First Care Together project to become registered co-op
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Media release
4 February 2025
A new model of accessing health and social care for Wagin
Co-operative Care Wagin is the first of nine projects under the federal government funded Care Together program to be officially registered as a co-operative.
Co-operative Care Wagin, a new community-owned co-operative, has been formed in the West Australian wheatbelt town of Wagin. It is aimed at helping local residents stay in their homes by gaining better access to aged care and health services.
The co-op has been established to address difficulties faced by residents in Wagin in obtaining access to essential care services.
“There are significant gaps in the services available to help people ageing in their homes and what we are hoping to do is use the collective skills and strengths of our community to ease that burden,” said Wendy Pederick, convenor of the Co-operative Care Wagin.
“Wagin is a remote community and getting access to services sometimes might mean travelling 200 to 300 kilometres, which is often difficult without the right supports,” Ms Pederick added. “There are really good services available, yet accessing these can be difficult.”
The Care Together Program is an initiative of the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM), which secured $7 million in government funding to roll out the educational and support program in the care economy.
“We are excited that Wagin has progressed to a point where it can now start to deliver on its potential,” said BCCM chief executive Melina Morrison. “It is vital in a fair and just society that the key decisions are made by those people both receiving care and providing care.”
Wagin, which has a population of around 1,800, is located 230 kilometres southwest of Perth.
The co-op, now a registered business entity, held its first board meeting last week and expects to be ready for launch in March or April. Initially, it will provide two key functions. Firstly, an in-person support role will connect residents, including vulnerable older people, to the services they need, ensuring they can age in their own homes.
Members of the co-op will be able to access a health “concierge” service which will help them navigate the healthcare system, whether it’s accessing a website, getting assistance with telehealth, or support with home care packages.
“Sometimes it is a question of people not understanding how to access the excellent services they are entitled to and that’s where the co-op could make a huge difference.
The second key aim for the co-op is to raise “a village awareness”, which would see community volunteers assisting with services such as transport to medical appointments for local residents without family support.
“It would be a community operating closely, being aware of each other’s needs and who could then meet those needs.
“As our population ages we want to be able to keep people in town rather than see them having to go out of town for help, particularly for residential care,” Ms Pederick said
“The longer we can retain people in town, the better it is for them and the better it is for the town. People, after all, are our greatest asset.”
Ms Pederick hopes that the new co-op will eventually also help address the difficulties associated with attracting and housing skilled care workers, a problem shared by many rural and remote communities.

Media enquiries
Sue Frost, P&L Corporate Communications 0409718572
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