Care Finder Program — Referral for Intensive Aged Care Navigation Support

Issuing authority

Department of Health and Aged Care (Australian Government) — delivered via Primary Health Networks (PHNs) and contracted Care Finder organisations

Official source

How to apply

1. Confirm eligibility: the person must be aged 65+ (or 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and have no family, friend, or support person able to help them access aged care — plus at least one additional vulnerability factor such as isolation, communication barriers, cognitive difficulty, homelessness, or institutional hesitancy.
2. Make a referral by phone — call the local Care Finder organisation directly or use your region's central intake line (e.g. South Western Sydney: Triple I at 1800 455 511, 9am–5pm weekdays). GPs and health professionals can also refer using the one-page Care Finder Referral Form available through their Practice Management System (Best Practice, MedicalDirector) or as a PDF from their local PHN.
3. Self-referrals are also accepted — the older person or anyone acting on their behalf (with their consent) can phone the local Care Finder provider directly.
4. Intake staff will conduct a brief phone screening to confirm eligibility and suitability within one to two business days.
5. A care finder worker is assigned and contacts the older person to schedule an in-person consultation — this is intensive, face-to-face support tailored to the individual.
6. The care finder helps the person interact with My Aged Care (phone 1800 200 422 or myagedcare.gov.au), register for assessment, and connect with appropriate aged care services.
7. The care finder provides ongoing support through the intake and assessment process until the person is successfully linked to services — there is no time limit imposed on this support.
8. To find the Care Finder organisation in a specific region, visit myagedcare.gov.au/help-care-finder and use the postcode-based finder tool.

Related topics

Related forms

• NDIS Access Request
• NDIS Plan Review Request
• NDIS Complaint
• Disability Parking Permit Application
• Aged Care Complaint