Care Together e-news March 2024

Thanks to all who attended our February Community of Practice meeting, where we lifted the lid on more Care Together projects and reflect on the first half of the Care Together Program.

The BCCM’s CEO, Melina Morrison and Care Together Program Director, Gillian McFee introduced the Care Together Program and its purpose, updated participants on our implementation progress and achievements and provided a Care Together Program Advisory Committee update.

Four members of the Care Together team presented on their roles in the program and provided individual insights.

Peter Hunt, Project Delivery Team Lead, Care Together provided insights from his UK experience and observations about Care Together projects so far. Clare Fountain, Co-op Development Adviser, Care Together discussed community engagement and workshops undertaken so far and early insights.

From the Care Together Program Management team, Michael Pilbrow shared lessons learnt from National Health Co-operative and Nick Hislop discussed project methodology and lifecycle.

If you missed the February Community of Practice meeting, you can watch it on-demand on our website.

Be sure to save the date for our May Community of Practice meeting on Thursday, 23 May 2024, 3 – 5 pm AEST.

If you missed our past CoP webinars, you can watch them online.

Care Together supports the establishment of new co-operative and mutual enterprises that provide sustainable workforce solutions in areas where current approaches are not working. We are excited to share with you project synopses for our first four projects:

COTA Australia – for older people
Exploring the feasibility of co-ops and mutuals as an effective and sustainable service delivery model which acknowledges, enables and empowers the decision-making capabilities of people self-managing their aged care home care package.
 
Better Health for the Bush (Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network)
Engaging with stakeholders on a planned community-led, and owned, primary health care clinic in Glen Innes. This novel approach to healthcare is injecting new hope in New England.
 
Summer Foundation
Designing a better way of delivering shared support for people with disability who have high and complex needs living in Specialist Disability Accommodation in regional and remote areas.

KCLC, Logan, Qld
Planning and working towards Logan City’s first cross-sector and culturally safe worker-owned co-operative.

Gillian McFee (Care Together Program Director) and Dr Peter Westoby (Care Together Co-op Development Adviser) recently met with local stakeholders in Wagin, Western Australia to explore how co-operative care models could support their community. Browse our photos.

The BCCM and its Care Together Program team have made three recent submissions to highlight the important role co-operatives and mutuals can play in social care:

Submission in response to Aged Care Bill 2023 Exposure Draft

A new model for regulating Aged Care: Details of the proposed new model – Consultation Paper 2

NDIS Review: Why Aren’t NDIS Markets Working?

The Care Together Program is designed to put the power back in the hands of the people who matter the most – the people who receive care and the people who deliver care. Are you interested in innovative, cross-sector, place-based solutions for care delivery where you live?

Follow the Care Together Program on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube to stay updated and be a part of our impactful program.