We understand that people feel comfortable in their own home, maintaining their independence. We offer a range of services across metropolitan Adelaide and beyond so you can stay at home doing the things you love.
In our retirement living units you’ll have more time to enjoy doing the things you love without the maintenance of looking after a big home and garden.
Our care homes offer a comfortable, safe and homelike environment with activities and care individually tailored to suit the needs and wants of our residents.
Aged Care is so important. Some people forget that. You don’t and neither do we. Join our team and be part of something bigger. Together we’re there to care and here for good.
We understand that people feel comfortable in their own home, maintaining their independence. We offer a range of services across metropolitan Adelaide and beyond so you can stay at home doing the things you love.
In our retirement living units you’ll have more time to enjoy doing the things you love without the maintenance of looking after a big home and garden.
Our care homes offer a comfortable, safe and homelike environment with activities and care individually tailored to suit the needs and wants of our residents.
Aged Care is so important. Some people forget that. You don’t and neither do we. Join our team and be part of something bigger. Together we’re there to care and here for good.
We understand that people feel comfortable in their own home, maintaining their independence. We offer a range of services across metropolitan Adelaide and beyond so you can stay at home doing the things you love.
In our retirement living units you’ll have more time to enjoy doing the things you love without the maintenance of looking after a big home and garden.
Our care homes offer a comfortable, safe and homelike environment with activities and care individually tailored to suit the needs and wants of our residents.
Aged Care is so important. Some people forget that. You don’t and neither do we. Join our team and be part of something bigger. Together we’re there to care and here for good.
On 7 August, we proudly join organisations across the country in celebrating Aged Care Employee Day – a special opportunity to recognise the people who make aged care possible every single day.
At Helping Hand, our staff are the heart of everything we do. From nurses and carers to cooks, cleaners, lifestyle coordinators, allied health professionals, administration teams, gardeners and maintenance crews – aged care is a diverse and dynamic sector that relies on many skilled and compassionate individuals. Together, they bring our values of Respect, Excellence, Community and Compassion to life, creating homes and services where older South Australians are supported with dignity, kindness and care.
Aged Care Employee Day reminds us that aged care is not just about a single role – it’s about the collective effort of many people, working side by side to ensure older people live well. Whether it’s delivering clinical care, sharing a meal, supporting mobility, or simply offering a listening ear, each contribution matters.
To mark the occasion, we’re holding small celebrations across all Helping Hand locations throughout the week, with coffee, cookies and conversation. These moments of connection gave us the chance to pause, reflect, and most importantly, say thank you to our teams.
To our employees: your work makes a profound difference in the lives of older people and their families. Your dedication, compassion and professionalism do not go unnoticed – and today, we celebrate you.
Aged Care Employee Day is a reminder that behind every story of care, there is a team of remarkable people. At Helping Hand, we are proud to stand beside them.
Home/There to Care Awards – second quarter award recipients announced
The latest There To Care Awards recipients have been announced! The awards, which focus on celebrating our values of excellence, respect, compassion and community, help us to celebrate the amazing work our people do every day.
Helen, Residential Care Worker
With unwavering professionalism and heartfelt compassion, Helen goes above and beyond every day to care for residents at Golden Grove, which makes her a very deserving quarter two There to Care Award recipient.
For the past 15 months that Helen has been part of the Helping Hand family, she has consistently supported colleagues and radiated positivity to everyone she meets, showing a genuine passion for her role.
Beyond providing excellent resident care, Debbie, who has been at Helping Hand for eight years, is deeply committed to guiding and empowering new carers and students on placement to fulfill their potential. She is also a worthy recipient of a There to Care Award.
“The students are our future; it is vital they are taught properly in these early stages. I learnt so many tricks of the trade throughout my career and now I can pass on that knowledge because one day they may be looking after me,” she says.
Helping Hand congratulates Amy, Graphic Designer and Social Media Coordinator in the Marketing team, on being recognised as a There to Care Award recipient.
For the past 19 years, Amy has brought creativity, dedication, and purpose to her work. Her role is a dynamic mix of designing materials for print and digital platforms, managing social media content, and contributing to a wide range of projects that tell the stories of residents, clients, and staff in a respectful and meaningful way.
