step 3
We can project manage your whole plan or provide Standards experts for specific project or education
We’re currently working with Providers on the following transitions Support at Home Transition
Digital Transformation preparing systems for the July 1 changes
Strengthened Standards (Residential & Home Care) Transition
Fees, Funding & Billing July 1 Changes
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Room Pricing Competitiveness
Fair Work Commission’s Aged Care Work Value Case Compliance Reviews
Welcome to the Winter 2025 edition of Australian Ageing Agenda, which puts the spotlight on allied health.
This includes a University of Queensland project led by Associate Professor Sarah Wallace, a speech pathologist, that aims to give older people a voice. Conversations about Care focuses on experience-based co-design to improve communication in residential and home care. The multidisciplinary research team of over 20 individuals will develop an assessment tool for communication support needs and online communication training for direct care workers. Wallace and fellow project participants, including post-doctoral research Dr Michelle King – a sociologist and lawyer – and lived-experience advisory group member Lesley Forster, talk to AAA about this major initiative (page 28).
Rural allied health professionals Dr Kristy Robson and Associate Professor Melissa Nott from Charles Sturt University take us through their Wellness 2 Age program. The structured 10-week program, which brings together targeted activities to support physical and cognitive function while fostering social connection, has demonstrated strong acceptability and feasibility, report the researchers (page 52).
The team at the Centre for Ageing Research and Translation at the University of Canberra also share an update on the findings of their trial of the Enhanced Allied Health for Older People in Residential Care program (page 56).
At AAA, allied health and wellbeing are close to our hearts, with these areas at the centre of our Positive Ageing Summit, which takes place on 28-29 May in Adelaide.
This issue contains a special section on the allied health-driven event, highlighting many of the leaders and topics it will feature (page 35). We look forward to seeing you there (register at positiveageingsummit.com.au).
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We hope you enjoy these and the many more stories for aged care professionals inside.
Until next time,
Natasha Egan
Australian Ageing Agenda Editor
Tel: 02 8586 6132
Email: negan@intermedia.com.au
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Katarina Lloyd Jones Australian Ageing Agenda, Journalist
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Manage
Reader feedback
6 Comments
7 They said it
Operations
28 Giving older people a voice
30 Human rights-driven care
32 Working together – industry collaborations wrap
50 Session spotlight
Frontline
51 Perspective with exercise physiologist Emily Moore
8 Aged care news wrap
News by numbers
World watch
Industry movements
Research news
14 Global partnerships key to a stronger future
14 Oral health critical to overall wellbeing at all ages
15 No place like home unless you need orthotic care
15 Allied health central to quality of life for seniors
16 All about financial powers of attorney
18 One on one with Alison Snell
20 Keep on top of directory listings
22 Leadership talk with Marcus Riley
story
24 Resident-friendly tech: Foxtel’s Business IQ is an all-in-one solution
34 Tech talk with John Staines
Positive Ageing Summit
35 Collaborators assemble
36 The question: How can aged care providers embed positive ageing practices in their services?
40 Opportunities abound
42 Ask the expert with Dr Justin Keogh on sarcopenia
44 Positive ageing in practice
46 Dementia: We need to get this right
48 Exhibitor showcase
52 Evidence to impact
54 Driving, independence and ageing
56 Better outcomes through enhanced allied health
58 Weaving collaboration into the complexities of aged care Fresh ideas
60 Cognitive tests can be fun
62 ITAC 2025
64 Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards
66 Products
1 Law expert PROFESSOR NOLA RIES discusses applying the concept of will and preferences in money and property matters (page 16)
2 Researcher DR CLAIRE GOUGH and healthy ageing advisor HILARY O’CONNELL explore fit-for-purpose staff educational resources on reablement (page 30).
3 Dementia innovation leader MARIE ALFORD her Positive Ageing Summit masterclass on the role of reablement in dementia support (page 46).
4 Driving researcher DR BETH CHEAL highlights the DriveSafe DriveAware cognitive fitness-to-drive test, and the importance of a fair and effective test for all (page 54).
Join leaders, innovators, aged care and seniors housing specialists from across the country for three inspiring days of connection, conversation and cutting-edge content. Set against the stunning backdrop of Queensland’s Gold Coast, the Ageing Australia National Conference 2025 will inspire and ignite new thinking across every level of your organisation.
30 September to 2 October 2025 Gold Coast, Queensland
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“Fund the services that support people’s health and wellbeing in their homes and you delay the need for aged care.” Bec Dakin comments on LinkedIn on residential occupancy being close to capacity
“Congratulations on securing this funding to improving the facilities in Maningrida. So important for older people to receive aged care, all while staying connected to family and culture. Having recently consulted with older people in the communities of Milingimbi, Ramingining, Galiwin’ku and Gapuwiyak about their needs as they get older, many said to me, ‘we want what Maningrida has for our old people.’ Here’s hoping East Arnhem Regional Council and the government meet the need for 24/7 respite and aged care services for these communities too.” Jacqui Yard comments on AAA online on the funding announcement for Mala’la Health Service
“Would love to see some advocacy around older people’s human right to be supported to engage in leisure-based programs and activities offered by qualified professionals –recreational therapists. Seems to be the forgotten piece of the puzzle to enabling and supporting an enjoyable and meaningful life.”
“Couldn’t agree with this more. I can’t do the work I need to do in dementia care without my allied health and nursing colleagues.”
Mandy Callary comments on LinkedIn on Dementia Australia and Allied Health Professions Australia feeling overlooked in the March federal budget
Jacqueline Quirke comments on LinkedIn on advocacy groups calling for better support by next federal government
“I’ve admired the Wintringham model of care since 2007 when examining aged care for people from a homeless background or at risk of homelessness.”
Carline Romeo comments on LinkedIn on the news of Bryan Lipmann (pictured) stepping down as Wintringham CEO
“Important recognition for Paul and a great opportunity for those with meaningful health and wellness programs to be acknowledged. I am excited to see the applications and the finalists.” Dr Tim Henwood comments on LinkedIn on Paul Johnson (pictured) and the Paul Johnson Positive Ageing Award
Thanks to Mark and Chris for bringing some home some truths about the Support at Home program. Home care providers have been literally canvassing the department at every opportunity to make them aware of the consequences of the SaH pricing scheme. Having been a care worker, case manager, and director of care – we can see the consequences that more older people will fail to seek out critical supports such as personal care (a person’s basic human right to have assistance to be able to shower every other day) as a way to avoid further financial loss, this in turn will drive older persons into hospital and residential care. Sue Longhorn comments on AAA online on provider concerns of Support at Home pushing clients to hospital
1
2
3
iStockphoto.com/Andrzej Rostek
iStockphoto.com/Thurtell
They said it
“As we’re getting towards almost full occupancy – where demand will start to outstrip supply – that’s bad for the sector, because it means that people wanting to get in residential aged care might end up in hospital.” Grant Corderoy, senior partner StewartBrown
“We want employers to get it right in the first place. The Fair Work Ombudsman supports employers and employees to identify correct pay and entitlements.” Anna Booth, Fair Work Ombudsman
“Policy makers just see domestic assistance as a very black and white service, where it only involves tasks and cleaning and providing domestic services… it’s a much richer service, and it’s much more multi-dimensional and far more important.” Chris Mamarelis, CEO Whiddon
“The Australian Consortium for Aged Care Quality Indicator Repository is an important step in addressing longstanding calls for an evidence-based framework to measure and improve the experiences of older Australians.”
ROSA director Associate Professor Maria Inacio
Call for submissions
The next issue of Australian Ageing Agenda (Spring 2025) includes a special focus on the new Aged Care Act and what that means for residential and home care services.
Topics on the agenda include:
• a rights-based approach to services
• additional services and the Higher Everyday Living Fee
• Support at Home and the CHSP
• a new regulatory model
• the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.
Get in touch if you have something to share: editorial@australianageingagenda.com.au
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iStockphoto.com/Jacob Wackerhausen
DIARY
28 May
The Positive Ageing Summit kicks off at the Hilton Adelaide for two days of collaboration about evidence-based strategies on reablement and embedding allied health into aged care services
1 July
The new Aged Care Act commences bringing into effect the Support at Home program, a new regulatory model, strengthened Aged Care Quality standards and more
Labor re-elected
BY KATARINA LLOYD JONES
The Australian Labor Party has been returned for a second term led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured), following a landslide victory. Former Opposition leader Peter Dutton lost his seat of Dickson in Brisbane to Labor’s Ali France.
SaH may push people to hospital
BY KATARINA LLOYD JONES
Around 300,000 Australians are currently receiving a home care package, but the new Support at Home funding model and fee structure could have unintended consequences on the very services that allow people to age at home, industry insiders tell Australian Ageing Agenda
The highest contribution rates will be for everyday living services, such as domestic assistance or gardening, which according to the indicative pricing for services released on 24 March, will see older people charged between $83 and $109 per hour for general house cleaning or accompanied shopping.
The consumer contribution will range from 17.5 per cent for full pensioners to 80 per cent for self-funded retirees.
This new contribution structure being ushered in with the SaH program has some providers concerned, believing it will disincentivise new participants from using non-clinical services – such as domestic assistance – despite their proven importance in preventing older people from having to enter residential care or hospital prematurely.
Some stakeholders feel more strongly about this than others, with Mark SheldonStemm – who is chief executive officer of West Australian provider ValleyView and
principal at aged care consultancy Research Analytics – telling AAA he views the SaH program as the “best system for putting people into residential care.”
“Because people won’t receive a service, they’ll end up in hospital, so instead of keeping them at home, Support at Home will actually in fact drive them into hospitals and into residential care.”
Whiddon chief executive officer Chris Mamarelis agreed that non-clinical services are likely to be the first thing clients will avoid upon entering the SaH program.
“Policy makers just see domestic assistance as a very black and white service, where it only involves tasks and cleaning and providing domestic services… it’s a much richer service, and it’s much more multi-dimensional and far more important,” he tells AAA
Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells has been re-elected to her Brisbane seat of Lilley in Queensland. At the time of going to press the PM had not yet announced any ministerial changes. Aged care provider peak body Ageing Australia called on the returning PM to ensure aged care remained a priority.
“We congratulate Prime Minister Albanese on winning the federal election and we look forward to continuing to work with his government on meaningful, well-designed reform,” says Ageing Australia chief executive officer Tom Symondson. The major reform of the new Aged Care Act can only continue with ongoing bipartisan solidarity, he says.
While also congratulating the returning leader and party, Anglicare Australia executive director Kasy Chambers noted the government and country still faced “major challenges” including people on low incomes struggling to make ends meet and an aged care sector in the midst of historic reforms.
Cyber risk high for aged care sector
BY KATARINA LLOYD JONES
As the aged care sector continues to embrace technological innovation the risk and regularity of cyber attacks increase.
In the CyberCX Diagnosing Cyber Threats in Healthcare 2025 report, nonhospital clinical service providers – which includes aged care – were the most targeted healthcare sub-sector, facing 10 times more publicly claimed attacks compared to hospitals, the next most targeted sub-sector.
This is of particular concern given the sensitive and personal nature of the data being exposed.
Australian Institute of Company Directors not-for-profit lead Phil Butler says the Not-for-Profit Governance & Performance
Study 2024-25 – which included a section on cyber security and AI – showed governance maturity is strengthening, and organisations are proactively addressing key risks.
“However, the rising threat of cyberattacks, especially for organisations handling sensitive client data, remains a significant concern that demands continuous attention from boards,” Butler tells Australian Ageing Agenda
“As the risks associated with climate change, cyber threats, and AI continue to evolve, it’s crucial for NFP directors to foster a proactive governance culture that addresses these challenges head-on.
“As governance expectations grow, the AICD remains committed to equipping NFP directors with the skills and resources needed to lead effectively.”
The NFP governance and performance study also noted smaller NFPs have fewer resources to defend against cyber attacks and suggested looking at collaboration or shared services as a means of protecting themselves without prohibitive costs.
Peak calls for needs-based allied health
BY AUSTRALIAN AGEING AGENDA
Despite multiple reforms across the aged care sector due to take effect in July, there is still no guaranteed needs-based provision of allied health, says peak body Allied Health Professions Australia.
The peak has outlined three key priorities it wants addressed:
1. fund the implementation of an assessment and care planning tool for all aged care providers to ensure a nationally consistent approach to aged care service delivery
2. require that aged care providers use residential aged care funding for direct care service delivery only and spending by providers is publicly reported
3. adequately cost and fund allied health time to prescribe and implement assistive technology and home modifications.
AHPA has also raised concerns about the exclusion of allied health professions such as osteopathy, orthotics and
prosthetics and orthoptics on the clinical service lists or omitted completely from Support at Home program services – as did post-polio survivors and the Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association.
“There is still a lack of system attention to the concept of reablement and the role of allied health. There are also no mandatory benchmarks or ringfenced funding for allied health, so there is no real incentive for providers to prioritise it, unlike care minutes for nursing and personal care – and we know that some direct care finding is used for other things outside care like accommodation cost,” says AHPA policy and advocacy senior advisor Dr Chris Atmore.
“There is also no nationally consistent process for home care providers or residential aged care homes to assess people’s allied health needs, and even if they are assessed properly, no effective regulation to ensure that people actually get the allied health care they need.”
Integrating resilience within the care economy
Join us from 5-7 August 2025 in Adelaide for 3 days of international speakers, oral presentations on innovative research, transformative programs and educational workshops for the care sector.
Hear directly from the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) on the latest methodologies and frameworks for pricing health and aged care services.
Remote AH trial
BY KATARINA LLOYD JONES
Bolton Clarke has expanded its virtual model of care pilot to cover physiotherapy services following the initial trial of virtual care for older occupational therapy clients in North Queensland.
The expanded pilot aims to reduce frailty and the risk of falls for older people living at home and builds on previous work by the independent, not-for-profit aged care provider.
Additional training is being rolled out for more personal care workers and frontline teams to support the expansion of the services.
