A free community seminar aimed at helping seniors navigate Australia’s new aged care system, the Support at Home program, is being offered to the local community.
Led by Sunshine Coast gerontologist Tanya Dave, the seminar will be held on April 17 from 10am-noon at Beerwah Neighbourhood Centre.
It will address concerns about rising costs and access delays under the new aged care system.
The seminar will focus on real-world solutions, including how the Support at Home program works, strategies to reduce care costs through smarter planning and negotiation, how to maximise funding and avoid waste, what to look for when choosing a provider, and how to build a strong, reliable care network.
It is particularly aimed at those struggling to access approved services, paying excessive fees, feeling overwhelmed by the system, unsure how to choose providers, or experiencing delays, confusion and poor communication.
“This is about giving people their power back,” Ms Dave said.
“When you understand how the system works, you can make better decisions, reduce costs and get the care you actually need.”
The event comes after the federal government rolled out the Support at Home program on November 1, 2025, replacing home care packages and short-term restorative care.
While designed to simplify aged care, Ms Dave maintains the reform has had the opposite effect.
Across the Sunshine Coast, common concerns include delays in accessing approved services, rising out-of-pocket costs due to new fee structures, confusion around funding and entitlements, difficulty navigating an increasingly complex provider market, and a lack of personalised support.
Ms Dave said what she had seen on the ground was deeply concerning.
“Five months in, it’s clear the system is not working as it should,” she said.
“People are waiting too long for essential services, paying more than ever before for basic care and feeling completely lost trying to navigate it all.”
Ms Dave has decades of experience spanning aged care assessments, residential and community care, complex care coordination and workforce training.
She has supported individuals with complex needs to remain safely at home and contributed to strengthening the aged care workforce nationally.
Her leadership extends beyond direct care. She is the founder of Lifestyle 55+ Magazine and the Senior Leadership Awards, initiatives that celebrate and empower older Australians while fostering stronger community connections.
“We are seeing people go without care they urgently need, or paying far more than they should simply because they don’t know how to navigate the system,” Ms Dave said.
In response, Ms Dave is calling for stronger community involvement alongside government reform.
She is also working together with Carolyn Roberts through the Kindness Counts movement to encourage locals to support older Australians.
“We need to build stronger support within our own community,” she said. “If we don’t step up locally, too many people will fall through the cracks.”
The April 17 seminar is open to seniors, carers and the community. Organisers hope it will provide immediate, practical relief for those struggling under the new system.
“This isn’t just about navigating a system, it’s about protecting the dignity, independence, and wellbeing of our older generation,” Ms Dave said.
“Together, we can build a stronger, more supportive community for everyone.”
For more information contact Tanya Dave on 0407 748 773.