Helping Hand congratulates enrolled nurse Jim on being a There to Care recipient for his
constant delivery of high-quality care.
For the past 19 years, Jim has dedicated himself to the residents of Helping Hand, especially the Memory Support Unit. He comes to work each day committed to ensuring they live their best lives and creates many cherished memories.
Helping Hand extends its congratulations to My Care Coordinator Team Leader Trish, who has been recognised as a There to Care award recipient. This accolade celebrates Trish’s consistent demonstration of the organisation’s values – Compassion, Respect, Excellence and Community.
Trish started at Helping Hand two and a half years ago as a coordinator, visiting clients in their homes to ensure they have the support needed to live independently for longer.
Home/Podcast sharing stories from the heart of aged care
Helping Hand’s podcast, Age Old Problems: New Aged Care, is giving voice to the people at the heart of aged care, our staff and clients. Through open and honest conversations, the podcast shares personal stories, professional insights and lived experiences from those who know best.
Whether it’s a volunteer talking about the relationships they build with residents, or a client reflecting on what it means to age with dignity and purpose, each episode offers a real and relatable glimpse into aged care. We are busting the myths and misconceptions surrounding accessing and benefiting from aged care services.
We’re proud that Australian Ageing Agenda has recognised the podcast’s unique approach to storytelling in a recent article, highlighting the power of these firsthand experiences to shed light on the challenges and rewards of the aged care journey.
You can read the article here and listen to the podcast here.
It’s a conversation worth hearing.
Home/There To Care Awards – first quarter award recipients announced
Our inaugural There To Care Awards recipients have been announced! The awards, which focus on celebrating our values of excellence, respect, compassion and community, help us to celebrate the amazing work our people do every day.
Matthew, Workforce Team Leader
Matthew has been awarded the Quarterly There to Care Award for the compassion he brings to every part of his role.
Since joining Helping Hand less than a year ago, Matthew has made a strong impression—not only for his professionalism, but for the care and respect he shows to both clients and colleagues.
Jocelyn has been recognised with the Quarterly There to Care Award for the outstanding
compassion and care she brings to her role every day.
Jocelyn’s journey into aged care wasn’t something she planned. Originally from the Philippines, she worked as a catering and wedding coordinator before moving to Adelaide in 2015. After starting a family, she made the decision to retrain, completing an 18-week online aged care course while caring for her young son.
Sonia has been recognised with the Quarterly There to Care Award for her everyday excellence and the compassionate way she supports and connects with residents.
Since joining Helping Hand in 2019, Sonia has brought warmth, kindness, and a genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of those she cares for. Whether she’s learning sign language to communicate with a resident who is hard of hearing or picking up Italian phrases to help others feel more at home, Sonia goes above and beyond to ensure everyone feels seen and valued.
Miki has been awarded the Quarterly There to Care Award for the strength of community he brings to his role and the meaningful connections he builds with residents.
Originally from India, Miki moved to Australia in 2019 in search of new opportunities. Wanting a career that offered more purpose and the chance to give back, he found his calling in aged care.
Home/Helping Hand hosts learning sessions for Findon Technical College students
In February Helping Hand’s Ingle Farm residential care home welcomed Year 10 students from Findon Technical College for hands-on learning sessions. The sessions were designed to show students what it’s like to work in aged care and teach them skills for their future careers. The sessions were led by experts from Helping Hand’s Learning Pathway and Safety and Wellness teams. The students learned important skills including hazard identification and safety protocols, infection control practices, and safe manual handling techniques.
After each workshop, students had the chance to connect with residents over afternoon tea. It was a great opportunity for them to practice their people skills in a welcoming and supportive environment. Both the Helping Hand team and Findon Technical College teachers shared positive feedback about the program, highlighting how valuable the experience was in preparing students for careers in aged care. The students were really engaged and showed a great deal of interest throughout the sessions.
“The students were absolutely buzzing when they returned to school from their workshops. We are incredibly thankful to Helping Hand for their investment in the experience of our students.” — Tara Budarick, Health and Social Support Lead at Findon Technical College.
These workshops form part of an ongoing strategic partnership between Findon Technical College and leading aged care providers Helping Hand and Southern Cross Care SA. Contributing to the curriculum of Findon Technical College’s health and social support program, this initiative prepares students for in-demand careers in the healthcare sector through interactive, hands-on learning experiences.