Bolton Clarke Research Institute senior research fellow Dr Claudia Meyer says interacting via a screen was typically a barrier to effective telehealth delivery of occupational therapy and physiotherapy for older people.
“This program addresses that by using personal care workers who have received specific training to support the sessions,” she says. “One of the benefits, particularly in regional areas where access to allied health services can be more difficult, is that clients can access appointments fairly quickly.”
Early bird now open
For more information on the program, use the QR code or visit ihacpa.gov.au.
Exploring the role of pricing
Dr Chris Atmore
Dr Claudia Meyer
Senior dental scheme urgently needed, say researchers
BY KATARINA LLOYD JONES
The Registry of Senior Australians research centre has found that one in five aged care residents has a significant oral health problem and little access to dental services, and almost 20 per cent of older people entered residential care with at least one oral health concern.
However, lead researcher Professor Gill Caughey says the hospitalisations are just the tip of the iceberg, with poor oral health linked to numerous comorbidities and the potential to increase the risk of poor health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, pneumonia and cognitive decline.
“Systemic barriers to better oral health care include poor access, high staff turnover, limited dental or oral health education, high costs, and poor integration between aged care and health sectors,” Caughey says.
The Australian Dental Association also announced the results from its annual study, which found 55 per cent of the 25,000 participants –all over 65 – delayed seeking dental treatment.
Affordability was the main reason, with 64 per cent of over 65s delaying dental trips in the last year because they couldn’t afford it.
“These findings provide a clear picture of what’s happening to the mouths of thousands of Australians over 65,” says ADA president Dr Chris Sanzaro. “They can’t get to the dentist regularly because they can’t afford it and so their mouths become a battleground of pain and infection management.”
Make aged care trauma-informed
BY KATARINA LLOYD JONES
Led by the National Centre for Healthy Ageing – in partnership with Monash University – a literature review exploring the key issues facing the 500,000 older care leavers who are transitioning into aged care after spending parts of their lives in outof-home care has found they would much prefer to receive support at home.
The review was authored by Professor Philip Mendes, Associate Professor Susan Baidawi, Lena Turnbull and Sarah Morris from Monash University’s department of social work and has been published in the Journal of Gerontological Social Work
The review looked at Australian and international literature on the specific fears and anxieties older care leavers – people who have spent part of their lives in institutions such as foster care or orphanages – have about entering institutional aged care.
It found that aged care facilities can evoke distress due to their similarities to childhood institutions, especially aspects such as the lack of privacy, architectural features, similarities in institution names and certain odours.
It also revealed that adopting traumainformed care within aged care is made difficult due to workforce challenges, including high rates of staff turnover,
disparities in staff skill levels, and cultural and linguistic divergences between staff members and residents, particularly those from non-western backgrounds.
Turnbull says the team’s review of literature recommends that all aged care services should be trauma-informed, care leaver-informed and person-centred, with additional, flexible funding to facilitate them to remain at home longer. Counselling and specialised services and the support of an advocate or guide to navigate the aged care system is also important, she says.
“Trauma-informed care recognises and responds to these traumatic experiences, ensuring that care environments are safe, supportive and respectful. It shapes how services look and feel and how staff behave, in an attempt to build trust, reduce re-traumatisation and provide the tailored support needed to meet the unique emotional and psychological needs of this vulnerable group,” says Turnbull.
Co-creating songs improves care
BY KATARINA LLOYD JONES
In 2021, an estimated 472,000 Australians were living with dementia, with the number projected to increase to more than a million people by 2058. With one in three people over 65 born overseas these numbers include people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
An Edith Cowan University research project called the Comusichiamo project is using the power of music and storytelling to support the wellbeing of older Italian migrants, including those living with dementia.
Led by Edith Cowan University post doctoral research fellow Dr Simone Marino, the project engages participants and their families from InCasa Aged Care and Community Services in co-creating songs inspired by melodies from their past and developing life-story booklets that integrate their first language and memories.
Music has the power to unlock deepseated memories, especially when it is culturally meaningful, and that initiatives like this can provide crucial insights into
how aged care can be more inclusive and responsive to diversity, says Marino.
“By focusing on cultural safety and identity, Comusichiamo offers a nonpharmacological approach to dementia care – one that prioritises connection, dignity, and quality of life,” he says.
“Too often, aged care services overlook the cultural aspects of dementia care.
“This research highlights the important role of music and storytelling in maintaining connection and wellbeing, offering an approach that is not only therapeutic but deeply meaningful.”
Dr Simone Marino with the Choir from InCasa Aged Care and Community Services
Lena Turnbull
iStockphoto.com/Denisfilm
UniSA targets medication misadventure Providers urged to use therapy over meds
BY KATARINA LLOYD JONES
After receiving close to $1 million via a Medical Research Future Fund Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission Grant, a new University of South Australia study will trial medication safety rounds in aged care homes with the intention of preventing medication-induced harm and improving resident care.
The project will involve six aged care providers and go for two years.
By CathLeo
And UniSA’s chief investigator Associate Professor Janet Sluggett says the new medication safety rounds will lead to improvements in medication use, health and wellbeing among residents.
“Aged care residents take multiple medications, and this can increase the likelihood of medication errors and adverse events,” says Sluggett.
“Now, as a result of the Royal Commission in Aged Care Quality and Safety, pharmacists are working onsite in aged care homes to help address this issue, but we need to provide them with new tools to proactively address medication safety issues.”
The project team will work with aged care staff, health professionals, residents and families to adapt to the existing palliative care need rounds model and together they will codesign a toolkit that includes a needs rounds checklist, implementation guide and staff training package.
“With Australia’s aged care system undergoing major reforms, including the introduction of onsite pharmacists, this project leverages a critical window of opportunity to develop a new care model focused on reducing medication-induced harm and improving resident’s health and wellbeing,” Sluggett says.
BY KATARINA LLOYD JONES
Psychotropic medicines impact the central nervous system and have the potential to cause a negative effect on balance and cognitive function, increasing the risk of falls. Researchers from the Australian Institute of Health Innovation at Macquarie University are calling for regular medication reviews and an increase in the use of non-medication-based alternatives.
Conducted by PhD candidate Narjis Batool under the supervision of Dr Nasir Wabe, the study found two in five aged care residents were given potentially inappropriate psychotropic medicines over a two-year period.
“While it’s well known that psychotropic medicines are associated with an increased risk of falls in older people, the scale of the issue uncovered in this study is quite surprising,” Wabe tells Australian Ageing Agenda
“The fact that 40 per cent of aged care residents were prescribed potentially inappropriate psychotropic medications, and that 70 per cent of those experienced at least one fall – with a third requiring hospitalisation –highlights the magnitude of the problem,” he says.
Wabe says providers should look at alternative treatment options such as behavioural therapy, social interaction and group activities as pathways to consider.
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This guide outlines key outcomes to be achieved and demonstrates how Acredia's software can support your compliance journey. Scan the QR code to download your copy.
Dr Nasir Wabe
Dr JanetSluggett
Global partnerships key to a stronger future
THE RECENT World Ageing Festival in Singapore was a global gathering of people whose hearts and minds are committed to improving the lives of older people. It reminded us that we are not alone in the challenges we face – and by sharing and learning with our international partners, we can turn these challenges into opportunities.
It gave Ageing Australia the chance to showcase Australian innovation, forge new connections, and learn from some of the world’s best.
A highlight for me was signing a new Memorandum of Understanding with Ageing Asia founder and managing director Janice Chia. This partnership is fundamental to our threeyear global engagement strategy – a foundational step that will drive collaboration and knowledge sharing and strengthen services for older people both here and overseas.
Tom Symondson, chief executive officer of Ageing Australia
“We can learn from our dedicated leaders across the Australian sector”
to our international peers, whether they are in Singapore, Tokyo or Seoul.
Communities in the AsiaPacific are facing the same demographic pressures as Australia, and we have so much to learn from them.
We must embrace the innovative solutions demonstrated by our global
Innovation Transforming Aged Care conference in Melbourne, I spoke about the urgent need for our sector to stay ahead of change.
“AI will not take your job, but someone who uses it will take your customers,” is a quote I’ve heard recently that sticks in my mind.
Innovation is everywhere. Often, the biggest barriers are the ones we impose on ourselves.
If we want aged care in Australia to thrive, we must be proactive, ambitious and willing to look globally for new ideas and solutions.
has shown how creativity and new thinking can make a real difference to people’s lives.
We can learn from our dedicated leaders across the Australian sector, but also by looking beyond our borders
Countries like Japan and South Korea are not just confronting the challenges of ageing, they are leading from the front, taking bold risks, embracing artificial intelligence, robotics and smart technologies to transform care for older people.
At Ageing Australia’s
Our partnership with Ageing Asia is a great leap forward. It signals our commitment to a future where older people can live with dignity, purpose and opportunity, wherever they reside.
By working together and embracing innovation, we can ensure Australia’s aged care sector remains one of the best in the world. ●
Oral health critical to overall wellbeing at all ages
THERE ARE ISSUES with older Australians’ access to dental services, which need to be addressed.
Access to dental services is an issue for older people regardless of whether they are living in the community or in residential aged care.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommended the establishment and implementation of a Seniors Dental Benefits Scheme; a recommendation COTA Australia has been advocating for years. Unfortunately, to this point, no action has been taken.
Good dental care is essential to overall health, no matter your age. However, as you get older the risk of broader health implications increases.
Older Australians are more susceptible to chronic diseases such as dental decay, gum
disease and oral cancer. As well as related outcomes including increased embarrassment and social isolation.
There is also a concerning link between poor dental health and increased risks of diabetes, heart disease and chronic malnutrition in older people.
The statistics are stark and highlight why a Seniors Dental Benefits Scheme is needed: Australian Dental Association 2022-23 data shows that 16,000 people over the age of 65 ended up in hospital because they couldn’t afford to go to the dentist.
In fact, the cost of accessing dental care is the main blockage with 57 per cent saying it’s the reason they delay or don’t go to the dentist.
People said this in our polling in April 2024 and this response was confirmed when the ADA undertook their
was the main reason older Australians put off getting dental treatment, with almost two in three over 65s (64 per cent) delaying dental trips in the last year, because they couldn’t afford it.
The government has introduced a Children’s Dental Benefits Scheme, so it is unclear
why it isn’t considering the same for older Australians.
The recent Senior Dental Benefits Schedule pilot successfully trialled by the ADA in Maroubra, in Sydney’s east, reinforces the fact that if older Australians can take care of their oral health for the next five-to-10 years, it will massively reduce the burden to the overall health system in the following decade and beyond.
As I write this, we still have no commitment to such a scheme, although there is acknowledgement of need for action in the future. It is becoming abundantly clear that we will need to continue the fight alongside our colleagues at the ADA to ensure older people can access timely dental care. Watch the ADA Senior Dental Benefits Schedule pilot press conference:
youtu.be/khDlP7kxoZI ●
Patricia Sparrow, chief executive of COTA Australia
All about financial powers of attorney
PROFESSOR
NOLA RIES discusses applying the concept of will and preferences in money and property matters.
In two previous articles in Australian Ageing Agenda, Theresa Flavin (Nov-Dec 2024) and Dr Craig Sinclair (Autumn 2025) shared their perspectives on decision-making by, with and for people with cognitive disability.
Flavin, who lives with dementia, declared: “I want to feel safe when I think about my future, and I want to guide and support the people and systems that will have carriage of … my living wishes.”
In turn, Sinclair proposed a model for how those who support and, when necessary, make decisions for a person with impaired capacity can meaningfully implement a will and preferences approach.
I add to this conversation by considering the often-fraught topic of money and property. I consider the role and responsibilities of people appointed as financial enduring powers of attorney, or FEPOA.
A FEPOA is a legal instrument by which an adult – known as the principal – appoints one or more people – the attorney – to manage their legal obligations, money and property, particularly during periods of incapacity.
Following a diagnosis of dementia, people are often encouraged to “organise their affairs.” This is shorthand for legal planning, including making or updating a will and enduring appointments like FEPOAs.
Most people diagnosed with dementia reportedly have FEPOAs in place, according to research led by the Australian Community of Practice in Research and Dementia.
FEPOAs are meant to give people peace of mind about how their money and property will be managed in the future. Financial security supports the sense of safety Flavin seeks – knowing that bills will be paid and money available to cover living expenses, housing and needed services.
“An appointed attorney should not take over decisions that a person has capacity to make independently or with appropriate support.”
FEPOAs are powerful legal instruments. People in the role have duties to act responsibly and diligently in the interests of the principal. However, studies suggest many cases of financial elder abuse involve wrongful use of FEPOAs, most commonly by adult children appointed as attorneys.
Abuse of FEPOAs occurs in various ways. Appointed attorneys may prematurely take control over decision-making. They do not respect decisions the principal can make independently, nor offer supports to help the principal make decisions.
Abuse may involve misappropriating money to benefit the attorney, using the principal’s money in ways they would not approve, neglecting to pay bills and leaving the principal without sufficient resources to meet their needs.
Abuse can also occur when attorneys overstep the legal boundaries of their role and assert control over decisions they have no authority to make. For example, they might restrict who can visit the principal in an aged care home.
Several factors contribute to these problems. In 2024, the office of Australia’s Age Discrimination Commissioner undertook a national survey on public knowledge and use of FEPOAs.
The report, Empowering Futures, revealed worrying findings. I set out here ways to avoid these problems and draw on the proposals from Flavin and Sinclair.
Flavin emphasised: “I desperately need to project my own voice in supporting future decisions…”. While we often think of supported decision-making as how a person supports someone living with cognitive disability, Flavin emphasises the person preparing for future changes in their capacity also supports the process.
In the context of FEPOAs, I outline four key aspects below. The first three focus on choices and communication led by the principal while the fourth aspect focuses on how the appointed attorney functions in the role.
1. Selecting a person suited to the role
An attorney should be trustworthy, confident in financial decision-making, able to keep good financial records and have the time needed to carry out the role properly.
