New co-operative model to support regional aged care sustainability
The Murrumbidgee Aged Care Network has officially registered as a co-operative, marking a significant milestone in its mission to support the sustainability of residential aged care in the region.
With support from the Care Together program, seven small, community-based aged care providers have come together to form a shared services co-operative – one of the first of its kind in Australia.
Karen Hodgson, Steering Committee lead and manager of Cypress View Lodge in Coleambally, says the co-operative is a response to mounting pressure on small providers.
“If I hadn’t made the connections I have now – if we weren’t about to launch this project – I’d still be fighting this battle alone,” she told ABC Riverina.
The co-operative aims to centralise key administrative functions such as compliance, recruitment and financial reporting. This will allow members to reduce duplication, increase efficiency and focus on delivering high-quality care.
“We’re all meeting the same standards. We’re all answering to the same Commission,” Karen said. “If our cooperative becomes an expert in this – why not help others?”
Despite the challenges, the benefits of collaboration are already emerging. Some providers are seeing reduced outsourcing costs, while others are using the time and breathing space to restructure operations.
The initiative is part of the federally funded Care Together program, delivered by the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM). The program helps communities form co-operative care models that are responsive, place-based and sustainable.
“Co-operatives are often born out of necessity – when it’s clear you have to co-operate to survive,” said Melina Morrison, CEO of BCCM. “If you want care that’s place-based and responsive, you have to devolve power to the people delivering it.”
The registration of the Murrumbidgee Aged Care Network Co-operative is a major step forward – not just for the region, but for the future of aged care innovation across Australia. “We’re trying to save ourselves – but we’re also building something others can use. This could be a game changer for aged care.”
