Your Aged Care Compass

In today’s episode, host Michelle sits down with hospital-based speech pathologist Cassandra Agius to explore the vital role speech pathologists play in supporting older adults. From communication challenges to swallowing difficulties, Cass shares her expertise in neurological rehabilitation and sheds light on how ageing impacts everyday functions we often take for granted. Listeners will gain a d...

Our feet carry us through life, yet they’re often overlooked until problems arise. In this episode, host Michelle sits down with senior podiatrist Krissy McKenzie from Flexi Care to explore why foot health is central to ageing well. From simple daily habits to the impact of chronic conditions, Krissy shares practical insights that can help older adults maintain independence, mobility, and comfort....

Dental care is often overlooked in elderly care, yet it plays a critical role in overall health, dignity, and quality of life. In this episode, Leonie Short brings decades of clinical, academic, and advocacy experience to discuss the barriers older Australians face and what we can do about it. From dry mouths to denture neglect, Leonie shares practical, compassionate insights that every carer, fam...

Your local pharmacist does more than dispense medication. They can help you age well, stay out of hospital, and manage chronic conditions with confidence. In this episode, Coral speaks with Professor Trent Toomey, National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, about the once-in-a-century transformation underway in community pharmacy. From expanded clinical services to home medication revie...

What does it take to build a digital platform that empowers older Australians and people with disability to choose their own support workers? In this episode, Coral speaks with Emma Clark, CFO and COO of Attain Healthtech, about the evolution of Mable and HomeMade, two platforms reshaping how care is delivered across Australia. As Support at Home rolls out, digital platforms like Mable are steppin...

What happens when a biomedical engineer with a heart for community care stumbles into the aged care sector? In this episode, Coral sits down with Jim Moraitis, founder and CEO of VillageLocal, to explore how one neighbourly act sparked a national movement. From helping his elderly neighbour Lillian navigate the aged care maze to building a platform that now supports over 40,000 Australians, Jim sh...

In this special Q&A episode, Coral puts aged care leader Paul Sadler in the hot seat to answer the most pressing questions from providers, recipients, and sector professionals as the Support at Home program officially launches. With decades of experience influencing aged care policy and leading national organisations, Paul offers clarity, context, and practical insight into the reforms reshapi...

In this technology-themed episode, Coral sits down with Ali Galadari, CEO and co-founder of Conpago, to explore how digital innovation is transforming aged care. From humble beginnings to a fully integrated communication and care coordination platform, Conpago helps providers streamline operations, improve transparency, and empower families. Ali shares the story behind Conpago’s evolution, the cha...

Driving is often linked to independence, especially for older adults. But when health, cognition, or mobility changes, how do we know if someone is still safe behind the wheel? In this episode, Coral speaks with Karin Naude, a qualified Driving Assessment Occupational Therapist, to discuss what’s really involved in an OT driving assessment. And it’s much more than just a drive around the block. Ka...

In this episode, Michelle speaks with hand therapist Sarah Holdman about how hand therapy supports older adults to maintain independence, manage chronic conditions, and recover from injury. Sarah explains the role of hand therapists, common age-related changes that affect hand function, and practical strategies for prevention and rehabilitation. Listeners will gain a clear understanding of how han...

In this episode, Coral sits down with occupational therapist Lani Davies to explore the realities of delivering OT services in regional and rural communities. From gravel driveways to being swooped by magpies while writing her notes, Lani shares the creative, flexible, and deeply human side of rural practice. If you’ve ever wondered how OTs navigate limited resources, long travel days, and communi...

When is the right time to engage an occupational therapist and what difference can they really make? In this episode, Coral sits down with Kelly Forbes from Forbes Care to explore the OT’s role in helping older people to live safely at home. From falls prevention to dementia support, Kelly shares real-world examples that highlight how small changes can have a big impact. A rail, a ramp, a touch la...

Coral and Michelle are back together to explain the Psychogeriatric Assessment Scale (PAS) and its role in accessing the Dementia and Cognition Supplement for people receiving a Home Care Package. They explain why this screening is often misunderstood, how eligibility is determined, and why many people miss out on funding they’re entitled to. This conversation is supported by our experience and of...