The AHRC survey found that nearly 40 per cent of people who made a FEPOA had appointed someone with risk factors for abusing the role. Such factors include being dependent on the principal and problems with gambling, alcohol or drugs.
2. Careful drafting of the FEPOA document
An FEPOA is not just an appointment of a trusted person to manage money and property. It also serves as a directive to express the principal’s will.
To quote Flavin: “I want to back my supporters and providers
Professor Nola Ries
and give them an evidential backstop to support and enact decisions without fear of challenge from dissenting parties.”
The principal can tailor the FEPOA document to provide this “evidential backstop”. They can limit or put conditions on the attorney’s power and set out instructions for how their assets should be managed. For example, they can exclude the power to sell a family home and require an annual audit by a nominated accountant.
They can also specify acceptable gift-giving and permissible uses of money for the attorney to meet their own expenses.
The AHRC survey found that only 27 per cent of people reported considering whether to set limits or conditions on their attorneys. This means many FEPOAs are ‘blank cheques’ that expose principals to risks of financial abuse.
3. Preparing the person for the role
The AHRC survey also found few principals had discussions with appointed attorneys to prepare them for future decision-making. Doing so means principals can ensure the attorney knows their wishes about money and how it should be spent.
They can also clarify other legal arrangements they’ve made to safeguard the future financial security of people who matter most to them. For example, the principal may have selected specific people to be beneficiaries in their will.
Preparation for the FEPOA role can also include discussion of how to navigate future situations where expressed preferences seem risky or at odds with the principal’s long-held values. This is advance preparation for implementing the will and preferences approach.
For instance, how should the attorney respond should the principal want to use their money to gamble or donate to causes they previously would not have supported? Would supporting the principal’s decisions be acceptable up to a certain financial limit? Where would they draw the line to say that the attorney should not accede to preferences expressed during periods of impaired capacity?
Flavin’s experience underscores the importance of preparing for such situations: “I’ve lived the pain and shame of making choices inconsistent with my core being, and I don’t like it.”
4. Following a decision-making framework
Capacity is decision-specific, and an appointed attorney should not take over decisions that a person has capacity to make independently or with appropriate support.
Where substitute decision-making may be required, Sinclair sets out steps to consider in implementing a will and preferences approach. He points out this approach, undergirded by respect for human rights, recognises “that not all preferences are created equally.” Current preferences must be considered in relation to the person’s “life history [and] risks to their financial, physical or emotional wellbeing”.
In the case of money or property, does a currently expressed preference – such as wanting to gift large sums of money to a new companion – contradict previously expressed values and priorities? Would supporting this choice be inconsistent with the rights of others, such as people the principal named as beneficiaries in a will they made at a time when they had capacity to do so? Would it be unlawful under the responsibilities, limits and conditions of the FEPOA for the attorney to facilitate the financial or property transaction? Would it otherwise not be feasible to implement?
These four key aspects aim to improve FEOPA arrangements, with attention to preparing for, supporting and making decisions.
The Compass website provides a helpful summary of the legal framework governing FEPOAs for each state and territory and links to further resources (compass.info/featured-topics/powers-of-attorney). ●
Dr Nola Ries is a professor of law at University of Technology Sydney and a research leader with the UTS Ageing Research Collaborative
their CEOs in the region to enhance their networking and purchasing power and support each other.
Originally established between Carinya Lodge Homes in Korumburra and Prom Country Aged Care in Foster, Woorayl Lodge in Leongatha joined a couple of years later. Since then, Grace has grown to eight members, including Ashleigh House in Sale, Rose Lodge in Wonthaggi, Hillview Bunyip in Bunyip, Millhaven Lodge in Pakenham and Yallambie in Traralgon.
The group meets once every two months and members are always available to support one another, especially when it comes to sharing information.
“It means we can give others a walkthrough of what we did – what wasn’t right, what was and what we could have done better – and help our fellow notfor-profit standalones succeed,” Snell tells AAA.
“It’s good to have that person that you can ring and say, ‘Hey have you ever had this happen before? What did you do?’”
She emphasises the importance of having a support system at home too and balancing work and her personal life to avoid burnout. Snell’s husband, a primary school principal, has relatable similarities in his work. She has families at Yallambee that are “protective of their parents” while he has families protective of their children.
Alison Snell is:
Snell credits her mother and mother-in-law for helping her balance mum life with her career when her children were younger. Despite the road to balance being “a long one” she tells AAA that “when I go home, I go home” nowadays.
“I used to go to meetings in Melbourne where there’d be other managers that would work all the time,” she says.
“I go home and I’ll be in the mum role. I think that’s what’s kept me here as long as I’ve been here. I’ve seen others burn out. They throw 24 hours a day, seven days a week into it. If you do burn out, you’re no good to anybody.”
Among the challenges in her current role – albeit with a positive ending – Snell tells AAA about a critical incident that occurred when she joined the team three-and-a-half years ago involving a resident in the dementia specific area and other residents.
“There were quite a few people injured, and the executive team pretty much left,” she says.
“We had no other executives here. So I’ve had the opportunity to find amazing people to put into those roles. Now it’s working like clockwork. It’s really good.”
Among other successes since she has taken the helm, Snell highlights reducing the use of agencies to meet staffing needs and the ongoing redevelopment of existing buildings and units.
Our conversation turns to Yallambee’s five-year strategic plan and future business goals.
“At the next board meeting we’ll bring those plans forward and put a recommendation of each one we feel to be the right fit,” she says.
• a graduate of Monash University where she gained a Bachelor of Nursing
• a keen netballer
• passionate about horses and rides socially with friends
• a mother of children that range in age from 33 to 16.
With 100 independent living units as well as a nursing home, she says there is a possibility of creating a new care model with a house concierge to provide more personalised care in the future.
“You would still have your registered nurse, carers and cleaners but adding a house concierge who looks after the house and organises their day. If a resident has an appointment, making sure that somebody’s got them up at a certain time,” says Snell.
“If you do burn out, you’re no good to anybody.”
“When somebody comes out in the morning, it’s more of a kitchen, so that resident’s favourite breakfast is available. When a new person arrives, being able to say ‘what did you normally have in your pantry?’ and trying to source those foods so that we can have them all day for them.”
As our time comes to an end, Snell expresses her hopes for Yallambee’s coming year, including remaining a “pillar of the community” and building on their current successes.
“We at Yallambee want to keep building with staff and residents, involving them in the strategic plan to get a good idea of what everyone sees our future picture to be and staying financially viable,” she tells AAA
“We want to remain somewhere where the occupancy is fantastic. We’ve always got a waiting list,” Snell says. “And a grant would be fantastic!” ●
Resident-friendly tech
Still packed with residents’ favourite programs, Foxtel Business iQ is now an all-in-one TV entertainment, direct messaging and information sharing platform for aged care communities.
Like the sector’s ongoing journey of reform, Foxtel’s Business iQ is evolving to better meet the needs of aged care residents and those who care for them.
The user interface received “a new coat of paint” at the end of last year, explains Tom Enright, Foxtel’s national health manager.
“We’ve taken cues from the best elements of our Foxtel residential platform and looked to other popular streaming services like Netflix to inspire a user-friendly, easy-to-follow and accessible interface,” Enright tells Australian Ageing Agenda
It’s intuitive, and users can see content in tabs. It means new residents who had Foxtel before going into care will recognise Business iQ because it looks familiar, he adds.
Tom Enright
The updates – which come after listening to industry feedback and speaking to residents about things they liked and could be improved – also include a bigger and more user-friendly remote control that Foxtel is now rolling out across the industry.
“It’s ergonomically designed so that when it sits on a flat surface, residents can scoop their hand under it and lift it easily. It’s got bigger buttons, fewer buttons and a tactile layout,” says Enright.
Other features familiar to streamers include the ability for residents, visitors or a lifestyle member to pair a portable device with the Business iQ box and cast to the television.
“One of the most compelling features of Business iQ – and a key reason for its strong appeal among care providers – is its ability to facilitate direct communication between staff and residents, enabling the seamless sharing of messages and information via the TV screen,” says Enright.
“This is more than a list of TV channels. It’s a digital, modern, time efficient and a potential costsaving tool. And that’s all before we get to what’s on the TV.”
A community hub
Staff can send live or scheduled messages to individuals or groups of residents to see rolling across their TV screens including personalised and special messages.
“Care providers can greet residents every morning with a ‘Good morning, Nancy’. We know that when residents see that, their eyes light up,” Enright tells AAA
“Or it could be other information, such as, ‘Hey Nancy, don’t
forget about your podiatrist appointment at two o’clock. Or, ‘you’ve got a hairdressing appointment in the in-house salon,’” he says.
“Alternatively, it can also be generic messages that go to everybody, such as ‘Bingo starts at two o’clock,’ or ‘We’ve got a bus trip to the RSL.’”
The information sharing features include customisable tiles on the screens to create “a digital compendium” for residents.
“This is like a hotel service showing what’s going on around the aged care home. It’s an opportunity for care providers to share any information they want that might be useful for the residents.”
This, suggests Enright, could be a staff directory of the people looking after residents every day, the weekly menu, or activities on offer such as art therapy, dance lessons, cards and coffee or walking groups.
“One of the particularly valuable things we’ve had feedback on is the ability to share the lifestyle calendar via the television,” says Enright.
It is replacing hard copies printed and slid under residents’ doors or laminated and tacked to notice boards.
“There are cost and time efficiencies with being able to have all this information in a digital compendium on the resident’s TV screen,” he says.
Staff add all information to the system via a password controlled backend portal called EzVu.
“It’s user-friendly and simple to use. Staff can copy content from existing materials or upload new information, making it easy to keep everything up to date. And it’s all shown on the TV screen.”
The depth of appeal of these features initially took Enright by surprise.
“When we launched this platform, I thought it would be the movies, the on-demand library, the ad-free content or the sheer depth and breadth of our content that would prick the imagination of care providers,” Enright tells AAA
and around 1,100 movies in the library, which is refreshed monthly.
“We’ve got something for the kids and grandkids when they visit on the weekend, and the classic old stuff, which is appropriate for the aged care demographic,” adds Enright.
“One of the great things about our movie offering is they’re ad-free during the movie, so none of the interruptions you get on local TV.”
Taking centre stage in sport are Fox League and Fox Footy, the channels that respectively feature rugby league and AFL.
“We’ve got every game of every round live for these two codes,” says Enright. “And our coverage during play is ad-free, so no irritating interruptions between whistle to whistle or siren to siren.”
On top of the live action is ondemand historical programs, such as grand finals from decades ago.
“It gives us confidence and makes us feel justified in saying that we’ve got something for everybody, and that our content selection is unrivalled and unmatched in Australia when we can dive so far back to the VFL and AFL grand finals over the past decades,” says Enright.
More to come
These new features are already here, but it’s only the start of the ongoing evolution of Business iQ.
“We’ve got a dedicated product team constantly looking for ways to enhance the existing service,” says Enright. “We take feedback we receive from the industry and, where appropriate, incorporate suggestions into our product roadmap to benefit the broader customer base.”
Software changes occur via a seamless automatic update process that happens in the background usually overnight when there’s least disruption.
“There are cost and time efficiencies with being able to have all this information in a digital compendium on the resident’s TV screen.”
“But one of the things that resonated with people was the direct messaging to the resident and the information sharing. They were of equally high value as the fabulous content that we’ve got.”
Premium content
And let’s not ignore the entertainment side of Business iQ, which has a scrollable 14-day electronic program guide that covers all Foxtel and local network channels.
“We’ve got lifestyle. We’ve got entertainment. We’ve got documentaries. We bring the world to their living room when they’re not as mobile as they used to be,” says Enright.
The two jewels in the content crown, he says, are movies and sports. There are 10 movie channels split by genre, such as romance, action and adventure, comedy and even one dedicated to the movie greats,
“We 100 per cent guarantee our hardware and software, and when the new phases come through, it just happens automatically. There’s no need for any adjustments with the hardware or retuning boxes,” says Enright.
Everything about Business iQ is a jump forward in the user experience and benefits for residents and staff, he adds.
“It is state of the art in terms of TV entertainment, information sharing and messaging in a commercial environment.” ●
“Bridget’s been approaching things from the worker’s perspective, trying to establish what good communication looks like in an aged care setting and what competencies aged care workers need to be effective communicators,” says Wallace.
Despite there being lots of community communication partner training programs out there “specific to a particular condition” she says they discovered a gap.
“Nothing covers communication disability, intergenerational communication and cultural linguistic diversity for direct care workers in Australia. We know how difficult it is in those settings; resourcing and time wise for staff and there’s a high turnover,” Wallace says.
“We’ve been thinking about how we could deliver training that’s easily accessed by aged care staff that can be delivered in a flexible way and [considers] the changing workforce. We’ve identified that we need something that is created to be fit for purpose for our setting.”
King adds that communication is a “vital but neglected component” of inclusion.
“Many people expressed frustration that our aged care system doesn’t create adequate space for meaningful conversations about care,” she says.
The research points to a need for tools for identifying when and how a person would like support for their communication and a need for clear guidelines including how providers can ensure they’ve communicated effectively and provided proper communication support, says King.
“The same applies to supported decision-making,” she says. “We need clarity on what it looks like and how to know if effective support has been provided.”
King also coordinates the project’s lived experience advisory group. There are six members including Lesley Forster, who represents older people with physical disabilities.
Forster says care for older people and people with disabilities has traditionally been “patriarchal” with decisions made for them. To highlight the lack of true choice in care decisions, she shares a personal experience of being pressured by a doctor to stop receiving eye injections.
“The problem came back along with the needles in my eyes, but it was a decision made for me that I was supposedly being given a choice for but it wasn’t really a choice at all,” Forster tells AAA
Decisions in aged care homes and home care often deny people the right to support due to government regulations, she adds.
The project showcases the importance of better training and opportunities for true decision-making and person-centred care, says Forster, who notes this research also focuses on improving care by considering the perspectives of both care providers and consumers.
