Care Finder - Central and Eastern Sydney
This is a free service offering support to those who need assistance to access aged care services through My Aged Care.
You can use this service if you:
- are eligible for government-funded aged care
- were placed, by the Government, in NSW children’s homes, orphanages or similar institutions or foster homes before 1990,
are a parent impacted by forced adoptions
or
belong to other special needs groups, as identified in the Aged Care Act - are now living within the Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network (CESPHN) area
and - don’t currently have trusted or reliable support
In addition, you should have one or more of the following reasons for needing intensive support:
• you’re reluctant to engage with aged care or government
• you’re in an unsafe situation if you do not receive services
• you have difficulty communicating because of language or literacy problems
• you find it difficult to understand information and make decisions.
Our Care Finder is the only Care Finder in NSW that specialises in assisting the group known as “Care Leavers”, one of the special needs groups under the Aged Care Act.
Our Care Finder will also draw on experience from the Forced Adoption Support Service, to assist eligible parents of children removed through a forced adoption.
Additionally, our Care Finder is able to help anyone who meets the criteria listed above.
Out-of-home care experiences and forced adoptions were often traumatic and left lifelong mental, physical and social impacts, increasing the barriers to accessing My Aged Care. This could be because the person has become isolated, is distrustful of engaging with Government services, or doesn’t have capacity to seek help or find their way through the online process.
Wattle Place has specialised staff who support people with childhood experiences of institutional and foster care and forced adoptions. Our empathetic team understands the ongoing impacts of those experiences and can support you to get the appropriate aged care services to suit your specific needs. That can include aged care services in the home.
How to contact Care Finder
Phone (02) 8025 2120
Email carefinder@ransw.org.au
Online Enquire online
See below for the ways we can help you.
If you do not live in the CESPHN area
Forgotten Australians, Stolen Generations and Former Child Migrants placed in out-of-home care before 1990, or mothers impacted by forced adoptions, living outside the CESPHN area can still contact Wattle Place and we can work with Care Finders in other Primary Health Network areas to support you with your aged care needs.
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This service is delivered in person, but can also be offered over the phone or online if you prefer.
Relationships Australia NSW Care Finder is funded by the Australian Government via the Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network.
How we help
We come to you
We recognise that it’s not always easy to travel, so, for your convenience, we come to you for our initial consultation. We also remain flexible for subsequent consultations to either visit you or chat over the phone.
Talk to My Aged Care on your behalf
We take time to understand your needs and advocate with My Aged Care and Aged Care Providers to ensure those needs are met by the aged care services you receive. We are here to help throughout the process of engaging with My Aged Care.
Arrange aged care assessments and attend with you
We recognise that connecting to aged care services can be daunting at times. That’s why we offer to be there with you every step of the way, if you need us. This includes being present and advocating on your behalf when you are being assessed by My Aged Care to determine what assistance you need.
Finding aged care providers in your area
Once you are approved for aged care services, we help you find and connect to suitable service providers who can assist you with your care needs.
Completing forms and helping you understand service agreements.
When you have decided on a suitable aged care provider, we make sure you understand the contract you are required to sign to begin receiving aged care services. This ensures you are making an informed decision.
Following up to ensure services are suited to you
We will check in at regular intervals to ensure you are happy with the services you are receiving. We can also arrange a reassessment with My Aged Care if needed.
Connecting you with support to assist with other challenges.
If you need additional help in other areas, such as housing, mental health support, managing your finances, etc, we will connect you with services who can help you with that.