The Albanese Government’s continued investment in aged care will enable Helping Hand to significantly upgrade and expand our residential care homes in Whyalla, providing more quality care for local residents.

Helping Hand Chief Executive Officer Chris Stewart praised the Albanese Government for their $17.2m funding boost.

“This funding means more Whyalla residents will have access to quality care locally and be able to spend their final years close to their family and community,” Mr Stewart said.

“The investment will allow us to expand our services to make sure no one has to leave in order to get the care they need.

“With the support of the Albanese Government we will be able to upgrade all shared rooms to individual rooms with private ensuite bathrooms and increase capacity at our Yeltana residential care home. We will also be able to increase capacity and improve the amenities for our residents at our Copperhouse Court home.

“Developing facilities to meet modern day standards and expectations comes at a significant cost. The traditional hostel model of aged care, with share rooms and amenities does not deliver on dignity, safety and privacy. Rightfully, residents expect to be able to move into a private room with a private ensuite, which is why funding like this is crucial.”

The Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said the government was committed to supporting aged care services in regional Australia.

“The Albanese Government continues to provide more than $600 million in grant funding to support building and upgrading aged care services for First Nations, regional, rural and remote communities. When the time comes, older people in Whyalla want to access aged care services in the community they know and love and be close to their families and cultural connections. This funding will support that to happen.

“Our investment directly supports aged care providers operating outside the major cities to build, modernise and improve their services so older people in Australia can have access to better quality aged care services where they need them.”

The recent Aged Care Taskforce report found Australia’s aged care needs are increasing as the population ages, and expectations of quality improvements are high.

“Residential aged care will always have a place in the community, and as the population of older South Australians rises, we need to make sure we keep up with improving the quality of the care available in regional communities,” Mr Stewart said.

Since acquiring Kindred Living in November 2022, Helping Hand has been determined to build on the legacy created by Whyalla locals to assist older and vulnerable people to remain living in their community as they age. Aged care services in Whyalla were established by the local community, and since first being invested into in 1968 have continued to grow.

“At Helping Hand, we take the responsibility to honour this history, and to continue this legacy, very seriously. We’re delighted that we have been able to secure this funding to develop and enhance the aged care services available to regional South Australians.”

The funding will help provide:

Yeltana

• A new wing of ten rooms;
• An upgrade of all shared rooms to individual rooms;
• Private ensuite bathrooms for all rooms;
• A new dining area and multi-purpose activity space;
• An upgrade of electrical systems;
• Improved back of house entry and external areas; and
• Additional two rooms for new residents.

Copperhouse Court

• Six additional rooms;
• A flexible multi-purpose space for activities;
• An upgrade to rooms and amenities including electrical systems like nurse call and security; and
• Landscaped and sheltered external areas.

(pictured above L-R: Chris Stewart, Helping Hand CEO; Graham Harding, Helping Hand Whyalla Residential Services Manager; Phill Stone, Whyalla Mayor; Melinda Richardson, Helping Hand Executive Manager Residential Services)

Helping Hand partners with Findon Technical College to offer career opportunities in aged care.

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Helping Hand is inviting consumers to establish a Consumer Advisory Body, and we are looking for people to register their interest in becoming members and representing the many voices and shared experiences of consumers across our residential and home care communities.

The introduction of a Consumer Advisory Body is one of the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. It offers a unique opportunity for consumers to make a difference to the way we deliver and continuously improve our services and improve quality of life for everyone. As part of the selection process, we are committed to ensuring that membership is inclusive and reflects the diversity of Helping Hand consumers.

The Consumer Advisory Body will meet four times a year and will provide updates to the Helping Hand Board of Directors, through the Client Care Committee. These updates will include identifying issues and sharing key themes and feedback that are based on real-life experiences. The Consumer Advisory Body will support our ongoing consumer engagement activities and Helping Hand’s highly experienced engagement team will provide ongoing support, advice and guidance to members.

Anyone who is currently, or has previously used our services, as well as family members, friends or representatives can register their interest to become a member.

Expressions of Interest close 15 December 2023.

If you would like to request further information and an Expression of Interest form please contact Chelsea Lewis, Manager Engagement and Partnerships at [email protected]

This year’s Annual Review looks back on 70 years of service.

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UnitingCare Australia has released a Statement of Commitment to Trauma Informed Aged Care: Forgotten Australians and Care Leavers.

UnitingCare Australia is the national body for the Uniting Church’s community services Network and an agency of the Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia. The UnitingCare Network is the largest not-for-profit aged care provider nationally supporting over 97,000 older people through residential and home care services.

UnitingCare Australia recognises that the Uniting Church in Australia and its predecessor Churches operated a number of institutions, group homes and missions across the country for those who were in out of home care and therefore played a role in the harm that was experienced by Forgotten Australians and Care Leavers when they were in care as children. Children were not always cared for as they should have been and many experienced physical and sexual abuse, neglect, harsh physical punishments, rigid rules, cruelty and humiliation. They did not always receive good medical and dental care, nutrition, education, nurturing and support. This was wrong.

UnitingCare Australia draws on the invaluable work led by Helping Hand’s Positioning Statement – co-designed with Forgotten Australians – to affirm its commitment to increasing its capacity and capability in providing trauma informed aged care for Forgotten Australians and Care Leavers.

Read the full Statement on the UnitingCare Australia website.

You’re invited to attend a free webinar: Forgotten Australians and Care Leavers as a special needs group under the Aged Care Act 1997

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National Carers Week, 15-21 October, is an opportunity to raise community awareness among all Australians about the diversity of carers and their caring roles.

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Today is Allied Health Professions Day!

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Recently Helping Hand’s Lightsview home was proud to support Flinders University in hosting a delegation of 15 senior human rights leaders from Mongolia.

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You may have seen Toby’s smiling face at the desk as you enter our North Adelaide care home.

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