By Matthew Sims
IPC Health will soon deliver an expanded service to help older people navigate the aged care system, thanks to receiving a tender through the North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) worth about $2.8 million.
Service delivery is expected to have a limited start up in March and will be fully operational in April.
IPC Health chief executive Jayne Nelson said the service will focus on connecting with people 65 years and older, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members 50 years and older or those experiencing homelessness across the western and outer western areas of Melbourne.
“IPC Health, through providing a wide range of health and wellbeing services for 40-plus years and local community and health partnerships, is deeply embedded in western and outer western Melbourne and well known, non-stigmatising, trusted by and accessible to communities,” she said.
“This funding will help us continue to assist older, diverse and vulnerable communities to navigate and access aged care.
“We are looking forward to working with the North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) to provide service navigation tailored to the needs of local populations in Brimbank, Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Melton, Moorabool and Wyndham local government areas, including culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disability, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”
IPC Health will expand, deliver and maintain a partner network to provide face-to-face specialist and intensive assistance, through assertive outreach and engagement strategies, to support and assist people within our target populations understand and access aged care services and connect with other relevant supports in the community, including My Aged Care.
IPC Health is currently recruiting staff for this service.
The new service follows on from recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which called for a dedicated workforce to assist people who require intensive support to navigate and access aged care services and supports through the My Aged Care system.
