Support for vulnerable Australians seeking access to aged care services extended

January 15, 2026

Care finder, a free service designed to help vulnerable older people who have limited supports, has been extended for another 3 years. 

Care finder assists individuals in navigating and accessing support services within their community, helping clients to understand available aged care services, arrange assessments, and find and choose the right services. The service also assists individuals in accessing other community supports.

Following re-funding, we conducted a rigorous open tender process in October 2025.

The following providers will be delivering care finder across the following south east Melbourne local government areas (LGAs) from 1 April 2026:

  • Inner South LGA Cluster (Bayside, Port Phillip, Glen Eira, Stonnington and Kingston):
  • Bayside City Council
  • Better Health Network
  • Outer South LGA Cluster (Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia):
  • Better Place Australia
  • Each
  • Mentis Assist
  • Peninsula LGA Cluster (Frankston and Mornington Peninsula):
  • Each
  • Housing for the Aged Action Group

We'll be working closely with current and new care finder providers to transition clients over the coming weeks where required.

Thank you to all the organisations who have contributed to the success and effectiveness of care finder to date. These organisations have supported at least 1,800 south east Melbourne residents since the program’s launch. You can learn more about the impact care finder partner organisations have made for vulnerable older people in our 2024–25 annual report. 

Care finder is currently funded until 30 June 2029.

Latest news

October 27, 2026
South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN) is providing advance notice of an upcoming open tender opportunity to establish and deliver two new Medicare Mental Health Centres in Cranbourne and Glen Iris.
October 21, 2026
Mornington Peninsula-based practice Fernbank has become the first non-traditional general practice in south east Melbourne to achieve accreditation – an important milestone for a two-person practice delivering care entirely within residential aged care homes.
October 21, 2026
SEMPHN-approved research supported by de-identified general practice data from POLAR has contributed to an important update to national vaccine safety information.