Media release

As part of the SA Government’s ‘Open Your World’ wellbeing strategy, older people are set to co-design new opportunities to connect via gaming platforms.
Leading aged care provider, ACH Group was awarded $75,000 to deliver the “Stay in the Game” program to engage older South Australians in online videogaming and simultaneous voice chat, enabling physical activity, social engagement, goalsetting and achievement from home.
After an unprecedent start to 2020, this is one of 19 co-contributed projects to strengthen South Australians’ resilience and wellbeing in response to the impacts of COVID-19.
Recognising the opportunity to connect generations, ACH Group CEO, Frank Weits said older people can interact with others, including their family through programs such as PlayStation, Nintendo, Animal Crossing and Arc.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted many people to take up new technologies to stay connected with family and friends and gaming is another fun way for this to occur”. Mr Weits said.
Partnering with Office of Ageing Well and Flinders University, this project will co-design and promote gaming to older people across South Australia.
“We support lifelong learning and recognise the benefit of staying active and having meaningful engagement”.
“This initiative will be of benefit regardless of current technology use or knowledge. Our experience with introducing a Smart Technology service showed a high interest in embracing digital solutions to stay safe, healthy and connected at home”.
Great Grandmother, Evelyn Mack 88, is looking forward to expanding beyond board games to play Nintendo Switch on TV with her kids and grandchildren.
“Learning new skills is just another way to keep the brain sharp” Mrs Mack said.
The project is seeking interest from South Australians aged 65 years and over as well as younger people of all ages who have a relative aged 65+ who would also like to be involved. Other interested parties such as school teachers who would like their class involved can also contact ACH Group on 1300 22 44 77 to register their interest.

Consistent with its long history of supporting older South Australians through affordable housing options, ACH Group has extended its retirement living offering with 16 Spence on Light apartments in the heart of Adelaide.
Stage One apartments are now selling, featuring modern contemporary designs with sweeping views across Light Square to the Adelaide Hills in the east or sunset views across St Vincent Gulf to the west.
The $25 million development completed in June 2020, includes 16 apartments to support older people with limited housing options to access new homes that will allow them to comfortably age in place, in a location that is central to work and social opportunities.
CEO Frank Weits, says ACH Group was founded 68 years ago to support pensioners, post-war migrants, war veterans and their widows by pioneering new housing models for older people, in particular those who were disadvantaged.
“Retirement living operators must find new ways of doing things, to provide greater choice and better match our residents’ preferences” he explains.
The city based Spence on Light apartments offer an alternative to ACH Group’s other 900 retirement living units which are traditionally located in suburbs across Adelaide. This is where the differences end though, as these apartments, just like other ACH Group retirement living communities will offer a worry-free lifestyle with maintenance chores taken care of, leaving residents more time to spend on the activities they enjoy.
Priced from $138,000, the secure one-bedroom apartments feature quality fixtures and fittings, light-filled open plan living and alfresco balconies with views galore. Plus, a city lifestyle is only a short walk away with shops, cafes, public transport, Central Market, the new RAH and Adelaide’s green parklands right on the doorstep.
Selected apartments are designed for fully accessible living and have been awarded a Platinum Liveable Housing Design rating.
Mr Weits said today there was a lack of affordable housing for older people, particularly women, in the inner-Adelaide area. “We are delighted to take this opportunity to support older people as we continue ACH Group’s tradition of challenging traditional service models and finding new ways to support people to live well as they age.”
Spence on Light is an innovative affordable housing partnership between ACH Group, Housing Choices South Australia and SA Housing Authority.
Located at 69 Light Square Adelaide, in the former heritage-listed Mission Hall building, the Spence on Light development honours the name of Catherine Helen Spence, a renowned Adelaide suffragist and social reformer.

The Federal Government’s recovery package to upskill workers critical to Australia’s recovery post
COVID-19 couldn’t come at a better time for the aged care sector.
The package is supporting a new six month online Professional Certificate in Aged Care through UniSA
Online at about half the cost of regular study options and will offer opportunities for those who have lost
employment to move into a sector set for consistent high growth in the next decade.
According to the Australian Department of Education, Skills and Employment the demand for skilled
aged and disability carers is set to increase by almost 70,000 and nursing and personal care worker
roles by about 11,500, or 30 per cent to 2023.
The new program is good news for ACH Group CEO, Frank Weits, a key employer in the aged care
sector across South Australia.
“The aged care sector is not only growing but its changing and to be able to deliver services that provide
older people with the best life experience and care, we need staff that are knowledgeable, skilled and
dedicated,” Weits says.
“Education is a key to ensuring we can recruit staff that know and understand best practice and have a
real commitment to providing quality care and support, so the availability of affordable professional
education pathways is vital in bringing new people into the industry and keeping them in the sector.
“With the impact of COVID-19, there are many people facing unemployment and having to consider
career choices for the future. Ours is a growth industry with big opportunities for people who are
passionate in making a difference to the lives of older people.”
“This qualification provides the potential for career progression and with a shortage of skilled candidates
to fill all the roles needed across the sector, new education offerings such as the UniSA Online
Certificate in Aged Care provide a unique opportunity to get a foothold in a growing sector where there
will be ongoing demand for qualified professionals.”
UniSA Executive Dean, Clinical and Health Sciences, Professor Esther May says the collaboration
forged with industry partners, such as ACH Group, has supported the rapid development of the new
program.
“Working hand in glove with industry, we are able to include what is important for entry level
employment in aged care and provides a pathway for candidates interested in extending themselves
into other education options. The industry collaboration has been crucial to providing a relevant, high
quality and meaningful education offering.”
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The new six-month online program, which has been developed in consultation with the aged care sector, is available at the heavily discounted price of $1,250 for students to commence in May. It is open to people who have completed Year 12 or equivalent, who pass UniSA’s entry level numeracy and literacy test or who have sufficient work experience. The course is aimed at people who have been displaced in the workforce due to COVID-19 and want to re-train for entry into the aged care industry and graduates who complete the fast-tracked certificate will also have the opportunity to continue their studies to complete a Diploma in Aged Care and to articulate into bachelor’s degrees in health, nursing or social sciences. It will also suit people who have worked in the sector but want secure and ongoing career in aged care. For more details about the course criteria, please visit https://online.unisa.edu.au/lp/register-interest/higher-education-certificates/