In this episode, Coral speaks with Wendy Hall, founder of Dementia Doulas International and Dementia Doulas Australia, about the emergence and impact of the dementia doula role. Wendy shares her journey from nursing and paramedicine into dementia care, and how her experiences led to the creation of a role that supports families from diagnosis through to end of life. This conversation explores how...

In this insightful episode, Coral Wilkinson sits down with physiotherapist Amanda Burnby to explore Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), a powerful, evidence-based approach that supports people living with dementia to stay engaged, confident, and connected. CST is more than just a therapy. It’s a philosophy that celebrates strengths, fosters social interaction, and builds cognitive resilience. Ama...

In this episode of Your Aged Care Compass , Coral is joined by psychiatrist Dr Kailas Roberts to discuss three often-confused conditions that affect older adults: dementia, delirium and depression. These conditions can present with overlapping symptoms, such as memory loss, confusion, and mood changes, but their causes, trajectories, and treatments differ significantly. Understanding these nuances...

Caring for someone with dementia or other cognitive decline can be challenging. There are some home care providers who empower their staff to excel at this. Today Coral chats with Amy Devlin, a registered nurse and Client Experience Manager at home care provider Dovida, about how they have tackled this. Amy’s journey from hospital nursing to community care has shaped her passion for supporting old...

Loneliness is more than a feeling. It’s a public health issue. In this powerful and deeply insightful episode, Coral speaks with internationally recognised researcher Dr Rosanne Freak-Poli to unpack the real-world impact of loneliness and social isolation on our health, especially as we age. From cardiovascular risk to dementia, Rosanne shares compelling evidence that social health is just as vita...

In this heartwarming episode, Coral sits down with Philippa O'Donnell from FNQ Volunteers to explore one of Australia's most quietly transformative programs, the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS). Philippa brings positive stories that highlight the real impact of human connection, especially for older Australians whose social circles have diminished over time. From matchmaking volunteers...

When we think about prescribing, it’s often in relation to medication. However, the magic of social prescribing is unfolding, and it’s providing connection and purpose for older Australians. This week we again welcome Kathryn Ewen from Dovida and introduce Carly Thomson, a pharmacist involved in social prescribing. During this episode, Coral, Kathryn and Carly explore how social prescribing is tra...

In this thought-provoking episode, pharmacist Jenny Kirschner shares her personal experience of loneliness and the powerful benefits of addressing social isolation via pharmacy practice. As founder of PALS (Pharmacy Addressing Loneliness and Social Isolation), Jenny is leading an international initiative to embed social health as a core part of pharmaceutical care. Jenny highlights the profound he...

Those who will be Support at Home consumers have concerns about this new program. This week Coral sits down with two remarkable women, Danijela Hlis and Hanna Law, aged care recipients, carers, and advocates. From lived experiences, they bring powerful insights to the looming changes in Australia’s aged care system. Their stories are real and filled with wisdom. As Australia inches toward the roll...

In this insightful episode, Coral speaks with Kate Kleemann from COTA Queensland about the nationally funded Care Finder Program, which supports vulnerable older Australians to understand and access aged care and other community services. Kate explains how the program emerged from the Aged Care Royal Commission and Navigator Trials. Learn about eligibility, referral pathways, outreach efforts, and...

If you’re wondering if self-managing a home care package (HCP) is an option for you, today’s episode is all about our experiences with Mum and Dad. For some people, self-management is the perfect model for them. For other people, depending on their circumstances, a traditional provider is a better option. Understand what’s involved in self-managing and make an informed decision on which model is r...

The “Our Town Cares” project was established by Trilogy Care to meet the needs of older people living in regional and remote areas of Australia. This week Coral speaks with David Melloy and Lesley Bryce about their experiences in establishing in-home aged care work forces from within rural and remote communities. The Trilogy Care Foundation and Ironbark Housing are two philanthropic ventures that...