Aged care advocacy support
Giving you a voice
About aged care advocacy
ADA Australia’s aged care advocacy service provides information and individual advocacy support to people who have issues related to Australian Government funded aged care services in Queensland. Advocacy supports a person to speak up for their rights and needs.
How we can help
- Access appropriate care, support and service options
- Understand their rights in residential care, or when receiving home care
- Raise and address care related concerns
- Communicate their preferences
- Raise and address concerns about service agreements, fees, statements and budgets
- Support to review and negotiate care plans
- Make referrals for assessments and additional services.
- Making and following up on referrals
- Supporting clients at assessments
- Identifying local aged care providers and aged care facilities
- Explaining financial assessments and fees.
Who is eligible
- Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP)
- Home Care Packages (HCP)
- Residential Aged Care Homes
- Disability Support for Older Australians (DSOA) Program
- Commonwealth funded dementia services
- Flexible care services, including:
- the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program
- the Innovation Pool Program
- Multi-purpose services
- Transition care
- Short-term restorative care
How we work
Independent
Confidential
We seek your permission before acting and follow strict confidentiality processes
Privacy
We take privacy seriously and can only communicate with our clients directly and the people they authorise us to talk to.
Client Directed
We don’t make decisions for you. We can help you understand your options and follow your direction.
Free
Individual
We work with each individual, to help give them a voice
Short Term & Issue Specifc
Where we work
What we cannot help with
- Advocacy support or assistance outside of Queensland
- Centrelink issues – please refer to Centrelink Complaints Process – 1800 132 468
- Housing or rental issues – please refer to QSTARS 1300 744 263
- Retirement Village issues – please refer to Queensland Retirement Village and Park Advice Service (Caxton Legal Centre) on (07) 3214 6333
- Providing recommendations on service providers or aged care facilities – please search for an Aged Care Broker Service
- Financial or legal advice
Frequently asked questions
Advocacy is the process of supporting an
individual to speak up for their rights and needs.
An ADA Australia advocate is someone who is by
your side, working with you, to give you a voice
and help you to resolve issues.
- You currently receive an Australian
Government funded aged care service - You are seeking an Australian Government
funded aged care service - You are the carer or representative of the
person above and have permission from the
person you are supporting.
No, our services are free.
information about available care and support
options.
- Supporting you to access aged care services
by engaging with My Aged Care, attending
aged care assessments and meetings with
service providers - Supporting you to get the most from your
aged care services - Information about fees and charges
- Supporting you to have a say in your care and
the things that impact you.
home or your aged care home, we can assist you
with:
- Understanding your rights and responsibilities
- Raising and addressing care related concerns
with service providers - Communicating your preferences
- Providing information about service agreements,
fees, statements and budgets - Issues related to your care plan
- Researching care and equipment options
- Referrals for assessments and additional
services.
and advocacy support. As such we are unable to:
- Recommend which provider or services you
should choose - Provide financial advice or legal advice.
refer you to the appropriate service.
will always seek your permission before discussing
your situation or concerns with anyone else.
We will always try to ensure your confidentiality is
maintained by being discreet when calling you on
the phone or visiting you in person.
We will look at whether the person is able to make a decision regarding the particular issue. For example, a person’s capacity to make financial decisions may be limited, but they may still be able to give clear direction about lifestyle decisions such as the types of activities they enjoy, or the meals they prefer.
Our Community Legal Service, ADA Law, provides specific advocacy support, legal advice and representation to adults whose decisionmaking capacity is impaired or in question, in relation to guardianship and administration matters.
To contact ADA Law, FREECALL 1800 232 529.
However, we will also need to discuss the issue with you. Your directions and wishes will guide the work that we do. Family members, carers and friends can be included in discussions and the process to support you.
We can also work with formal decision makers such as your Enduring Power of Attorney. However, again we will always ensure that your views and wishes direct anything we do.
services to a range of diverse groups listed under
the Aged Care Act 1997 including:
- people from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait
Islander communities - people from culturally and linguistically diverse
(CALD) backgrounds - people who live in rural or remote areas
- people who are financially or socially
disadvantaged - people who are veterans of the Australian
Defence Force or an allied defence force
including the spouse, widow or widower of a
veteran - people who are homeless, or at risk of becoming
homeless - people who are care leavers (which includes
Forgotten Australians, Former Child Migrants
and Stolen Generations) - people separated from their children by forced
adoption or removal - people from lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans/
transgender and intersex (LGBTI) communities.
responsive we provide free access to interpreting
services and employ a Culturally and Linguistically
Diverse advocate, Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander advocates and advocates who are
members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender
and Intersex (LGBTI) communities. We also provide
rural and remote outreach services from our
regionally based offices.
Aged care advocacy FAQs
Care finder
Older Queenslanders who may be facing challenges related to ageing, health, finances or social isolation can get individual support to connect with and access aged care and other supports in their community through ADA Australia’s care finder program, ADA Link.
ADA Link website
Resources
Aged care advocacy flyer
Get support
This page will cover the following topics
- Ask for help for myself
- Ask for help for someone
- Book an education session
- Order resources
- Read advocacy stories
