[OPEN TENDER]: Help vulnerable Australians find aged care support and services
Home / News & Opportunities / Latest news / Current post
The South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN) invites eligible organisations to submit tenders to deliver the care finder program.
The care finder program provides specialist and intensive assistance to help vulnerable and older people to find and connect with aged care services in their local area.
Background
The aged care system can be difficult to navigate, and some older Australians need extra support to access the services available to them. Following the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (2018) inquiry, which recommended dedicated support for vulnerable groups, the national care finder program was launched in January 2023 as part of the Australian Government’s broader aged care reforms.
About the program
Care finder is a free service designed to help vulnerable and older people who have no one else to support them. The program assists individuals in navigating and accessing support services within their community.
The program helps people understand available aged care services, arrange assessments, and find and choose the right services. They also assist individuals in accessing other community supports.
Locations and funding
For the delivery of the care finder program, the SEMPHN catchment has been divided into three Local Government Area (LGA) clusters:
| LGA Cluster Name | LGAs Included | Number of providers to be awarded contracts |
|---|---|---|
| Inner South LGA Cluster | Bayside, Port Phillip, Glen eira, Stonnington and Kingston | 2 |
| Outer South LGA Cluster | Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia | 3 |
| Peninsula LGA Cluster | Mornington Peninsula and Frankston | 2 |
Each provider may apply for a maximum of two LGA clusters. Each provider can be awarded a maximum of two LGA clusters.
The maximum contract value (per successful provider) is as follows:
- Inner South LGA Cluster: $1,834,063.34
- Outer South LGA Cluster: $2,578,432.15
- Peninsula LGA Cluster: $1,972,193.64
Applying for this tender
To be considered for this tender, applicants must:
- Be a provider which currently provides services or delivers activities within the SEMPHN catchment.
- Deliver the proposed services/activities within the geographical boundaries of SEMPHN and as described within the tender documents.
- Be able to commence service delivery by no later than 1 April 2026.
- be able to provide services to the entire care finder eligible client cohort as per the care finder Policy Guidance 2022.
Additional detailed eligibility is provided in the tender specifications.
All questions and tenders MUST be submitted via SEMPHN's eProcure by the dates below.
Key Dates
- 29 September 2025: Tender opens
- 17 October 2025 (3 pm): Closing date for questions via eProcure
- 24 October (3 pm): Closing date for responses
- 27 & 28 November 2025: Interviews with shortlisted respondents (if required)
- 1 January 2026: Contract commencement date
- 1 April 2026: Service commencement date
- 30 June 2029: Contract end date
Latest news