She stresses it is important to get the research right to ensure it reflects the needs and wants of people receiving care.
“The research has been interesting from my perspective… looking
people are happy, they’re much easier to look after,” Forster tells AAA
The project team will now co-design training and tools with stakeholders including workers and residents and representatives from partner organisations – which include Wesley Mission Queensland, Southern Cross Care Queensland, and Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
Wallace says they have secured representatives from lots of different organisations to ensure they can develop something that is going to be successful in aged care in Australia. Other partners include Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland, Older Persons Advocacy Network, Dementia Australia, Speech Pathology Australia, Audiology Australia and Southern Queensland Rural Health.
Wallace is optimistic the co-design process will lead to effective and meaningful interventions. The next step involves a series of workshops to bring together groups of stakeholders to work on the different aspects of the interventions.
“I’m hoping everybody brings their perspective on what’s important in those particular settings, what’s going to help and what’s going to hinder,” she tells AAA
“The best co-design sessions are ones where people feel comfortable to bring their experience to the table. So hopefully there’ll be a lot of great discussion and ideas, then translating those ideas into the design of this training, the tool and guidelines.”
King is as passionate as Wallace but acknowledges there is a “long way to go” when it comes to addressing the issues identified by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
“There’s tremendous commitment and passion across the sector and I’m committed to contributing to research with real-world impact,” King tells AAA
That includes “defining what better communication and support for decision-making should look like in settings like residential facilities, helping service providers and staff provide better communication support and decision-making support, and applying our knowledge about better conversations to empower older people to express their choices and be heard,” she says.
Forster hopes the research will raise awareness among decisionmakers and improve the overall quality of care despite the differences in preferences that older people, carers and providers may have.
“It’s a balancing act between the rights of the person, duty of care, dignity and risk. It’s not easy but there’s a way of doing it that works well for [all] sides and leaves everybody feeling more like looking after people in a more modern and effective way.”
Wallace, who has had a research project like this in mind for the last 20 years, is positive they will achieve what they are hoping for.
“If we authentically work together with the people who are going to use these interventions, and we listen and engage, we’ll develop something that’s going to be useful. And that’s what we’re trying to do; develop something that will help,” she says. “Something that’s going to be meaningful.” ●
Stakeholders participate in a project planning day
Human rights-driven care
Equipping aged care workers with the skills and confidence to deliver reablement is crucial, write Dr CLAIRE GOUGH and HILARY O’CONNELL.
Australia’s 370,000 aged care workers provide vital support across home and residential care, covering everything from nursing and allied health to cleaning and gardening. With 40 per cent of the workforce born overseas, this diverse cohort brings a wealth of cultural perspectives, skills, and experiences that shape how care is delivered.
As the demand for support services continue to grow, aged care workers need multidisciplinary skills to support an ageing population. The workforce is expected to juggle responsibilities like dementia care, mental health support, palliative care, and reablement – all within tight time constraints. Collaboration and knowledge-sharing are key to upskilling the workforce and improving person-centred care, especially for those from diverse backgrounds.
Dr Claire Gough Hilary O’Connell
At the 2024 Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia National Aged Care Rehabilitation and Reablement Roundtables, stakeholders stressed the importance of educating workers on reablement.
Care workers – who often have the most direct and frequent contact with older adults – are positioned to model reablement principles by “doing with” rather than “doing for” those in their care. This approach not only fosters greater independence and dignity for clients but has the potential to reduce the workload in the long term. This poses the question: is the aged care workforce well equipped to deliver reablement?
Reablement rewards staff
There is a need to promote aged care as a rewarding career for nursing and allied health students by embedding reablement
education into university curricula. While universities are expanding placements with aged care providers, graduates must also be equipped to lead reablement implementation.
Frontline aged care workers’ understanding of reablement is influenced by leadership and access to practical resources. Although Certificate III and IV programs highlight independence, there remains a gap in hands-on training tools. Strengthening these resources is crucial to supporting effective reablement in daily practice.
ARIIA’s Knowledge and Implementation Hub provides high-quality, evidence-based resources (ariia.org.au/knowledgeimplementation-hub), but more practical, real-world tools are needed. To truly empower the workforce, educational resources must be accessible, interactive, and adaptable to the sector’s challenges. The key question remains: how do we develop fit-forpurpose tools that aged care workers can readily apply?
Provide fit-for-purpose resources
Reablement prioritises restoring everyday skills and upholding independence, dignity, and autonomy. However, its success hinges on a well-trained workforce. Without practical, accessible resources, reablement risks becoming just a buzzword.
Aged care workers come from diverse educational backgrounds, often with limited formal training. Expecting them to implement reablement without proper support is unrealistic. Training must shift from passive, theory-heavy modules to hands-on, interactive learning that equips staff for real-world challenges.
Instead of simply assisting with daily tasks, workers should be trained to encourage independence – whether supporting self-care activities or implementing therapist-led programs. This requires more than instructions; it demands practical training in motivational techniques and scenario-based learning, role-playing, case studies, and simulations that bring reablement to life.
Technology can enhance training accessibility through mobilefriendly resources, online modules, video demonstrations and virtual reality. Flexible, bite-sized training allows workers to learn on the go without disrupting their duties, while digital platforms ensure up-to-date content reflecting best practices.
Effective training also fosters empathy and cultural understanding. With a diverse workforce and client base, reablement must incorporate multilingual resources and culturally sensitive scenarios to ensure personalised, respectful care.
Embedding reablement into daily practice is essential.
Mentorship, peer learning, and team discussions help reinforce skills and encourage knowledge sharing. Leadership plays a vital role in fostering a culture of continuous learning, ensuring staff feel inspired and unburdened by reablement principles. Recognising and supporting those who embrace reablement will drive meaningful change in aged care.
Commit to action
Reablement is more than a concept – it’s a movement that champions independence over dependence in aged care. Aligned with the World Health Organisation’s human rights and advocacy principles, it urges us to rethink care delivery. Success hinges on empowering the workforce through accessible, practical training.
To embed reablement in practice, we must:
• offer scenario-based, flexible training using digital tools, virtual reality, and mobile-friendly resources
• regularly update training materials to reflect best practices
• promote cultural competency through empathy-driven, multilingual resources
• foster continuous learning via mentorship, peer discussions, and leadership advocacy
• integrate reablement into daily routines to inspire staff and sustain engagement.
Continuous learning
By taking these steps, we can transform aged care into a model of empowerment, independence and dignity. Let’s commit to making this vision a reality.
Transforming reablement from theory to practice starts with empowering the workforce through practical, accessible, and culturally responsive training. By embedding reablement in education, equipping frontline workers with the right tools, and using technology for flexible learning, we can build a skilled, confident workforce that prioritises independence and dignity.
Strong leadership is key. Fostering a culture of continuous learning, mentorship, and peer support ensures reablement becomes part of daily care. This isn’t just a framework; it’s a human rights-driven movement. Investing in education and shifting mindsets will create a future where older adults thrive, and aged care workers feel inspired, valued, and ready to make a difference. ●
Dr Claire Gough is a research fellow at Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia and the Caring Futures Institute, Flinders University
Hilary O’Connell is principal advisor healthy ageing and reablement at Independent Living Assessment
Working together
< NeuRA celebrates licensing of algorithm
Australian-developed gait biomarker algorithm Watch Walk AI has been licensed by Spacetalk to bring wearable alert devices to aged care providers and consumers in Australia and New Zealand. The algorithm was created by Dr Lloyd Chan, Professor Stephen Lord and Associate Professor Matthew Brodie in a combined team from University of New South Wales and Neuroscience Research Australia.
AlayaCare teams up with Simple Foods >
Australian software provider AlayaCare has partnered with Simple Foods to integrate with its residential platform and to support homes to meet the strengthened quality standards. Simple Foods offers IDDSI texture level allocation, safe allergen management, meal tray ticket printing for accurate delivery and real-time viewing of consumer meal order selection.
< Churches of Christ chooses Choice Aged Care
Churches of Christ Queensland has joined forces with professional services company Choice Aged Care in a first-of-its-kind deal to reduce medication-related risks in home care. By embedding a CAC clinical pharmacist, the partnership will assist more than 8,000 CofC community care clients who are associated with a high risk of medication misadventure.
Minikai’s AI attracts major investors >
AI agent building company Minikai secured $2.5 million in funding in February, led by early-stage venture capital firm Tidal Ventures with participation from Singapore-based early-stage investor Antler. Venture studio Mangosteen also invest in Minikai. These investments will accelerate Minikai’s mission to remove the administrative barriers and inefficiencies in aged care without deviating from regulatory requirements.
SilVR
Adventures finds popularity
< Regis Aged Care opts for Pure Food Co
Regis Aged Care has partnered with Pure Food Co to deliver more than 4,500 choices of texture-modified meals to residents across 67 facilities living with dysphagia. All meals adhere to IDDSI and follow the new aged care quality standards. Pure Food Co has provided more than 300,000 training hours to Regis staff to embed the system.
in China >
Following the 2024 rollout in Singapore, Australian VR company SilVR Adventures has expanded to China following a partnership with Sindora Living. Sindora Living is a 400-bed aged care facility spanning 20,000 square meters. It also has 224 modern apartments. Initially launched to combat social isolation, 80 per cent of Sindora Living residents who tried the SilVR Adventures tech did it in small groups, creating a shared experience and social interaction.
Credit: Simple Foods
L to R: Minikai CGO Frederik Hedegaard, CEO Keoki Alexander-Chang and CTO Kyel Shera-Jones
< Five Good Friends merges with TPG
Technology-enabled data-driven home care provider Five Good Friends has announced global alternative asset management firm TPG will acquire a majority interest to fund the organisation’s continued growth. Co-founders Simon Lockyer and Nathan Betteridge will retain significant interests in the company and continue in their leadership roles while global investment organisation EQT will retain a minority stake.
RFBI rolls out Brenna > Brenna – the app aged care nurses use to communicate information about residents to family members – has partnered with the Royal Freemasons’ Benevolent Institution. Brenna is already in use at RFBI Dubbo Masonic Village, RFBI Kurri Kurri Village, and RFBI Raleigh Urunga Village, with other sites to follow. “Can’t wait to see how Brenna becomes an integral tool throughout all of our villages,” RFBI chief executive officer Frank Price said on LinkedIn.
< Mirus Australia, ManAd announce partnership
Aged care data analytics and advisory service Mirus Australia and aged care software management system Management Advantage have joined forces with an aim of delivering greater value to aged care providers. The new partners launched the evolution of their combined technology with a new platform –Mirus Plus – at the ITAC conference in Melbourne in March.
Credit: Brenna
Simon Lockyer
L to R: Peter Staples, Rob Covino, Owen Matheson
Nathan Betteridge
Credit:
Ageing Australia
Transformation underway
Measuring the maturity of tech providers is the game-changer, says JOHN STAINES – chief information officer at Victorian aged care and retirement living provider Benetas.
What’s Benetas’ level of digital maturity and target?
We recently did a digital maturity survey. And in that space relative to the aged care industry standards, we will be sitting around three out of five, which is not bad. That said, the changes which are coming, and standards which are going to need to be delivered to our aged care customers in the future will need us to move into a higher performing level four or maybe even five; as an industry in general, to be honest.
Can you tell me about your technologyrelated priorities?
We’re about to implement a platform and series of technologies for our home care business. We’ve had a legacy home care platform for a long time. And when that was built and designed, there wasn’t any evidence-based work, which was used to establish that platform. And so the cost of the platform and the outcomes don’t align to what we need tomorrow.
In our new evolution, we’ve looked at everything including optimising the travel time of carers, accurate billing, and the ability to have a burn down chart for client budgets. Lots of different bits and pieces which will allow us to provide high quality, accurate and repeatable services, but also avail a portal for the actual consumers and their families to look at what services we’re performing.
That’s been the frustrating thing in this work because the reality is we’ve got some fabulous providers out there. We’ve got some intermediate providers and then we’ve got others that could do with some assistance to be future-fit themselves.
In the home care space, we’re also doing trials around Support at Home. Or what we call Safe at Home, which is using digital technologies for monitoring and home care practices, which will allow consumers to stay at home longer and for us to be able to monitor and the families to be able to monitor any declines at home.
What challenges are you facing, and how are you responding?
One is that the technologies available today on the market vary enormously in quality and benefit in terms of return on investment.
For example, even in the residential care practice, there are no systems to my knowledge today, or integrations today, which will allow a care plan to become a task plan, which is serviced by nurses and/or carers to which you’ve got measured outcomes which we can automatically report.
All of these things, I’m glad to say are works in progress that this symposium [ITAC conference] is developing, but there’s nothing available today. I look forward to contributing to these types of workshops and future workshops so we can deliver those outcomes, which are ultimately going to be essential if we are to then produce good data when talking about all this data governance and the single customer record. If those data items don’t intersect, then the single customer record can’t be based on an actual event that was captured digitally.
The challenge is it’s a big investment in human and cost resources to put in systems and without evidence-based practices to assess systems, we have to go on trust. And that’s a bit too risky nowadays when we know we need to meet these high standards of care for our consumers. And this is also with shrinking budgets or tighter budgets because the cost to serve is increasing.
Do you have any tips or questions for your counterparts in the sector?
Particularly for any providers like us who are considering or undergoing a digital transformation, importantly, make sure you have a set of metrics about what’s not good today and a set of metrics about what you want to achieve in the future. When you’re assessing platforms, measure, for example, the money you’ll save by having route planning already delivered by the system.
Look at the money you’ll save by having the system suggest what the best balance of resources are so that you won’t breach awards and therefore have to pay unhelpful penalties.
Look at systems which essentially give you automated reporting when it comes to, for example, a care plan, the tasks for those care plans, the associated work done, for example, not just in AN-ACC minutes but those AN-ACC minutes being related to tasks which have been served on a consumer, so that the consumer is getting the best outcomes. ●
As told to Natasha Egan at the Innovation Transforming Aged Care Conference 2025 in Melbourne in March 2025
We asked four Positive Ageing Summit speakers: Question
“How
can aged care providers embed positive ageing practices in
their services?”