Community social restrictions haven’t stopped Adelaide World War II veteran Fred
Brown from connecting with his former RAF Lancaster bomber crewmate to
commemorate ANZAC Day.
Fred, a former “gunner” originally from England and who now lives at ACH Group’s
Kapara residential care home in Glenelg South, recently connected online via ‘Zoom’
with the crew’s pilot, Bruce Cunningham who resides in New Zealand.
Fred, 98, and Bruce, 100, who coincidently share the same birthdate, haven’t seen
each other for 75 years.
“I was very happy to hear Bruce’s voice again after all this time,” Fred said. “We will
always remember our time in Bomber Command and the Lancaster’s crash in
Belgium.”
Fred and Bruce had incredible stories to share when they linked up on screen for a
chat which lasted 40 minutes.
They were among the crew of a Lancaster bomber when it was shot down during a
mission over Belgium in 1944. Fred parachuted to safety and hid in the home of a
local farming family before he was eventually caught and became a Prisoner of War.
Bruce also parachuted to safety, landing on the roof of a two-storey café but after
later emerging through a trap door where ten enemy soldiers were waiting, he too
was captured and became a Prisoner of War.
At a time of widespread community hardship and scarcity, the silk parachutes of both
men were made into wedding dresses by the respective daughters of the farmer and
the café owner.
After the war, Fred worked as an accountant and in the building trade while Bruce
built a career in his accountancy practice in Wellington.
For Bruce, it was an opportunity to hear how his old mate in Australia was going, “to
reminisce about our wartime experiences together, including flying over the white
cliffs of Dover as Vera Lyn sang”, he said.
Helping connect the two men was ACH Group’s Lifestyle Co-ordinator at Kapara,
Michelle Williamson, who with the help of Fred’s family was able to track down Bruce
and set up the onscreen meeting of mates.
“It’s lovely to see these two gentlemen connect, particularly at a time of social
distancing and restrictions,” Ms Williamson said.
“ANZAC Day is a significant time for many of our residents, many of who served our
country so selflessly during war.”
As part of its approach to Healthy Ageing in residential care, ACH Group helps
residents remain as physically, mentally and socially connected as possible. This
involves looking at innovative ways for social engagement based on their individual
experiences and interests.
“We recently organised for Fred to visit the Aviation museum given his love of
planes,” Ms Williamson said.
“It was great to see him enthusiastically recounting stories about flying and his time
in the Royal Air Force.
“The virtual meeting between Fred and Bruce is a great example of how technology
can bring people together regardless of their address or age.”

When Faye injured her foot at home, she called out to a neighbour who drove her to the hospital, then collected her mail and took out her bins during her stay.
A resident of one of ACH Group’s retirement living villages, Faye says having a close connection with neighbours is one major benefit of being part of this type of community.
“I was so lucky to have someone nearby who knew me and who was willing to help,” she says. “I had people rally around while I recovered and helping me get back on track. We look out for one another all the time.”
Neighbours around Australia are encouraged to get together to celebrate and connect as part of Neighbour Day on Sunday March 29, which this year has the theme ‘Social Connections’.
ACH Group’s Nat Johncock said living in a retirement community offered opportunities for neighbourly connections, a sense of belonging and genuine community links.
“Sometimes as people age they may find it harder to stay in touch and might feel isolated and lonely,” she said. “Retirement living communities offer common spaces and activities and events to create opportunities for people to meet. It might be a chat by the letterbox, a cup of tea with someone, or a wave as you take the bin out.”
Nat said being part of a retirement living community made catching up easy, whether through organised activities such as social drinks, card games or garden groups, or through common spaces such as a community centre or outdoor entertaining area.
Residents at ACH Group’s retirement village Elkanah in Morphett Vale will enjoy a shared afternoon tea gathering at the Elkanah Community Hall to celebrate Neighbour Day.
Over 900 people call ACH Group Retirement Living units home across Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula and eastern Melbourne.
To find a property near you visit ach.org.au/available-units/