Aged care
Community-led Pathways to Care and Support for Elders and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
What we do
At the heart of our work is a profound respect for our Elders and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. They are the spirit of our communities—the custodians of culture, the keepers of stories, and the heartbeats of our families. Ensuring that our Elders and older people receive the care they deserve is not just a priority—it is a sacred duty. Our programs honour this tradition by providing respectful and culturally safe care, celebrating the unique role that Elders and older people play in our lives.
Through close collaboration with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) across Australia, NACCHO delivers community-led care that honours local contexts and cultural practices.
We are committed to improving the quality of life for Elders and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through culturally appropriate services and support, ensuring their well-being is at the centre of our work.
A key focus of NACCHO’s aged care initiatives is building the capacity of the sector to better serve Elders and older people. Programs like the Elder Care Support Program and the Home Care Workforce Support Program are vital to ensuring local solutions that meet community needs.
Our initiatives
Elder Care Support (ECS) program
NACCHO has partnered with the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) to deliver the Elder Care Support (ECS) Program.
This is an important program which represents a critical step towards creating a safe and high-quality approach to health and care services for Elders and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The ECS Program aims to increase workforce capability and capacity in community-controlled aged care support, and empower the community-controlled sector to coordinate place-based care needs.
The ECS Program achieves these objectives through assisting Elders and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families to access and navigate aged care services, and by building workforce capacity within community-controlled settings (including assisting ACCHOs and ACCOs to coordinate care and ensure culturally safe support).
These support services are being delivered by approximately 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff across Australia.
Home Care Workforce Support Program
The Home Care Workforce Support Program strengthens the aged care workforce by attracting, training, and retaining new workers to support the increasing demand for home care services among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and older people.
The Program has been implemented in remote and very remote regions of WA, SA, NT, and QLD, in cooperation with five NACCHO members, to deliver targeted support.
Our approach
At NACCHO, we believe that Elders and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people deserve aged care that respects their identity, culture, and community ties. While accessing mainstream aged care can be challenging, many Elders and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people prefer to receive care on Country and within their communities, where they feel understood and safe. This reflects the strength of our cultural connections and the success of community-led care.
Our approach empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to provide culturally safe and locally adapted aged care. Through programs like the Elder Care Support Program and the Home Care Workforce Support Program, we are building a culturally competent workforce that understands the unique needs of Elders and older people. By partnering with ACCHOs and ACCOs, we ensure care is delivered by people with a deep connection to the community, fostering trust and improving service quality.
NACCHO’s commitment to community-led solutions goes beyond medical care. We focus on enhancing quality of life by blending traditional knowledge with modern practices, reinforcing cultural connections, and supporting older people to live with dignity and pride. Together, we are transforming aged care into a service that honours our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and older pathways and creates pathways to healthier, happier futures.
Collaboration is key. We work with government officials, health workers, community leaders, and families, ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are valued in decision-making. This aligns with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, driving significant improvements in community wellbeing.
By partnering with ACCHOs and ACCOs, we address barriers to aged care, such as social disadvantages, historical trauma, and insufficient culturally safe services. Locally-led care ensures cultural safety and a sense of connection and belonging, helping Elders and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to access the services they need and are entitled to within their communities.
Our impact
In the next decade, the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and older is projected to double, reaching nearly 250,000 individuals eligible for aged care. This rapid growth, combined with complex health challenges, will significantly increase the demand for aged care services.
NACCHO’s approach goes beyond traditional Western models of care. The Elder Care Support (ECS) program honours the deep connections that Elders, and older people maintain with Country, family, and community. It recognises that caring for our Elders and older people is not just about addressing medical needs—it encompasses holistic social, emotional, and cultural support.
By integrating traditional knowledge with modern healthcare practices, we offer a care model that reflects the resilience and wisdom of our communities. This approach is grounded in cooperation and genuine partnerships, driving shared responsibility in aged care delivery.
Aligned with the principles of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and ongoing advocacy for systemic reform and in partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), we are committed to ensuring that Elders and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people receive accessible, culturally safe care that upholds their dignity and celebrates their role in our communities.
Insights
Resources
NACCHO’s Aged Care program resource library offers publications and tools to support communities and health professionals working in the aged care space.
ACCHO locations
NACCHO oversees a network of 146 members, each running Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) across urban, regional, and remote Australia. These ACCHOs range from large facilities with multiple healthcare professionals providing comprehensive services to smaller centres focused on preventive care and health education, primarily delivered by Aboriginal Health Workers and nurses.
NACCHO’s Aged Care programs are delivered in selected locations across its network, ensuring culturally appropriate care reaches Elders and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in diverse urban, regional, and remote communities.
Contact
For any inquiries or assistance, please contact the Aged Care team, here: aged.care@naccho.org.au