Focus on support for thriving over care for decline
POSITIVE AGEING is more than just living longer; it is about living optimally.
Everyone, regardless of age or health status, has the right to experience a life filled with dignity, purpose, and wellbeing. Individuals receiving aged care services are also entitled to this right.
Aged care providers play a critical role in ensuring their clients not only receive the support they need but are empowered to continue living a meaningful and socially connected life.
Positive ageing is also a holistic consideration of one’s physical, mental, emotional, and social wellbeing. This includes helping individuals stay active, engaged, and independent.
Allied health professionals play a vital role in making positive ageing possible.
This includes services like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology, dietetics, and podiatry. They are not optional extras to aged care services; they are essential services that should be available to all older people.
Allied health services play a crucial role in supporting mobility, preventing falls and improving nutrition. They also assist with managing chronic diseases, enhancing communication and cognitive function, and promoting mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Aged care providers should focus on “support for thriving” rather than “care for decline”. This means involving older people in care decisions, acknowledging their goals and preferences, and creating environments that promote autonomy, connection and enjoyment.
Allied health is not a nice to have, but a core service that can significantly reduce hospital admissions, support early intervention, delay or prevent physical and cognitive decline, and enable people to remain active and engaged in their community.
All aged care providers, both residential and home care services, must assess and respond to the allied health needs of all their clients. This includes developing individualised care plans and involving allied health professionals early and as required to ensure clients have access to the services they need to age positively and maintain their independence.
Anita Hobson-Powell is Australia’s chief allied health officer
PAS 2025: Anita Hobson-Powell delivers a keynote on allied health and aged care on day 1
Foster a culture that values seniors as individuals
POSITIVE AGEING is more than just a philosophy – it’s a proactive approach to supporting older individuals in leading healthy, engaged and meaningful lives. For community aged care providers, embedding positive ageing practices means reshaping mindsets and services to focus on capability, not just care.
As a general practitioner who shares many older patients with community aged care providers, I am perplexed at the lack of focus many providers place on improving an older person’s intrinsic capacity whilst living at home.
The evidence is clear that the trajectory of both physical and cognitive decline can be significantly changed with improving muscle health with two to three weekly resistance exercise sessions, increased dietary protein (1.5 grams per kilogram of body weight daily) and a focus on the older person’s goals,
plus increasing social interactions.
These areas are all in the remit of the aged care provider, whilst clearly my role as a GP is to reinforce these messages as well as assessing causes for fatigue plus optimising medications and vaccinations.
I am regularly writing to package coordinators to remind them the older person we both support is living with frailty, and something can be done to improve their experience of ageing more than just having a cleaner or a weekly shower.
It could be as simple as the visiting care team member leading a regular short sitto-stand chair exercise session to build the muscles of independence.
I have found success through using Home Care Package medication charts to prescribe exercise for those people having supervised medication visits once or twice daily. Starting with five sit-to-stands once or twice daily and
increasing over 10 weeks to 15 sit-to-stands once or twice daily does yield results.
All providers involved in the care of older people do need to reinforce the message, “it’s never too late to build muscle”. However, action is required to make it happen.
At its core, positive ageing centres around respect, autonomy, and inclusion. Aged care providers can start by fostering a culture that values older people as individuals with rich experiences and ongoing potential.
This involves training staff to adopt strengths-based approaches, where conversations and care plans focus on what an older person can do and wants to do, rather than limitations or deficits.
Dr Chris Bollen is a general practitioner and primary healthcare consultant at Bollen Health
PAS 2025: Chris Bollen presents the session turning frailty around on day 2
Anita Hobson-Powell
Dr Chris Bollen
Pursuing a paradigm shift for aged care
THE INTRODUCTION of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards from July 2025 is the unprecedented impetus we desperately needed.
The standards require us, as providers, to shift our thinking about ageing and aged care to not just consider reablement – but implement it.
How do we make healthy ageing normal when we’ve normalised health decline in older people for so long?
There’s no silver bullet. It’s about tackling systemic ageism while redesigning and setting up the structures, policies, procedures and settings to strengthen opportunities for every older person to recover from setbacks and push back against disability.
As a first step, providers need to set up a model of care that is health promoting and incorporates healthy ageing actions into everyday living.
Providers should understand what is holding them back from ensuring every older person receiving aged care services can access resources to improve their health outcomes up until they die.
Asking what healthy ageing looks like is a sound start. Talking with hundreds of older people over the years, the answer to this question is almost always the same – being able to actively interact and connect with their family and community. Eating, talking, walking and going on outings with them. Being able to feed themselves and go to the toilet with some assistance is fundamental to their dignity as well as staying on their feet as long as they possibly can.
It is important for providers to implement healthy ageing holistically as an organisation not as an isolated program carried out by one part of the business.
Developing policies, procedures, structures and roles to help their model come alive is paramount. Parameters, including timeframes, also need to be set
“As a first step, providers need to set up a model of care that is health promoting”
around the recovery pathway, to ensure progression.
Also, it’s critical to consider whether the aged care setting creates illbeing or wellbeing. This includes the look, feel and logistics of the physical environment as well as the culture.
Structured exercise and social engagement must be prioritised and supported with the appropriate resources and equipment.
Staff deserve to be educated and empowered to identify, advocate and rise up to the challenge and push back against dependency. They will have the knowledge and agency to recognise decline early and harness their connection with older people and take proactive steps to address it.
Expectations are rising. As providers, we will all be asked: Did you provide that person access to interventions that would improve their health and wellbeing? The measurement of the new standards will push us and that’s only positive.
Jo Boylan is chief executive officer of Clayton Church Homes
PAS 2025: Jo Boylan delivers a session on mobilising till end of life on day 1
A collaborative approach is paramount
THE AUSTRALIAN aged care landscape is undergoing a significant shift, with a clear emphasis on restorative approaches. This is evidenced by the renewed Restorative Care Pathway in the Support at Home program and its prominent inclusion in the latest Support at Home program manual. This change signals a commitment to empowering older adults.
Restorative care at its core is about enabling individuals to actively participate in meaningful life activities and roles. This might involve rehabilitation to regain lost function or providing adaptive strategies and education to overcome limitations.
The fundamental shift is from a “doing for” to a “doing with” philosophy, underpinned by a strengths-based approach – a cornerstone of allied health practice, particularly for occupational therapists.
Occupational therapists are uniquely positioned to drive positive ageing through restorative care. Their expertise lies in analysing functional performance, identifying barriers to participation, and developing tailored interventions that maximise independence and well-
being. They bring a holistic perspective, considering the individual’s physical, cognitive, and environmental factors to facilitate engagement in daily life.
A core aim of occupational therapy in this context is to support individuals in maintaining their functional abilities for as long as possible, emphasising the critical role of sustaining daily activities, roles, and routines. The adage “use it or lose it” is particularly relevant here.
Participation in familiar activities, regardless of how seemingly small, such as making a drink, collecting mail, or caring for a pet, is vital for preserving physical movement, cognitive engagement, and a sense of purpose, all of which are integral
“A truly effective approach to positive ageing necessitates a combination of services that both analyse and sustain older adults’ activities as they age”
to positive ageing and function.
A truly effective approach to positive ageing necessitates a combination of services that both analyse and sustain older adults’ activities as they age, through the expertise offered by occupational therapists, alongside services that complement their existing abilities and strengths, such as the crucial support provided by care staff.
For aged care providers to genuinely embed restorative practices and achieve this delicate but vital balance, a collaborative, multidisciplinary team approach is paramount.
By leveraging the unique skills of occupational therapists and fostering close collaboration with personal care and support staff, providers can equip their teams with the knowledge and strategies to consistently integrate restorative principles into daily interactions, ultimately promoting independence, dignity, and positive ageing outcomes for older Australians.
Christina Wyatt is a professional practice advisor of aged care at Occupational Therapy Australia
PAS 2025: Christina Wyatt is presenting on the multidisciplinary approach on day 1
Christina Wyatt
Jo Boylan
LAgeing positively –redefining older age
ife expectancy spent in full health is increasing nationally, with Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures showing three quarters of Australians aged over 65 report having good, very good or excellent health.
Persistent stereotypical ideas about older people – and the language used to talk about getting older – are increasingly out of step.
While chronological age is a constant, biological age is something that can be influenced, with a growing body of research showing proactive interventions can make a real difference to wellbeing at any stage of life.
What is considered “old” is up for debate, and the baby boomers and following generations are set to reinvent it further.
That’s backed up by the Bolton Clarke Research Institute’s Health and Wellbeing in Retirement Living survey, with 70 per cent of 1500-plus village residents reporting they exercised at least once a week, including regular cardio activities, and 90 per cent feeling positive or very positive about life.
The secrets to positive ageing
The Bolton Clarke Ageing Well Report 2024 found having greater choice about work and more time to focus on wellbeing, hobbies and interests were the top three things respondents looked forward to about ageing.
Across all age groups, respondents were most likely to say physical fitness was the top ingredient for positive ageing, closely followed by strong relationships.
Bolton Clarke Research Institute Senior Research Fellow Rajna Ogrin says the findings broadly reflect the priorities of ageing well frameworks being developed in Australia and overseas.
“By 2097 about one in four Australians will be over 65,” she says.
“This means we have a great opportunity to make the most of all this experience, but we need to start by helping people live active and healthy lives.”
Dr Ogrin says physical activity, cognitive training, nutrition and social engagement are among the keys to ageing well and protecting against frailty.
“There’s good evidence to show you can slow and even reverse the trajectory of functional decline in older adults.
“We know that physical exercise like strength and resistance training is effective, and it’s more effective if you do it in a group situation. Everyday activities such as cleaning the house, getting out into the garden or running errands are also great ways to get moving.
“Being physically active is good for your body, your mind, your health and your mood. Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, helping with growth of new brain cells. It also improves your wellbeing and helps reduce stress and anxiety.”
Connecting with community
Social connection is another important positive ageing ingredient. Research shows building and maintaining social connections is important for physical, psychological and social wellbeing. Friendship has one of the highest positive correlations with self-rated happiness and is also important in managing illness and other challenges.
It’s particularly important as a protective factor in dealing with life transitions. While everybody experiences transitions during their lives, they tend to increase and have a greater impact with age. Positive changes like retiring or becoming a grandparent, or unexpected challenges such as reduced physical or cognitive ability due to illness, can affect how people see themselves, their relationships and their sense of belonging.
Fuelling your body – getting nutrition right
It’s important to eat a variety of foods. This goes hand in hand with a more natural, less processed diet which is better for physical and emotional wellbeing.
And it’s not just about what’s on the plate – cooking and sharing a meal with others is not only a great social activity but can also help stimulate appetite.
Keep learning
Scientists have found that challenging the brain with new activities builds new brain cells and strengthens the connections between them. Learning can improve self-confidence, help fight depression and help with meeting new people.
Things like learning a new language, doing an online course or cooking a new recipe are excellent examples – the key is to be trying something new.
“For providers, helping people age positively is about finding as many ways as we can to support people to adopt these behaviours, which in turn will support wellbeing and independence,” Dr Ogrin says. ●
For more information about Bolton Clarke’s work to support positive ageing go to boltonclarke.com.au/positive-ageing
Opportunities abound
New legislation offers plenty of reasons for providers to pick up their game on reablement, Positive Ageing Summit speakers tells NATASHA EGAN.
As Bolton Clarke chief executive officer Stephen Muggleton put it, “increased longevity can also lead to an expansion of morbidity.”
It means, without intervention, future older Australians will spend more time managing several chronic health conditions and associated increased frailty than living well.
But as he also points out, “it doesn’t have to be” this way.
Jason Skennerton – head of business development at allied health service Plena Healthcare – calls on both residential and home aged care providers “to flip the script” on allied health by adopting a wellness and reablement-first approach.
“This approach means focusing on using health and wellness experts to prevent health deterioration and increase independence, rather than engaging as a reaction to an incident,” Skennerton tells AAA.
“The strengthened standards, in particular Standard
identification of clinical risk, prevention and reablement.”
Dr Tim Henwood – principal at AgeFIT Solutions – says the SaH program manual’s focus on reablement
“Providers not already pivoting or at least thinking about pivoting towards allied health and therapy stand
Incoming legislation gives providers opportunities to make it worthwhile, says Skennerton. In residential aged care, this includes a new focus on reablement, increased accountability and residents’ rights.
“The Act focuses on reablement and restorative care, which makes allied health a key requirement and expectation for residents. This opens the door for more preventative and proactive allied health services under the Higher Everyday Living Fee additional services and from providers, rather than the old reactive measures,” he says.
“And unless providers are prepared to challenge the usual, historic model of care, the sector will be racing
experienced a significant increase in the quality standards and allied health and therapy will be one of only two direct service types fully funded by the government, with no out-of-pocket to the client in Support at Home.”
It’s a big change, he points out, because allied health, reablement, and wellness have traditionally been offered secondary to care and often less than evidence based.
And while some are making allied health and therapy service available to clients because they know it is valuable, they are doing it at a financial loss, says Henwood.
“However, there are already several successful and sustainable operating models out there that demonstrate this doesn’t need to be the case.”
HELF allows providers to offer and charge for enhanced wellness and lifestyle services as part of an opt-in premium resident experience. “This enables providers to generate an additional revenue stream that helps offset allied health costs while maintaining high-quality, proactive care,” says Skennerton.
With the new quality standards focusing on measurable allied health outcomes, consistent allied health data can help providers meet compliance, adds Skennerton.
“Aged care providers will be expected to tailor care around a resident’s goals. Allied health [professionals and providers] can support with assessments and interventions aligned with personal independence and wellness goals.”
For older people living at home and home care providers, the Support at Home Program presents a large shift in how aged care supports are delivered, says Skennerton.
“While some elements of Support at Home are questionable, one shining positive has been the increased focus on wellness, reablement and clinical services,” he says.