While the remaining sessions currently scheduled for this year will be conducted by Southern Cross Care, the success and high engagement levels of the Helping Hand workshops have sparked exciting developments. Findon Technical College is now actively planning additional opportunities with Helping Hand throughout the year.
Interested in a Career in Aged Care? If you’re a student interested in exploring career opportunities in aged care after graduation, click here to learn about Helping Hand’s student placement programs.
Our latest Annual Review is now online, showcasing the milestones we’ve achieved over the past year. From heartwarming stories to exciting innovations in aged care, it’s been a year of strength, focus, and growth. Explore the highlights from 2023/24, meet the people behind the scenes, and discover the events and programs that have brought joy and connection to our community.
Tony Zappia MP supports Helping Hand’s request for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.
On Monday December 9, Mr Zappia joined staff and residents at the Mawson Lakes care home for high tea and to formally present them with the requested flags and a new national flag.
When preparing for this year’s Remembrance Day service, Natalie McCarthy, Acting Wellness Program Manager for Helping Hand, discovered there was no Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander flags at Mawson Lakes care home. It was an omission she was determined to fix.
“I believed it was very important to obtain them,” she says. “There is an Aboriginal resident in the Mawson Lakes care home and plenty of staff who also wanted these flags available to include in cultural events.”
Mabel is a Kaurna elder who has been a significant figure in Australia as an Aboriginal rights activist. Her grandfather was an Anzac who died at war, and her father was born on 25 April 1915 (the first Anzac Day) and was named Anzac. The family is now up to five sons named Anzac, including Mabel’s grandson.
Natalie put her head together with Lifestyle Assistant Magda and decided to reach out to MP Tony Zappia’s office to request the flags. The response from his receptionist Anne was both immediate and positive.
“Anne was incredibly helpful and asked if we would like Tony to present the flags to the care home. We discussed this offer with the residents, and it was agreed that we should put on a high tea for Mr Zappia, as well as family and friends to formalise the occasion.”
The occasion was attended by around 25 people. Mabel’s son John performed a beautiful Welcome to Country and Mr Zappia explained the significance of each flag.
Mabel, her son John, and Tony Zappia MP
The new flags will be proudly hung up and displayed around the care home during future events.
Helping Hand would like to thank Mr Zappia for his generosity and time.
Mabel with Natalie McCarthy, Wellness Program Manager
We are dedicated to supporting a diverse and inclusive culture across the Helping Hand community, which we achieve by living our values: compassion, respect, excellence, and community.
This is important recognition, and the second time Helping Hand has been recognised by DCA as an Inclusive Employer. At Helping Hand, we celebrate diversity as an integral part of our culture and our workforce reflects this commitment, with team members representing 64 cultural backgrounds from 46 countries and speaking 60 different languages. This rich diversity enhances our ability to provide culturally appropriate care and respectful services.
Our inclusive workplace helps everyone feel respected, connected, and supported. We know that each person’s experience of inclusion is different, and we value the unique backgrounds and preferences of our residents, clients, staff, and volunteers.
Chris Stewart, Chief Executive Officer at Helping Hand said, “I’m incredibly proud that Helping Hand has been recognised as an Inclusive Employer 2024-25 by the Diversity Council of Australia (DCA). This achievement reflects the heart of our culture—one that values and celebrates diversity in all its forms.
Recently, over 600 of our team members shared their experiences through the DCA survey, and the results highlight just how diverse we truly are. Our team represents 64 cultural backgrounds, speaks 60 different languages, and comes from 46 countries. This diversity is not only something we celebrate, but it strengthens us, enabling us to provide care that’s culturally sensitive and services that are respectful and inclusive.
The survey also showed that our team members feel respected, supported, and connected. They’re excited about their career opportunities and take pride in how their individual strengths contribute to our overall success. Our team have created an environment where everyone can belong and thrive.
At Helping Hand, we’re committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity isn’t just welcomed—it’s celebrated. This recognition from the DCA is a testament to the positive, welcoming, and supportive organisation we’ve created, and it motivates us to keep building on this strong and inclusive culture.”
