A team of 12 champions are helping their individual communities navigate the aged care system, thanks to the work of COTA Victoria’s Aged Care Navigator project.
The trial helps older people overcome challenges to understand and use the aged care system. Volunteers who know the aged care system act as ‘system navigators’, helping older people and their families access information. Last year, COTA Victoria established three trial Aged Care Navigator hubs and a phone information service — 1300 13 50 90.
Now, in the City of Greater Dandenong, the champions have been working with their local Hungarian, Serbian, Chinese, Indonesian, Filipino, Macedonian, Samoan, Spanish, Maltese and Vietnamese communities.
Karen Ivanka, Team Leader for Volunteers and Education with COTA Victoria, said there are plans to run future sessions with the champions before the Aged Care Navigator project wraps up in June 2020.
The first session, on how to navigate the aged care system, was held in Dandenong in early February. ‘At the second session, staff from the Australian Government’s Financial Information Service (FIS) spoke to the group,’ Karen said.
Do you have a question for an Aged Care Navigator? Call our Information Line on 1300 13 50 90 or visit our page for more information.