“The program ensures a with-you approach rather than [a] for-you approach is adopted to ensure health, wellness and true independence is always front of mind.
In home care, Skennerton says new quarterly budgets, capping of unspent funds and care management fees, increasing client contributions, plus wellness and reablement requirements, make an increase in preventative-focused clinical services beneficial for both clients and providers.
“Clients receive more services that improve their functional capacity and independence, providers ensure budget utilisation is strong,” which he says “will be key for home care providers to remain viable in the space” and “participants receive less out of pocket costs.”
Rather than home care providers continuing to rely on subcontracting to support clinical service delivery, Skennerton predicts partnership models at scale will become a crucial element of the SaH program to reduce risks. Doing so, he says, will benefit home care providers with:
• high quality and consistent service delivery standards
• better control of service delivery margins within a price cap environment
• alignment to wellness and reablement requirements
• integrated multidisciplinary care.
Overcoming adoption barriers
Dr Claire Gough – research fellow at Aged Care Research & Industry Innovation Australia – says the world-leading Restorative
Jason Skennerton
Dr Claire Gough
Dr Tim Henwood
Care Guidelines being developed by the Department of Health and Aged Care will provide a clear framework for providers and support older people in maintaining their independence.
To overcome current barriers to embedding reablement and restorative care, aged care providers need to recognise the longterm benefits in improving the independence and wellbeing of older people and in potentially reducing long-term care demands, she says.
“Strong leadership and sector-wide support are essential to embedding these approaches into aged care services,” Gough tells AAA
Improving awareness and understanding of what reablement and restorative care involve is another key step, she says.
“Clearly distinguishing these approaches from traditional care models will help providers, health professionals, carers, and individuals receiving care recognise their benefits and adopt them more effectively.
“For those receiving care, setting clear expectations about the importance of active participation is crucial. Ensuring individuals understand that reablement and restorative care focus on maintaining or regaining independence – rather than simply receiving assistance –will encourage engagement and lead to better outcomes.
“Additionally, embedding education and training for providers and carers, along with leadership support and practical resources, will further strengthen the adoption of these approaches across the aged care sector,” says Gough. ●
Government outlines reablement focus
Positive Ageing Summit delegates will hear directly from the Department of Health and Aged Care about the upcoming Support at Home reform.
“Recognising that poor health among older Australians has wide-reaching impacts, allied health and restorative care are a priority feature in the incoming reform,” says a department spokesperson. “All consumers will be offered these services equally under the clinical category, independent of their financial status, and at no out-ofpocket expense to them.”
While home care providers traditionally have not prioritised allied health, reablement, and restorative care, Support at Home encourages providers to pivot into this area, with both organisational benefits and positive health outcomes for their clients, the spokesperson says.
“Delegates at the Positive Ageing Summit will hear from the department firsthand about what they hope the future holds for the health of the older community. Delegates will be able to ask questions directly of the department, as well as engage with like-minded clinicians about how they are running their allied health and restorative care offerings.”
PAS 2025: Dr Tim Henwood and Dr Claire Gough are appearing on a panel discussing reablement and restorative care across the sector on day 1
PAS 2025: A Department of Health and Aged Care representative is speaking on day 2
AUSTRALIA'S LEADING CARE TRAINING AND CONSULTANCY SPECIALISTS
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Our tailored support can help you with areas such as:
Transitioning to Support at Home
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By working with LPA, you’ll gain access to services tailored to ensure you are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
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PAS 2025: Jason Skennerton is appearing on a panel tackling the real-world barriers to allied health in aged care on day 1
Positive ageing in practice
NATASHA EGAN talks to Positive Ageing Summit stakeholders about initiatives
that
are boosting the physical and mental wellbeing of older Australians.
After wearing out the bearings of his walker early in the challenge, repairs allowed Southern Cross Care NSW & ACT resident Chris Guinea to increase his daily laps of the 300-metre walking track from 30 to 60.
The 67-year-old retired pallet maker and resident of St Joseph’s Residential Care in Tweed Heads was one of 1,645 residents from 74 aged care facilities across Australia taking part in The Everest 2025 throughout March.
The four-week initiative was the latest from allied health provider Guide Healthcare aiming to inspire aged care residents to be active and mobile.
It involved teams of residents stepping out the 85-kilometre hike from Lukla in Nepal to Everest’s peak multiple times. Competitors were supported to prepare and participate, and they along with staff and family members could follow the race live on an interactive map and see daily who is leading the climb.
Guinea walked an average of 15 kilometres a day and increased that to 30 km on the last day to complete 419 km in 26 days. It meant close to five trips to the summit and best individual result.
“I got up early so I could double the number of laps I’d been doing, so I could finish on a good note,” says Guinea. “Not only do I feel fitter and stronger after doing it, but I’ve lost a fair amount of weight. I’m so proud of myself, I feel like a superhero.”
Collectively participants walked 17,920 kilometres by the end of the challenge.
“I don’t think many people in the community would have thought an aged care resident could achieve over 100 km in four weeks, yet everyone in the top 10 exceeded that distance,” Matthew Reinbott – Guide Healthcare’s general manager – tells Australian Ageing Agenda
Guide Healthcare runs these types of events regularly. Previous challenges have involved residents running marathons and competing in the Powerlympics – which includes cycling, rowing, long jump and weightlifting. A circus-themed event involved walking the tightrope, juggling and the strong man and strong woman lift.
At the heart of them all is a desire to encourage residents to be active. This is important because otherwise residents become accustomed to a sedentary lifestyle, says Reinbott.
“That has [serious] impacts on their cardiovascular health, musculoskeletal impacts of atrophying muscles, and a reduction in bone density, reduced respiratory health and all of this can lead to an increase in chronic conditions.”
Beyond competition, the event also targets wellbeing.
For Keith Johns – who resides at Goodwin Ainslie in Canberra – The Everest 2025 rekindled memories of his 2010 hike from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp and motivated him to write an 800-word account of his adventure.
“We acclimatised for a day in Lukla, getting used to the climate and the ever-present trains of dzokyos – hybrids of yak and domestic cattle – taking all manner of goods to and from the mountain villages,” writes Johns.
“A feature of the first few days trekking is the frail-looking wire suspension bridges strung across the many river gorges. It is advisable to let the dzokyo convoys clear the bridge before trying to cross yourself!”
Johns also shares the impact the event has on his wellbeing today.
“It’s unlikely that I’ll ever walk again, but while I look back on my trekking holidays with fond memories, I look forward to physio challenges like The Everest, which motivate me and help me face the future with renewed hope,” he says.
Johns completed the challenge using a dual exerciser, which can be used for hands or feet, explains Reinbott.
“Unfortunately, he can’t walk anymore but the events are about inclusion and whilst they compete for awards it’s really about any involvement to make a positive impact on their lives.”
PAS 2025: Guide Healthcare managing director Simon Kerrigan is appearing on a panel discussing reablement and restorative care across the sector on day 1
Keith Johns taking part in The Everest challenge
The Everest challenge brought back memories of Keith Johns’s trip to Nepal in 2010
Matthew Reinbott
HammondCare’s Hammond Centre and author of An Everyone Story, and Wendy Hall, director of Dementia Doulas International and author of three amazing books.
But you won’t just hear the voices of these experts, you’ll have the opportunity to hear the living experience of dementia from William (Bill) Yeates on his journey to reablement. And perhaps it is a journey we are also on to change care, to challenge thinking and to empower our workforce to do better.
We need to get this right
MARIE ALFORD previews her positive ageing masterclass on the role of reablement in dementia support.
we start to think about behaviours a little differently. Maybe through a lens of wellbeing not illbeing and through a model of active participation not deficit.
We’ve spent a lot of time on – and some of our teams have even contributed to books and resources that focus on – BPSD, which stands for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
What if we truly saw behaviour as the response to the erosion of wellbeing for the person living with dementia? And as Dr Allen Power has told us numerous times, there is no medication that strengthens wellbeing. Maybe it only diminishes it. But it isn’t easy to find our way through the maze of changes that do occur when you are living with and supporting people with dementia. So, we will ask some tough questions and give you an opportunity to ask our panel what we can do.
Everything you and I do has an element of risk. We make choices based on what creates the strongest sense of wellbeing for us – sometimes negotiating the consequences of those choices but still making them.
With the new Aged Care Act looming we need to carefully think about how, in a regulated environment that actively seeks to eliminate risk, we embrace decision-making made by those living with dementia.
If instead of saying “no we can’t” we ask “how can we” we can move to truly shared decisionmaking models.
The inference that a person with dementia can’t make a choice because they have no understanding of consequence is outdated. Sure, sometimes we need to navigate decisions carefully, but it is time to look at what true shared decision-making is.
We’ll navigate some lived experiences through the work and personal experience of our panel.
And if we’re talking about dementia, we need to address the behaviour and complex behaviour support. But maybe as we start to think about risk,
“The inference that a person with dementia can’t make a choice because they have no understanding of consequence is outdated.”
And finally, we talk about issues of engagement and re-engagement for people living with dementia.
Imagine a world where unintentionally you were removed from the things that give you purpose. Things that are part of your unique story and identity and that spark joy for you. And instead, you were presented with the type of engagement that was never part of your experience.
I imagine there’d be some consequential behaviour. And so it begins.
Engagement is more than just folding the laundry or sweeping the path, although they can be great if that is what you enjoy. Engagement is the passive and active connections that truly bring joy. How do we know what this is and then how do we build wellbeing plans?
So, whilst you are joining the amazing program at Positive Ageing Summit take the time to register for our breakfast masterclass. We will not only talk through the above issues but take the time to hear from you, the voices from the floor and across the industry and start our day, not only nourished from our meal but from the opportunity to share and learn together. Let’s leave energised for day 2 and committed to supporting wellbeing for all. ● Marie Alford is general manager of growth and innovation national programs at HammondCare
Marie Alford
Dr Duncan McKeller
Bill Yeates
Wendy Hall
Explore the world with Motiview
Physical
Cognitive
Social
Mental
Going places
A virtual cycling program helping older adults reminisce as they pedal and share stories with those around them. Motivating people to be active.
Retirement sector key to reablement uptake
Retirement villages being recognised as places that can provide federally funded care under the new Aged Care Act is a significant acknowledgement of their role in the continuum of care for older people, says Retirement Living Council executive director Daniel Gannon.
“The Australian Government has backed the RLC’s Shared Care pilot program, which will demonstrate, practically, how retirement villages can help alleviate pressure on overrun health and aged care systems by allowing older Australians to receive care in the communities they love,” Gannon tells Australian Ageing Agenda.
“The model allows services and support to be provided directly to residents in their retirement communities and all under the one roof.”
Day 1
Better Dying
Dignity in dying is key to person-centred care, says Kate Weger, national clinical governance manager at HARTMANN.
Focusing on skin care, wounds and hydration, she’ll share practical ways to support older adults at end-of-life that help both the individual and their family.
Reducing social isolation
The pilot, which is set to come to life later in the year, paves the way to delivering higher quality care more efficiently, says Gannon.
As significant demographic changes sweep across Australia, it is crucial the appropriate systems, facilities and infrastructure are in place, he says.
“By providing easier access to services – like allied health, physical rehabilitation and restorative care – retirement villages can improve health and independence for residents through preventative care.
“The close-knit communities developed in retirement villages make it easier to identify changing health needs early and respond with individualised care. The flow-on positive impacts from this reduce hospitalisations and delay the need for aged care.”
On transforming retirement villages into active ageing hubs, Dr Tuire Karaharju-Huisman – a physiotherapist, accredited exercise physiologist and research lead at HUR Australia – recommends operators start with developing an active ageing culture.
“Create a village that believes in active ageing. Make it a site where every resident is encouraged to exercise, and the village manager, allied health and lifestyle teams, together with all residents, create an inclusive space where every person is encouraged to join in.”
The Seniors Channel founder Julie HogarthWilliams and creative elder engagement specialist Maurie Voisey-Barlin are teaming up to show how reablement strategies can restore purpose, identity, and social participation among older adults through real-world examples.
Day 2
Tech for positive ageing
Youtopient founder Merlin Kong into aged care technology focused on allied health, reablement, and restorative care, innovations that have transformed the sector, and what the future holds.
Health literacy of workforce
OneCare chief executive officer Williams will demonstrate through practical strategies how building a more health-literate workforce can boost staff wellbeing, drive better client outcomes, and strengthen engagement in allied health and reablement.
Nutrition
Melissa Ruffa, national foodservice manager at Food Solutions, unpacks the critical role of nutrition in reablement and restorative care and showcases how the Aged Care Quality Standards and Support at Home reform are driving positive change in the sector.
Consumer perspective
Council of Elders chair Anne Burgess and Vector Consultants director Judith Leeson will discuss how allied health, reablement, and restorative care can truly support older adults to start strong, stay engaged, and age well.
Daniel Gannon
Dr Tuire Karaharju-Huisman
PAS 2025: Daniel Gannon and Dr Tuire Karaharju-Huisman are appearing on a panel on day 2 about how the retirement living sector and environment can drive healthier, more independent ageing.
Ageing strongly
Seniors are becoming more aware of the value of working out, exercise physiologist EMILY MOORE tells JODIE WOLF.
Exercise physiologist Emily Moore is on a mission to keep older Australians fighting fit and has been doing so for six years at Seniors Fitness, her clinic and gym in Bondi Junction in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Being the founder and director of Seniors Fitness is no easy task. Recently, Moore, 31, stepped away from training clients as demand grew to focus solely on managing the business and help “fix things when things need fixing.”
“I do a bit of everything,” she tells Australian Ageing Agenda. “I still love what I do. I work a little bit from home because it’s easier to get things done when I’m not distracted but it’s always nice to see all the clients, say hello and keep rapport going.”
As well as servicing clients in the clinic, Seniors Fitness offers home visits, sessions in the park, community centres and retirement villages. The most popular services are semi-private sessions due to their affordability and individualised fitness programs. But there are various offerings available, including Medicare referrals, NDIS, and managed care packages.
