Help navigating aged care for those without support.
COTA Tasmania’s Care Finders is a free service helping you access Aged Care. If you’re finding it hard to navigate the system, we’re here to guide and support you.
or Call 1800 518 048
We can support you when navigating the aged care system is difficult and you have no one to help.
COTA Tasmania’s Care Finders program is a free and friendly community service. We offer guidance through the Aged Care system for those experiencing challenges and have circumstances that make it difficult to navigate alone. We are here to work alongside you to access Aged Care and other support services.
This program is supported by funding from Primary Health Tasmania (Tasmania PHN) through the Australian Government’s Primary Health Networks Program.
How we help
How a care finder can support you
Care Finders are here to make the aged care journey easier. We provide practical support and guidance, working alongside you to help you understand your options and connect with the services that best meet your needs.
Information
Communicate with services
Arranging Assesments
Accessing Aged/Home Care Services
Researching for Options
Guiding through relevant forms
Check in after Services in place
Connecting with Communities
Who is eligible
Check your elgibility for Care Finder support
The Care Finder program is designed to support older people who are eligible for government-funded aged care, but may need extra assistance to understand and navigate the system. If you, or someone you care about, is experiencing any of the situations below, this support may be suitable.
- Have no family, friends or trusted person to help
- Find it difficult to communicate their needs
- Have trouble understanding information or making decisions
- Feel unsure about engaging with aged care or government services
- May be in an unsafe situation without support
We have developed a simple Quiz to check your elibility for Care Finder program. If you click “yes” to all three questions below, you may be eligible for the Care Finder program. If you are unsure of any of those questions, we encourage you to watch the video and retake the quiz, look at the eligibility FAQs for Care finder program.
Check Eligibility
C
Notes:
*This support may also be available for people aged 50 years and over who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or for people on a low income and at risk of homelessness.
Get in touch
Get in touch with the Care Finder team
Whether you are seeking support for yourself or referring someone else, our Care Finder team is here to help. The quickest way to contact us is by completing an online form, and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss the next steps.
How it works
Referrals to the Care Finder program
Referrals to the COTA Tasmania Care Finder program can be made by anyone, including community organisations, health or government services, neighbours, friends, family members and other members of the community.
You can make a referral by clicking the button below and completing our online referral form.
If you are referring someone else, please make sure you have their consent. Our online form includes a consent section, and if you call, our Intake Team may ask a few questions to help determine the best way to provide support.
Once the referral is submitted, a member of our friendly Care Finder team will be in touch.
If you have any questions about referrals, you can also email carefinder@cotatas.org.au
Asking for help for myself
If you would like support for yourself, you can complete the online Client Enquiry Form and a member of the Care Finder Intake Team will contact you shortly.
If you prefer to speak with someone directly, please call our Intake Team on 1800 518 048 during office hours, Monday to Friday.
If you are unsure whether the Care Finder program is right for you. When you get in touch, we will ask a few questions to understand your situation and help determine the best way to support you.
How we work
How we work with you
Our Care Finder team works alongside you to help make the aged care journey clearer and easier. We provide guidance, practical support and information so you can make informed decisions about the services that are right for you.
Independent
Confidential
Client Directed
Free
Navigation Support
Tasmania Based
Where we work
Statewide Care Finder support across Tasmania
The Care Finder program is delivered by COTA Tasmania and funded by the Australian Government through Primary Health Tasmania (Tasmania PHN).
Our Care Finder team provides support across the state, including rural and remote communities. Support can be provided by phone, email, post or through face-to-face meetings and visits.
COTA Tasmania Care Finder offices are located in Penguin, Hobart and Launceston, supporting older Tasmanians across the whole state.
Our Care Finders can connect with local communities and referral partners. If you would like more information or would like us to connect with local communities,
If you would like more information or would like our team to connect with your community group or organisation, please email carefinder@cotatas.org.au
What Care Finders cannot provide
Care Finders offer guidance and support to help you navigate aged care. There are some areas where we are unable to provide advice or recommendations.
- Care Finders cannot recommend or choose a specific aged care provider or service on your behalf.
- Care Finders cannot provide financial or legal advice.
- If your situation requires specialised support, we will help connect you with the appropriate service.
To learn more about the Care Finder program and how we can support you, we encourage you to watch the short video below.
Client Stories
Ada’s Story
Independent her entire life, 90-year-old Ada is a valuable contributing member of her community.
After an hospital admission, Ada required additional support for showering, meals, and transport.
Struggling to afford the extra costs and unsure where to turn, Ada was feeling overwhelmed about her circumstances, alone and anxious about what the future might hold.
After a referral to Care Finder, a member of the team visited Ada in her home, and together they made a plan.
With the Care Finder’s help, Ada’s aged care services were re-prioritised and a Home Care Package arranged to provide more support. Ada was able to choose a service provider that made her feel comfortable.
Ada is now receiving the support she needs and feeling confident and capable in her own home.
John, a 78-year-old man with mental ill-health and a terminal illness, was referred to the Care Finder program in early September.
