The care finders program began on 1 January 2023 and forms part of the Australian Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The program is funded to establish a care finder network to provide specialist help to older Australians who need extra support to access aged care and other community supports. 

This first report of the evaluation of the implementation, appropriateness and effectiveness of the care finder program (June 2021 to December 2024) is a culmination of program data collection and analysis, and interviews with Primary Health Networks (PHNs), care finders and clients, and key stakeholders. It provides an overview of evaluation activities to date, preliminary findings and early lessons learned.

The authors identified 6 lessons learned from the program’s first year of implementation. 

Key findings

• The care finder program has mostly been implemented as planned.
• Referral pathways into and out of the program are being developed and local opportunities for integration are being identified.
• Program services are being delivered as expected although many care finders report they are performing a role that is broader than the functions described in the policy guidance.
• Clients report high levels of satisfaction with the program and care finders are considered trustworthy.