August 2026

The Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme connects trained volunteers with older people who may be socially isolated or lonely, providing regular visits that build genuine friendships and improve wellbeing. Through consistent connections, the program helps to reduce loneliness, supports mental health, and enhances quality of life for participants, while also offering meaningful and rewarding experiences for volunteers.

The ACVVS supports older people living at home or in aged care residential facilities in the New England region.

We're currently recruiting volunteers of any age (over 18), gender or background.

If you're interested in joining the team as a volunteer, please fill out the Expression of Interest form here.

Or contact: (02) 6516 1921 | volunteervisitors@bluesky.org.au

If you know someone who would benefit from being a participant in the scheme, you can refer them via the Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme Participant Referral Form here.

Telecross is a telephone check-in service that helps you start the day with an act of human connection. Every morning, you’ll receive a phone call from one of our friendly volunteers who’s keen to find out how you are.

Telecross operates 365 days a year. What makes it unique is that our callers check on the whole person (that’s you!), rather than focusing on a single aspect of your life.

The Telecross difference

When our volunteers call you, they’ll ask about:

• your health
• your wellbeing
• your plans for the day
• anything else that might be happening for you that’s causing you concern.

If you don’t answer the phone, or if there’s something going on for you that requires an urgent response, our volunteers will follow a series of steps to connect you to the help you need.

Who is the program for?

Telecross is for anyone who might benefit from an extra layer of social interaction and safety, and who is already registered for My Aged Care or has a referral from the Tasmanian Community Care Referral Service (HACC).

If you live alone, or if you live with someone else and think one or both of you might benefit from someone looking out for your wellbeing, Telecross can give you additional peace of mind.

Read more and register here: Telecross | Australian Red Cross

Care finders help older people who need extra support to find, apply for, and arrange aged care and community services. 

Some older people need extra, intensive support to access aged care services and other supports in the community. In these situations, a care finder may be able to help. The care finders program provides free, intensive support for older people who are eligible for Commonwealth-funded aged care but would have difficulty accessing it on their own. 
 
On the North Coast of NSW, care finder services are delivered by local organisations funded through the Primary Health Network (PHN). Care finders is an integral navigation service, helping vulnerable older people access aged care services and other relevant supports in the community. Providers have local expertise and in-depth understanding of community needs. 

Who can use the care finder service?

The care finder service is not available for everyone. It is specifically for vulnerable older people who need intensive support to access aged care and other local services.

To receive care finder support, a person must:

• have no carer or support person who can help them, or
• not have a carer or support person they feel comfortable or trust to support them, and
• be eligible for government-funded aged care (check eligibility requirements using our online tool).

In addition, they should have one or more of these reasons for needing intensive support:

• have difficulty communicating because of language or literacy problems
• find it difficult to understand information and make decisions
• be reluctant to engage with aged care or government
• be in an unsafe situation if they do not receive services.

Care finder organisations by state and territory

Primary Health Networks (PHNs) are responsible for managing care finder services, using their expertise and understanding of local community needs.

Care finder organisations are listed below and separated into state and territories by PHN.

You can see which PHN covers your region in the PHN locator map. 

Read more here: Care finders program on the North Coast NSW - Healthy North Coast 

The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) has developed a factsheet for older people that explains the Higher Everyday Living Fee (HELF) which came into effect on 1 November 2025, replacing the Additional Service Fee and Extra Service Fee frameworks. HELF is an optional fee which gives residents access to additional premium services beyond the standard of care required under the Residential Care Service List and the Aged Care Quality Standards. This can include premium meal services, in-room TV, and Wi-Fi usage. This factsheet explains HELF, as well as outlining the key protections and rights of residents. There is also additional information for providers to understand the changes, in order to communicate them to residents and their support networks.

OPAN HELF Factsheet

HELF Explained for Providers

An escalation pathway is due to be established for people with complex circumstances that are not fully captured by current arrangements when they are assessed for support.

This includes people are assigned an ongoing home support classification level (for Commonwealth Home Support Program or Support at Home) and people who are assigned a priority category for Support at Home. The pathway intends to allow for consideration of possible adjustment to assessment outcomes. The Australian Government is also reviewing the Support at Home prioritisation process, which will be informed by targeted sector and stakeholder consultation.

Read more here: Support at Home program | My Aged Care

In May and June, Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland in collaboration with colleagues in Victoria delivered a four-part webinar series designed to strengthen sector capability in implementing a healthy ageing approach within aged care. 

Principles of wellness, reablement and maintaining function are embedded within the Aged Care Strengthened Standards and inform all stages of the aged care experience. This series was tailored to Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers and included both general information as well as targeted sessions focused on intake, care planning, and group social support. The webinars fostered shared learning and practical insights for working with older people and supporting inclusive and person-centred quality care. 

For key messages and handy tips from each webinar, please view the resource below. 

Resource: Key messages and handy tips for implementing a Wellness and Reablement approach in practice 

Attached Document : 1782953443_Wellness & Reablement - Key messages and handy tips.pdf 

The National Dementia Helpline can help you if you:

• live with dementia
• know and care for someone with dementia
• work with people with dementia
• are concerned about your thinking, mood and memory
• have mild cognitive impairment.

How can we help

Free and confidential, the National Dementia Helpline, 1800 100 500, provides expert information, advice and support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. No issue too big, no question too small. We can:

• provide emotional support and guidance
• connect you to Dementia Australia and community support services and programs
• discuss government support, including My Aged Care, National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Carer Gateway and Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS).

Dementia Australia provides a wide range of supports whether you're living with dementia, caring for someone, seeking information or training, supporting the cause, or contributing to research. See more information here: Home | Dementia Australia

Looking after your bones matters at every age, whether you’re still growing, in adulthood or later in life. Bones support your body, allow movement and protect your organs. 

Key takeaways 

• Regular exercise, like jogging and lifting weights can help maintain bone strength. 

• Calcium and vitamin D are important for bone health. 

• Osteoporosis is when bones lose their density and become fragile. 

It’s never too early to look after your bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis

Read more here: Bone Health | Jean Hailes