Living alone with no support, John’s goal was to move quickly into a specific residential aged care facility (RACF). Unsure how to make it happen, he sought help.
The Care Finder worked closely with John, liaising with the RACF and completing necessary admissions paperwork. With help from Palliative Care Services, they arranged extra support hours to help John prepare his home for the move.
Thanks to the swift coordination between the Care Finder and the RACF, John transitioned smoothly into his facility of choice, where staff greeted him warmly by name.
As he settled in, John expressed his gratitude: “Thank you, I don’t know how I could have done this without your help.”
He passed away in mid-November, safe and comfortable, receiving the care he needed at the end of his life.
Our Free Resources
Find additional materials to help you navigate aged care services.
Care Finders Resources: Access printable posters, postcards, brochures, and short videos that explain the Care Finder program. Ideal for sharing with others.
Aged Care Resources: Discover guides and information to help you understand and navigate the Aged Care System. If you’re not eligible for the Care Finder program, but need information on how to navigate the Aged Care system, we’ve collected frequently asked questions and trusted resources to help point you in the right direction.
Translated Care Finder Resources: Access a selection of Care Finder program resources that have been translated into various languages, ensuring important information is available to everyone. We encourage you to download and share these resources as needed.
Community Activities: Other community services and groups to provide connection and activity.
Care Finder in your community
The other ways to find out more about COTA Tasmania and the Care Finder program in your community.
COTA Tasmania Care Finders engage with communities to connect with people who may need support to access aged care, particularly those at risk of falling through the gaps.
Through an assertive outreach approach, we focus on building meaningful, ongoing relationships that support improved aged care outcomes. We welcome opportunities to connect with communities and services to support this work.
If you’d like more information, please email carefinder@cotatas.org.au
We also work with referral partners, community organisations, and health professionals to strengthen understanding of the Care Finder program and support appropriate referrals.
To connect with our team, please send a request by email to carefinder@cotatas.org.au
Care Finder FAQs
What is COTA (Council on the Ageing) Tasmania Care Finder?
Care Finders at COTA Tasmania provide individual support to vulnerable older Tasmanians, who have no one to help navigate the aged care system, including those from diverse backgrounds, to access aged care and other services in the community.
Who can receive help from a Care Finder?
Care Finder is specifically designed to help older people who are eligible for government-funded aged care but need extra support to navigate systems, such as people who:
- have no one available in their life to assist
- have difficulty communicating their wishes and needs
- find it difficult to understand information and make decisions
- are reluctant to engage with aged care or government services
- are in an unsafe situation if they do not receive services
Is there a cost to have the support of a Care Finder?
No, our services are free and funded by the Australian Government.
Who can contact or refer to the Care Finder at COTA Tasmania?
Anyone can make a referral to COTA Tasmania Care Finder.
Community service, health or government organisations can refer their clients who would need assistance to access and establish aged care services, or neighbours, friends and members of the community might contact COTA Tasmania Care Finder to help an older person they know who is struggling at home and needs support.
Our Care Finders can assist with accessing aged care services for the first time, or finding a range of additional services and supports in the community.
What support can a Care Finder provide?
- Free and independent information about available care and support options
- Arranging and attending assessments and reassessments for aged care
- Interacting with My Aged Care and health professionals
- Accessing aged/home or allied health services
- Researching available options and engaging with providers
- Providing guidance on completion of forms and understanding service agreements
- Checking in once services are up and running
- Helping with other challenges and connecting with community-based supports
What is Care Finder unable to help with?
A Care Finder cannot recommend which provider or service a person should choose or provide financial or legal advice.
Where we are unable to assist, we will refer you to the appropriate service.
Are Care Finder’s services confidential?
Yes. Our services are confidential and discreet.
We need and will seek client permission for any referrals and our Care Finders will always seek the person’s permission before discussing the situation with anyone else or taking any action.
Can a Care Finder support clients with impaired capacity?
It is not our role to assess a person’s capacity.
We follow a process that ensures people do not have their rights compromised by their lack, or perceived lack of ability to give clear direction.
We will look at whether the person is able to make a decision regarding lifestyle choices and appropriate care services.
What is a care finder service?
The care finder program delivers a national face-to-face network of care finders supporting vulnerable older people, who do not have a trusted support person to help navigate and assist them to access aged care services and other relevant supports in the community.
It was developed in response to findings from the Aged Care Royal Commission that the complexity of the aged care system can be a challenge for some older people seeking to understand and access aged care support.
The care finder program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
Care finder services have been commissioned and managed through the Primary Health Networks across Australia and will complement existing aged care advocacy services.
COTA Tasmania has been contracted by Primary Health Tasmania to deliver the care finder service across Tasmania.
Where does COTA Tasmania deliver Care Finder services?
COTA Tasmania is a statewide care finder provider.
We offer support across Tasmania with offices in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie, which includes supporting people in rural and remote areas across Tasmania.
How do I contact COTA Tasmania’s Care Finder program?
Please contact our Intake Team on 1800 518 048 during office hours Monday to Friday, or email carefinder@cotatas.org.au