“We’ve opened up a sister company called Strive Motion. We’re able to see a lot more of the population, because Strive is a cheaper option in doing those community classes,” she says excitedly.
Seniors Fitness has been advocating for government funding to help support community classes, which could save significant healthcare costs. Moore tells AAA she recently met with a number of elected politicians for this purpose and to push for government support for preventative healthcare.
“We’re trying to get government help to assist with keeping these classes going at Strive Motion,” Moore says. “The amount of money the government would save in healthcare if they were to help subsidise these services would be incredible.”
When it comes to running a business, despite the task feeling at times “stressful” with paperwork her least favourite part of her role, Moore tells us that she loves being at the clinic and seeing “how happy” clients are.
“It’s a social aspect they gain as well.”
Possessing a passion for health and fitness, Moore graduated from the University of Sydney in 2016 with a Bachelor of Health Science in Exercise Physiology after previously completing certifications in personal training. Her motivation for entering the aged care field began with witnessing her grandmother’s health challenges with rheumatoid arthritis and the lack of resources in Walgett, the rural town in northern New South Wales where she lived.
“My grandmother was in chronic pain, then she had a few back surgeries and sadly she ended up in a wheelchair because of osteoporosis due to her rheumatoid arthritis medication,” she explains.
“She didn’t have access to the resources that we provide [at the clinic] and I wish that she had because she’d probably still be here today, especially as exercise helps build bone density.”
Moore says that before she died, her Grandmother was “very excited” when she heard that she would be choosing to work in aged care fitness.
Calls come in often from all over NSW, but currently the business only services the eastern suburbs of Sydney. With plans to expand in the near future, Moore shares that Seniors Fitness has recently taken over the community group exercise classes at the Prince of Wales hospital.
“It’s quite funny,” she smiles. “They’ll be referred by their GP and they’ll come in grumpy about it but actually end up having such a great time, because it’s not just exercise, it’s a social aspect they gain as well. I love my job.”
According to Moore, the number of seniors wanting to exercise has risen since she started out in the industry, with more becoming “aware of change in their bodies” as they age. She believes this could be down to access to knowledge on the importance of exercise.
“I very rarely ever hear any of our clients having falls, which is amazing,” Moore says happily. “The older population, are really focusing on their falls prevention, and they know that exercise is going to help.”
The clinic serves a diverse range of clients from healthy individuals to those with conditions like dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
“We’ve got 90 year-olds in here who you would think are 70 because of how mobile they are,” Moore says. “The oldest client we have is 98 and still drives in herself. She’s amazing.”
Moore states that proper care can significantly improve mobility and quality of life. She says emphatically: “Age is literally just a number, it all depends on how you look after yourself.” ●
Emily Moore leading an exercise class at Seniors Fitness
“Many spoke about regaining a sense of purpose, reconnecting with community, and feeling more confident in managing age-related changes.”
• staff reported the program structure and materials are suitable for their organisational settings, with minimal modification required
• the flexible nature of the program allowed it to be tailored to participant goals and service contexts.
“From the very start, the training that we had was great and well prepared us for running the program, even doing the assessments,” said Charlie, an allied health professional.
“The videos and [program resources] were really good, and the sheets that we got that we could carry around with all the levels were really handy,” said Ash, an allied health assistant.
“Especially when [older participants] said that they didn’t want it to stop, it made us feel good that we’d made a difference in their life,” said Jackie, an aged care support staff worker.
Most significantly, participants experienced measurable improvements by the end of the program. These included gains in mobility – as measured by increased walking distance and timed mobility tests –enhanced cognitive function, as indicated by fewer selfreported cognitive errors, and significant improvements in performance and satisfaction with everyday tasks. These findings were consistent across all delivery settings.
“Well, my mind is so much clearer. I’m thinking clearer than, say, even six months ago. I was very slow thinking, and I was slow talking, and [the facilitator] said that she noticed straight away how it improved,” said George, an older participant.
“It was good. I had quite an improvement in mine because … I’ve been working on my balance for quite a while because I’ve had a lot of falls. I’d never thought about was I getting better. Then they timed me. I said, ‘Oh, I got significantly better,’” said Joan, an older participant.
Participant feedback underscored the personal and social value of the program. Many spoke about regaining a sense of purpose, reconnecting with community, and feeling more confident in managing age-related changes.
“Probably from the point of view of it physically benefiting, what actually happened was that my self-
doing the program, and [now] I’ve enjoyed going out and visiting people, which is something I hadn’t done for a long time,” said Alice, an older participant.
“I didn’t want the program to end because of that feeling I had. I was so happy to walk out of there, happy when I got home,” said Brian, an older participant.
Preventative model with policy relevance
What sets Wellness 2 Age apart is its person-centred, preventative approach. Rather than responding to crises, the program supports early intervention in the community, empowering older people to maintain function and independence before significant decline occurs.
This model aligns closely with key themes from recent national reviews and inquiries, including the aged care royal commission.
Supporting workforce flexibility
An additional strength of the program is its adaptability to different staffing models, including workforce-constrained environments. In regional and rural areas, where access to allied health professionals can be limited, the successful implementation of a virtual hub-and-spoke model with remote allied health professional supervision of on-site aged care workers demonstrates the potential for wider scale-up.
The digital training platform offers flexible access, increasing uptake and sustainability.
Looking ahead
do, making sure that I’m safe and careful with myself.
Wellness 2 Age offers a practical, evidence-based approach to enabling older Australians to age in place. It is flexible enough to meet the needs of varied community settings yet structured enough to ensure fidelity and outcomes. Its success in different service contexts demonstrates that ageing well doesn’t require one perfect model but rather, a strong foundation that can adapt to local needs and workforce capacity.
As we consider the future of aged care and community health, there is an opportunity and arguably, a responsibility to invest in preventative programs like Wellness 2 Age. They represent the kind of proactive, person-centred solutions that older Australians want and that our health system needs.
With the right policy support, these programs could become a cornerstone of community-based healthy ageing, supporting people to live longer, healthier, and more connected lives at home.
Find out more about the Wellness 2 Age program at wellness2age.csu.edu.au ● Dr Kristy Robson is a senior research fellow, and Associate Professor Melissa Nott a principal research fellow, both in the Three Rivers Department of Rural Health at Charles Sturt University
Paul and Daphne participated in Wellness 2 Age, which promotes social connection
Wellness 2 Age participant Christine
Driving, independence and ageing
A fair and effective medical fitnessto-drive assessment process is essential to protecting all road users, writes DR BETH CHEAL.
Older adults identify driving as one of their most valued daily activities, essential for maintaining independence and a sense of self determination. Most do not have a plan for driving cessation. I asked my 85-year-old mother – a retired registered nurse –why keeping her driver’s licence matters to her. I think many older adults could relate to her response:
“Just to be free to go where I want to go – to pop up to the shops or drop in on a friend who needs me. You are free to be independent and not trouble other people. I think it would be very limiting not to drive anymore; it would knock your self-confidence.”
driving assessment is that the test is necessary, fair – regardless of the tester or testing centre – and genuinely related to real-world driving.
Regulations regarding age-based assessment of fitness to drive vary between states. Some states, such as Victoria and the Northern Territory, do not have age-based testing. Other states, such as New South Wales and Queensland, require drivers aged 75-plus to take annual medical assessments to retain a licence.
However, fitness-to-drive research shows that advancing age can impact driving performance, with drivers aged 85-plus reporting more vehicle crashes. This decline is often due to onset of medical conditions that can impact driving safety, for example, stroke, dementia and vision disorders. Nevertheless, researchers recommend that fitness to drive be determined based on individual function, not on chronological age.
Adult children who notice changes in a parent’s driving and worry about their safety, understand how daunting and emotional it can be to start a conversation about giving up driving. Sometimes it feels easier to avoid the conversation altogether.
Attending a driving assessment after many years of driving is something older adults will naturally find very stressful and confronting. The most important concern for someone attending a
In all Australian states and territories, drivers diagnosed with a medical condition that may impact driving must report this condition to their licensing authority. They may be required to attend a medical assessment of fitness to drive with their general practitioner and a practical in-car assessment, typically conducted by an occupational therapy driving assessor.
Assessing fitness to drive is a challenging area for general practitioners and other health professionals. General practitioners report that conversations with their patients about safe driving can be emotionally taxing, particularly when patients or their families react angrily, which can strain the patient-doctor relationship.
The decision to withdraw a driver’s licence is complex and high stakes. Practitioners are aware that premature driving cessation can lead to restricted mobility, isolation, depression, and poorer health outcomes for their patients. However, allowing unsafe driving to continue poses serious risks for the driver and the wider community.
Practitioners rely on tests performed in the office to predict how well someone will drive a car. This is a lot to ask of a test. The test must relate to the skills required for safe driving, be evidence based, and be practical for clinical practice – brief, portable and user friendly.
Cognitive assessment is an important component of driver assessment due to the increasing incidence of cognitive decline with age. Survey results indicate that general practitioners are concerned that commonly used cognitive tests – for example the
Dr Beth Cheal
The decision to withdraw a driver’s licence is complex and high stakes, says Dr Beth Cheal
Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment and clock drawing tests – have limitations in accurately assessing cognitive capacity for driving.
DriveSafe DriveAware is a cognitive fitness-to-drive test designed for administration by health professionals on a standard iPad. DSDA has evidence of sufficient predictive validity (88 per cent) to accurately determine cognitive fitness to drive. The test can be used with drivers of all ages and categorises drivers based on the likelihood of passing an on-road test – safe, unsafe or further testing.
DSDA was distributed by Pearson Australia until 2023 when it was discontinued. Recognising its value in driver assessment, two clinicians including myself, who relied on DSDA in clinical practice and research, partnered with a digital technology specialist to ensure its continuity.
In 2024, we founded DriveSafe Diagnostics to keep DSDA available for the driving assessment community. Clinicians across Australia and New Zealand report finding the application helpful in their clinical practice.
Kate Kirkness – an occupational therapy driving assessor who works in rural and regional areas of NSW – says:
“I value that DSDA is an objective, standardised measure that I can use with all clients, allowing for a more consistent assessment. I also like that there is a lot of research backing the assessment. The scores combined with my observations of people doing the test provide me with valuable information as to why errors might occur on-road”
Meiny Erasmus – an occupational therapy driving assessor who assesses drivers in the Wellington, Manawatu and Taranaki regions of New Zealand – reports:
“For the older population, my role involves confirming medical fitness to drive following a review by their GP. The iPad’s portability is a significant benefit, allowing me to meet clients
in the comfort of their homes. The immediate results enable productive discussions prior to the on-road assessment and make post-assessment feedback more effective”.
Keeping our roads safe is a shared responsibility. A fair and effective medical fitness-to-drive assessment process is essential to protecting all road users. This process should be as empathetic and stress-free as possible for the driver, while remaining rigorous enough to identify those at risk of driving errors and accident.
Health professionals require training in best practice for assessing fitness to drive and need to be supported by gold-standard tests to ensure sound decision-making. One evidence-based option for assessing cognitive fitness to drive is DSDA, which provides valuable support for clinical decision making in this area.
Find out more about the DriveSafe DriveAware app at drivesafedriveaware.com. ●
Dr Beth Cheal is a driving researcher and lecturer at Western Sydney University
Better outcomes through enhanced allied health
A new program is showing how residents benefit from integrated and multidisciplinary care, write DR ALICE PASHLEY and PROFESSOR STEPHEN ISBEL.
Allied health plays an essential role in maintaining health and quality of life as people age. This is especially true for older people living in residential aged care, like June.
“Unlike a lot of other people, she was quite physically strong and fit. She just couldn’t see what she was doing,” says June’s daughter Evelyn. “And then she had a major health episode about 12 months ago”, after which, she needed help walking, getting dressed, and feeding herself.
Despite the importance of allied health, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety reported very few residents receive the services they need. Consequently, several recommendations focused on increasing the amount and quality of allied health service provision in residential aged care.
The Centre for Ageing Research and Translation, CARAT, is implementing the Enhanced Allied Health for Older People in Residential Care program to help meet the royal commission’s recommendations through an integrated, multidisciplinary allied health model of care.
The program is being implemented at Calvary Haydon, a residential aged care home in Canberra. The program trial includes embedding six allied health professionals from occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, dietetics, optometry, and pharmacy at the home.
Additionally, two transdisciplinary allied health assistants deliver interventions across four allied health disciplines. A nurse clinical liaison manager on site supports the delivery of the program and embedding it at the home.
When residents sign up to the program, they are screened by the clinical liaison manager and assessed by the allied health professionals. Based on this information, the resident and their family decide which allied health interventions they will receive.
Participants then have a meeting with their usual general practitioner, the allied health professionals, and next of kin to develop a comprehensive and coordinated care plan based on their individual needs.
The allied health professionals have been providing services at their full scope-of-practice, which means they can support residents with a broader range of activities than previously.
For example, occupational therapists have been able to work with residents to help them re-engage with activities important to them. This
“Residents in the program are moving more confidently, communicating more easily and taking part in activities important to them.”
Calvary Haydon Residents taking part in the Enhanced Allied Health for Older People in Residential Care program with allied health assistants
of Canberra
Dr Alice Pashley
Professor Stephen Isbel
could be anything from getting dressed to being able to play golf again.
Speech pathologists have been able to help residents through communication therapies and associated cognitive stimulation activities, whereas previously they mostly were only able to help with swallowing disorders.
The embedded, multidisciplinary nature of the program has meant that allied health professionals can work together to support residents.
“The main takeaway for me was because we were working with multiple disciplines and we were doing it in that transdisciplinary approach, it was much more beneficial for the resident,” says Fiona, an allied health assistant working in the EAHOP program.
“That was a huge success because we could go out and see a resident for physiotherapy, for example, and if they weren’t well that day, then we would see them anyway for speech or whatever it was that they could do”.
When June left hospital, things were not looking good. “They said that she would likely pass away in a few months’ time,” says Evelyn.