Home/New toolkit to embed trauma aware, healing informed care
The Real Care Toolkit
The Real Care Toolkit is a ten-step program for implementing trauma aware, healing informed aged care for Forgotten Australians and Care Leavers. The toolkit steps aged care providers through a six month program where you can roll out training, embed practice and demonstrate changes so you can seek specialisation verification. Everything is free – training, templates, guidance and is available for you to use as is appropriate to your organisational context.
Having respectful and inclusive conversations with older people from a background of trauma
It was developed with Relationships Australia South Australia and older people with lived experience to assist aged care professionals to provide aged care workers with the knowledge and practical skills to navigate the crucial intake process, to prepare for sensitive topics as they arise, and provide continual support and care. This training program is free to access, and will take around one hour to complete.
Evaluation with more than 1100 people who have completed the training shows that 94% of participants report feeling more confident in conducting sensitive intake conversations; and 96% said they will use the learnings in their work.
“I will incorporate this with everyday workload to enable me to capture the right information at the right time for the resident.” “This training will enhance my ability to provide holistic care for the diverse clients at my organisation.” “This training has made me more comfortable in having difficult conversations in a sensitive and appropriate manner.” “It has reminded me to listen and how to help without judgment.”
For more information about our Real Care the Second Time Around project, and access to all resources and online learning materials, visit our webpage.
Helping Hand is partnering with the newly-established Port Augusta Technical College to help create a pipeline of skilled students ready to graduate and work in aged care, allied health and social support.
Due to open in 2025, the Port Augusta Technical College will support students in years 10 to 12 across the region to complete their SACE while undertaking vocational education and training (VET) in state-of-the-art specialist facilities.
As a key industry partner, Helping Hand will provide work experience for up to 20 students per term at its Port Pirie, Whyalla and Jamestown residential aged care homes, and work placements of up to 60 per year for year 11 students. Helping Hand will also support up to 20 school-based apprenticeships, with many of those students able to gain employment after completing their studies.
Helping Hand Chief Executive Chris Stewart said the partnership with the Port Augusta Technical College would be extremely positive for the Spencer Gulf cities, where there was a need for more staff in aged care.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain practical skills in an industry which is in-demand, particularly if they’ve grown up in the area and want to work locally,” Mr Stewart said.
“Many of these students will have close ties to our aged care homes in Port Pirie, Whyalla and Jamestown as well, and having that personal connection and understanding of ageing will make a significant difference to their training.”
The industry training programs will help students develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to transition into apprenticeships, traineeships or entry-level employment, or progress to further or higher education. Mr Stewart said Helping Hand had this year partnered with Findon Technical College, which opened in January, to offer the first program of its kind, and students had significantly benefitted from the industry experience.
“Many young people are interested in caring roles including in allied health, aged care and social support roles, and they’re particularly interested in learning close to home,” he said.
“Working with Port Augusta Technical College allows us to create a pathway for students by encouraging them to consider a career with an aged care provider, which they can walk into immediately after completing their studies.”
“We’re thrilled to be involved in this new partnership after having seen how rewarding the Findon experience has been for the students, and we’re pleased it has been able to expand into a new area where these skills are highly valued and much needed.”
Mr Stewart said Helping Hand had a strong commitment to regional South Australia, having transitioned Yeltana and Copperhouse Court care homes in Whyalla to Helping Hand in 2022 and releasing plans for additional beds and significant upgrades earlier this year. With residential aged care homes in Port Pirie, Whyalla, Jamestown and Clare, Helping Hand is one of South Australia’s largest regional aged and home care service providers.
Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer said the technical college would be co-located on the Port Augusta Secondary School site and was one of five technical colleges being built as part of a $208 million plan to equip students with the workplace skills needed in areas of high demand.
“Many regional students are interested in pursuing a vocational career while in school, yet the options for working directly with employers are limited,” Minister Boyer said.
“Students finishing Year 12 at the technical college will not only walk out with their SACE but, ideally, they will also walk straight into work.”
Helping Hand has been operating across metropolitan and regional South Australia for more than 70 years and supports more than 7,000 older people in more than 20 locations. With an ageing population there is a growing need to increase its workforce to ensure its community clients and care home residents, who it provides services for, are looked after with care and understanding.
