Fighting to stay open: How a regional co-operative could reshape aged care in Australia

In Coleambally, NSW, Karen Hodgson and a group of rural aged care providers are pioneering a new co-operative model to address the sector’s mounting financial and compliance pressures.

With the support of the Care Together program, delivered by the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals and funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care, the group is launching a shared services co-operative to streamline back-office functions and gain collective bargaining power.

This grassroots model puts providers in control, aiming for long-term sustainability and stronger advocacy. As more communities join the movement, this co-operative approach could offer a game-changing solution for aged care across regional Australia.

Read the full article, Fighting to stay open: How a regional co-operative could reshape aged care in Australia (paywall), in The Weekly SOURCE, 23 May 2025.

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Sue Frost, P&L Corporate Communications 0409718572

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