However, after completing the EAHOP trial, “she’s back to the point where she can get in and out of bed, she can use her walker, she doesn’t always need her wheelchair … which is a major achievement when you’re 95,” says Evelyn.
Residents in the program are moving more confidently,
communicating more easily and taking part in activities important to them. Moreover, they have enjoyed the program, particularly connecting with many other residents through small group activities.
“There’s a wide range of residents in terms of their physical and cognitive abilities participating in the program and all of them look forward to their sessions, which I think is a testament not just for the program, but also to the people who are running it,” says Jo, home manager at Calvary Haydon.
As this is the first trial of a multidisciplinary allied health intervention in a residential aged care setting, there are a lot of learnings for the team. However, residents, their family, and staff are overwhelmingly positive in their feedback.
“It’s increased our confidence in the care being provided for June,” says Evelyn.
The EAHOP trial commenced in April 2024, with the last participants completing their intervention in May 2025. The CARAT team at the University of Canberra is now preparing for the next phase – a multi-site trial to test the EAHOP program more broadly. ●
Dr Alice Pashley is a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Ageing Research And Translation at University of Canberra Professor Stephen Isbel is deputy director of CARAT and leading the Enhanced Allied Health for Older People in Residential Care program, funded by the Medical Research Future Fund
Discover your up side of ageing
Packed with tips, information and personalised resources, LiveUp’s refreshed website has everything you need to age your way.
Weaving collaboration into the complexities of aged care
Informal partnerships are helping small providers achieve more together, discovers HammondCare design lead DANIEL JAMESON.
As we head into a time of generational change for the aged care sector, collaboration is one of its most transformational tools. Tapestry is a long-standing collaboration in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs that shows how small providers can punch above their weight by sharing knowledge, backing each other, and creating momentum for change.
There are currently six aged care providers in the group: BASScare, Donwood, Olivet Care, Glengollan Village, AdventCare and Ringwood Area Lions Aged Care. Here, BASScare CEO Craig Bardrick and RALAC CEO Chris Reside, talk about the initiative.
The story of Tapestry
Craig Bardrick: Formed more than seven years ago, Tapestry began as a series of informal conversations between aged care CEOs who recognised that while they could each achieve a lot independently, there was a lot to be gained from collegial support, information sharing and informally working together.
What started as an informal CEO network, grew into a deeper collaboration with dedicated special interest groups. These included SIGs in lifestyle engagement, quality and care, each with a sponsoring CEO.
These groups created space for conversations at every level of the organisation, encouraging cross-pollination of ideas and the sharing of best practice. Best-practice dementia care is among the more recent SIG priorities.
About two years ago, we ran a staff competition across all our members to name our then-unnamed informal group and the winning entry was Tapestry. The name reflects the intertwining of our independent organisations working and being stronger together. The colours of the threads in Tapestry’s logo represent the colours of our respective individual logos.
Unforeseen lifesaving benefits
Craig Bardrick: One of the early achievements that cemented the group’s value was a united response during the early stages of Covid-19. By working together, the group was able to engage with government to expedite the administering of Covid vaccinations to their respective staff and residents. This was a huge benefit and demonstrated the tangible benefit of small independent organisations collaborating.
Since then, collaboration has expanded and in 2021-22 the Tapestry group was fortunate to receive a $900,000 Business Improvement Fund grant from the Department of Health and Aged Care. That grant funded three innovative pilot programs including a shared learning management system and human resource
information system with the intent of developing and trialling systems and solutions that could be replicable nationally by other similar groups of smaller independent providers. The shared LMS pilot included a directory of specialists and resources to support onboarding and continuous education.
These are initiatives that none of the providers in Tapestry could have resourced or rolled out individually at this scale. Collectively, Tapestry members with the support of the BIF grant had the capacity to pilot, refine and share widely, amplifying impact beyond their own organisations.
Collegiality and trust key to success
Chris Reside: Members say the strength of the group lies in its willingness to share. In times of need, providers support each other without hesitation. While the structure has evolved, core members remain active because the value is clear.
This spirit of shared learning was particularly evident when Tapestry participated in HammondCare’s Dementia Design School. Over two days, 25 Tapestry members took part in best practice workshops on enabling design for people living with dementia. Participants included clinical care experts, property and development leads, and frontline staff. The two days were valuable for both the content, and the chance to learn alongside peers and take ideas back to their own teams.
We would never have been able to do this on our own. Together, it was easy to organise and incredibly valuable.
Craig Bardrick: The same applies to other areas of practice. For example, some of the lifestyle teams within the Tapestry group are known in the sector for running engaging programs. They regularly share resources, from pantomime costumes to program frameworks, that help elevate engagement for all residents, including those living with dementia. It’s the little nuggets we borrow from each other that make our care better.
Looking ahead, Tapestry is focused on growing the group slightly, enhancing SIGs and continuing to focus on complex care. For others thinking about forming similar collaborations, the advice is simple. Find a champion, gather like-minded, passionate people, and stay focused on what matters most – the care of residents. ●
Australian Ageing Agenda’s regular dementia section is guest edited by The Dementia Centre, HammondCare. For further information contact hello@dementiacentre.com
The six current chief executive officers in the Tapestry group are (from left:) David Reece (AdventCare), Chris Reside (Ringwood Area Lions Aged Care), Margie Hepner (Glengollan Village), Craig Bardrick (BASScare), Natasha Wilkinson (Donwood) and Colin Foley (Olivet Care)
‘Cognitive
tests can be fun’
Octogenarian NORMAN PHILP – a selfdescribed male oldie – offers a light-hearted take on the many cognitive assessment tests he’s been doing, and some more serious views on ageing.
Because you are now one of the nation’s senior citizens or “old buggers” as some of the kids in the street now refer to you, it is quite natural to sometimes begin to doubt your own cognitive powers. You may also start to question your own emotional ups and downs and your “grumpier” demeanour the grandkids so often complain to Nanna about.
There is very little fun in getting old. Do you sometimes feel that everything seems to be going a bit crazy of late? It may be because you tend to forget – momentarily at least – the names of some of your acquaintances that you once knew quite well.
Again, you just might get a little fogged in and lose your train of thought when you are trying to describe this occurrence to your spouse. You find that you cannot deduct 47 from 63 as quickly as you once could. Nor do you remember the name of Aussie prime minister before Anthony Albanese.
Even your family find you singing old favourite songs from the 1950s and ‘60s and say you’re performing “strange habits” around the house. “It’s not like you to sit and read the paper on that good, upright, Chintz chair that you bought at Aunt Lillie’s sale last year.”
Do you sometimes have the feeling others in your household could easily make do without you?
Old age is not necessarily pretty, and it sometimes brings a
tear to your eyes. Perhaps it is time to take one of those pesky cognitive assessment tests your friends up the road have talked about, or, if you’re serious, get your doctor to arrange a PET scan of your rapidly ageing brain.
Is it even possible you might be losing it, just a bit, like Maude next door did? Your doctor or geriatrician will soon be able find out. And here the fun starts.
Believe me, you’ll be asked to count backwards by seven from 100. Now, that’s not something you do every day. Cognitive tests can be fun. Then in the same assessment you might be asked to recall 15 words that begin with “b”.
It will help if you first have a good swig of that big blue bottle of brandy you keep in the bathroom. You will also have to identify pictures. Rhinoceroses and hippopotamuses, all mixed in with other animals you see every day. That knot of black wool you wondered about in one such test turns out to be a pretzel – a black pretzel!?
You’ll learn as you go that quite a lot of Americans from American universities design many of the tests, so brush up on your Americanisms.
The round clock face you’ll have to draw freehand and time at 10 to two – or sometimes 10 past 10 – will have 12 full numbers, no dashes like the modern clocks. And it can’t be oblong or
Norman Philp
Providers look to a tech-forward future
KATARINA LLOYD JONES reports from the Innovation Transforming Aged Care Conference.
Data management was a popular topic at the ITAC 2025 conference, which attracted over 650 people to Marvel Stadium in Melbourne over 12-13 March 2025. Futurists, government officials, peak bodies and providers all shared their ideas for implementing person-centred care through innovative technology.
Data allows for accurate reporting, but major differences exist in the system maturity of different parties in the sector, preventing data sharing and wasting time that could be spent on humane care.
Department of Health and Aged Care chief digital information officer Fay Flevaras tells the conference their priority for digital growth is to ensure systems are ready to support the rights-based model of the Act – and the accompanying regulatory changes.
“We’re working with the sector to lift up the collective digital maturity, and we’re creating meaningful, better solutions, not just building tech for tech’s sake,” she says.
This was a sentiment global futurist Anders Sorman-Nilsson agreed with, saying: “Technology is helping us now take the robot out of the human… Imagine if you could do less of the menial and the mundane and more of the meaningful and the humane, courtesy of new technologies.”
Meanwhile, scientific futurist, tech influencer, author and robotics expert Associate Professor Dr Catherine Ball warned Australian providers that if they don’t look to the Asia-Pacific region, they will get left behind.
“These people are already in the future in terms of the demographics of what we’re going to have in Australia. We should be watching and learning and listening very carefully, regardless of the language barrier,” she says.
“Just because Americans speak English does not mean that culturally we are more aligned to them. Believe me, they’re not. They don’t care about us. We seem to think that they do, but they really don’t.”
In the evening, providers celebrated innovative tech developments at the ITAC awards dinner. ●
Read our conference coverage online
Providers must look to Asia
Australia’s fear of failure has let the aged care sector fall behind, and embracing proven Asian tech is the best path forward, say futurist Dr Catherine Ball and Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson.
Workforce must be included in tech transition
Silverchain research discovery director Adjunct Professor Tanya Davison and National Ageing Research Institute clinical gerontology director
Associate Professor Frances Batchelor discuss their evidence-based framework for digital transformation in aged care.
Regional provider leads digital transformation
Embracing digital change can help providers be ready for 1 July and beyond, says Whiddon’s Regan Stathers, who provides insight on how smaller providers can keep up.
Election may hinder reform
Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson discusses what providers are still waiting on ahead of 1 July reforms, and how they can be more innovative.
Time to merge tech potentials with realities
Ageing Australia’s chief technology advisor and ITAC legend Dr George Margelis discusses the need to support local technology development and the even greater need for providers, vendors and developers to shift to innovation.
Digital maturity centre stage
Bureaucrat Fay Flevaras and futurist Anders SormanNilsson discuss the importance of data in personcentred care, and the need for providers to ensure their digital systems can cope with the incoming regulatory changes.
BaptistCare wins big at ITAC
Recently merged BaptistCare celebrates multiple wins at the ITAC Awards dinner, joined by Umps Health and Anglicare Southern Queensland, and Southern Cross Care NSW and ACT.
All images credit: Ageing Australia/eventphotography.com
Australia wins big at Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards
Australian aged care providers and tech companies collected awards in multiple categories at the 13th Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards in Singapore on 9 April 2025 at Ageing Asia’s 2025 World Ageing Festival.
Facility of the Year
• Community Engagement – Regis Intergenerational Partnership by Regis Aged Care
• Residential Aged Care – The MICRO TOWN: A New Direction In Aged Care by NewDirection Care
Operator of the Year
• Active Ageing – Motiview by Harbison
• Active Ageing for Residential – Motiview by Harbison
Innovation of the Year
• Dementia Empowerment – Motiview by Harbison
• Social Engagement (Experiental) – Regis Interhome Community Connections by Regis Aged Care
• Health and Wellness Program – Holistic ageing for mind, body & soul at Sol Spa by Mark Moran Group
• Operational Management Technology and Productivity –LenexaCARE: Boosting Efficiency, Enhancing Care, Delivering Results by Lenexa Medical
• Productivity by Operator – Project ‘Welcome’ by IRT Group
• Technology: AI Solution – LenexaCARE: Smart Monitoring for Safer, More Comfortable Ageing-in-Place by Lenexa Medical. Australian based virtual reality company SilVR Adventures and its Singapore partner St Luke’s Eldercare were announced as winner for Best Technology Innovation by Operator. The Australian and Finnish teams from HUR also celebrated the win under home country Finland for product innovation of the year in the physical training and rehabilitation category for the Hur Mobile App. Two Australian providers also received special recognition, including:
• Innovation of the Year: Operational Management Solution by Operator – Apollo Care Operations Insights Suite by Apollo Care
• Innovation of the Year: Social Engagement – Intergenerational –The Uniting AgeWell and The Herd Intergenerational Program by Uniting AgeWell, Australia
Peaks sign MoU
Ageing Australia chief executive officer Tom Symondson and Ageing Asia founder and managing director Janice Chia (pictured bottom right above) also signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the conference, launching a new partnership under Ageing Australia’s three-year global engagement strategy. ●
Acredia integrates home care
Acredia has launched a home care solution specifically designed for residential aged care providers, who also deliver home care services. The expanded offering empowers organisations to manage both residential and home-based services through a single, integrated platform. Providers can deliver consistent, personcentred care across service settings while improving operational efficiency and maintaining compliance with the new Aged Care Act and strengthened Quality Standards. Features include mobile care team access, advanced scheduling, goal tracking, real-time budgeting, compliance management, and support for HCP, CHSP, and NDIS funding models.
Go to acredia.com.au
Introducing Tochie (pronounced Tokkee)
Tochie is a smart reminder speaker that allows carers and family to send scheduled or instant voice messages, such as reminders, encouragement, or love, using a free mobile app. Messages play in trusted voices at set times, helping loved ones at home manage tasks and feel emotionally supported. Tochie features an easy-to-use calendar interface, never listens in, and requires no subscription. Stylish, compact, and available in four colours, Tochie is now on sale in Australia for $179 at homelifetech.com.au. Developed by Vancouver’s Tochtech Technologies and distributed locally by Sydney’s HOMELife Technology, Tochie supports independent living with dignity and connection. Go to homelifetech.com.au, email p.colley@homelife.technology or call 02 7228 7211
The GGJ Policies and Procedures Suite will provide you with all the resources you need to move seamlessly to the new Standards and requirements.
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