News

Allied Health professionals lead the way in enhancing skills to support people living with dementia

ACH Group has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening aged care quality standards by partnering with Dementia Training Australia (DTA) to deliver specialist dementia training for its workforce. Through this partnership, the organisation recently hosted a series of workshops led by Isabelle Meyer, Executive Director of DTA, focused on the theme ‘Navigating Changed Behaviour’.

The workshops explored key areas including the prevalence of changed behaviour in dementia, psychological symptoms, evidence-based approaches to care, and practical case studies designed to de-escalate acute distress.

A strong emphasis was placed on person-centred support, ensuring people living with dementia are cared for in a way that respects their individuality and changing needs.

A total of 77 ACH Group staff, primarily from Allied Health, along with nursing professionals across community and residential care, participated in the four training sessions.

Staff members who attended praised both the quality and impact of the training:

• “The strategies provided were very helpful.”
• “The approaches were very practical.”
• “The information was interesting and has increased my understanding of dementia.”
• “Isabelle was a great presenter and delivered the training at a great pace.”
• “The case studies were very helpful.”

The importance of training

Barbara Tainsh, Head of Health at ACH Group, underscored the importance of ongoing professional development in dementia care:

“Training ensures care is customer centred, respectful, and adapted to the individual’s changing needs. It helps professionals learn and develop alternative communication strategies.”

”With training, health professionals can be better prepared to identify subtle changes in a person’s memory, behaviour, communication and daily activities.”

“Training helps staff to better guide and support family members through education, emotional support, and involvement in care planning. This can help to reduce carer stress and improve outcomes for the person living with dementia.”

 

As Isabelle Meyer, Executive Director Dementia Training Australia explains, strengthening workforce skills is central to improving care outcomes:

“At Dementia Training Australia, our focus is on strengthening the skills of the aged-care workforce. The knowledge developed through our training will strengthen the skills of aged care staff.”

“It will also support care workers and health professionals, particularly allied health professionals, focus on areas such as speech and rehabilitation to extend the quality of care provided. Whether working with older people or children, education is key to improving outcomes.”

“Dementia is Australia’s leading cause of death, and building knowledge across the workforce is vital. Dementia is everybody’s business”.

 

Looking ahead

ACH Group is building on this momentum by extending the training to more staff, with the Community Nursing team next in line to take part.

Pictured: Health Professionals Luke Maloney and Gabrielle Ganser providing feedback on the training

Express your interest in joining

We are committed to providing the best possible service and strive for continuous improvement at every opportunity. ACH Group’s Home Care and Community Consumer Advisory Body provides an important platform for customers and representatives to share their voice and contribute to positive change at ACH Group.

What’s involved?

The Home Care and Community Consumer Advisory Body will be asked to comment on information collected through our existing customer experience surveys and feedback processes, and provide feedback and ideas relating to ACH Group’s Home Care service. The collective view of the Consumer Advisory Body will be provided to the ACH Group Board and governing committees for their consideration and response.

Importantly, the Consumer Advisory Body does not replace ACH Group’s existing ways in which you can provide feedback at any time.

You can find more information on Consumer Advisory Bodies here.

Expression of Interest – Submissions are now closed.

Starting 1 November 2025, a new Aged Care Act will come into effect, designed to better respond to the challenges faced by older people, aged care providers, workers, and the aged care sector.

This new legislation will place the rights of older people at the centre of the aged care system, ensuring their needs and dignity guide how services are delivered.

The New Act:

• Clearly outlines the rights of older people seeking and accessing aged care services
• Creates a single-entry point with clear eligibility requirements
• Introduces a fair, culturally safe single assessment framework
• Supports the delivery of high-quality aged care services
• Establishes new system oversight and accountability mechanisms
• Increases provider accountability through a new regulatory model
• Strengthens the role and powers of the aged care regulator

Statement of Rights

A central feature of the new Act is the Statement of Rights. This statement defines the rights that all older people should expect when accessing government-funded aged care services, ensuring their needs and preferences remain the priority.

Older people have the right to:

• Make decisions about their own lives
• Have their decisions respected and accepted
• Receive information and support to make informed choices
• Communicate their wishes, needs, and preferences freely
• Feel safe, respected, and valued
• Have their culture and identity acknowledged and honoured
• Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards

Strengthened Quality Standards will commence on 1 November 2025, alongside the new Aged Care Act.

The strengthened Quality Standards are designed to deliver a better aged care experience. The new standards will be used by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission as the basis of their compliance and continuous improvement work, they do with aged care providers.

There are seven standards aged care providers need to meet.

• Standard 1: The individual
• Standard 2: The organisation
• Standard 3: The care and services
• Standard 4: The environment
• Standard 5: Clinical care
• Standard 6: Food and nutrition
• Standard 7: The residential community

More information

For more information, visit the Australian Government Department of Health Aged Care website.

ACH Group is gearing up to showcase the exciting career opportunities on offer in aged care at the Adelaide Careers and Employment Expo at the Adelaide Showgrounds on May 9 and 10.

Students and job seekers are encouraged to drop by site 182 to speak with ACH Group staff about the exciting and diverse range of careers available.

The stall will feature key members of ACH Group’s workforce including recruitment experts, care professionals, student placements and volunteering.

ACH Group Executive Manager of People, Culture and Safety, Cher Lopresti said there was never a better time to start an exciting and rewarding career in aged care.

“We are looking forward to speaking with as many people as we can over the two days of the expo about the exciting careers available in aged care,” she said.

“Visitors to our stand will get an exclusive look at what working in aged care is truly like, receive personalised career advice as well as an insight into current vacancies and opportunities.

“We will also share the different pathways into aged care through student placements and volunteering.”

“With over 200 unique roles across care, nursing, allied health, business, hospitality and maintenance, there really is something for everyone at ACH Group.”

The Adelaide Careers and Employment Expo is the largest event for students and jobseekers in South Australia and is free to attend.

See the list of current ACH Group job opportunities.

Entry is free!

Event details

• What: Adelaide Careers & Employment Expo
• Dates: Friday May 9, 2025 – 9am to 3pm & Saturday May 10, 2025 – 9am to 4pm
• Location: Adelaide Showground, Wayville

Luisa Centofanti has just chalked up a remarkable 20 years of volunteering at Milpara Residential Aged Care Home – and she’s not done yet.

Having walked into Milpara as a volunteer for the first time on February 4, 2005, Luisa has spent countless hours supporting residents with cooking, art and gardening activities.

She said she gets out as much as she puts in and hopes she still has another five years left in her.

“The mind is still willing it is just as long as the body is able,” she laughed.

“It is the people that keeps you coming back – there is no better feeling than spending your time to make other people feel good.”

ACH Group Volunteer Services Manager Charlotte Carmody said Luisa’s tenure as a volunteer was quite extraordinary.

“If you ever needed to see the power of volunteering and the impact one person can make you only need to look at Luisa,” she said.

“20 years is an incredible milestone and just goes to show how volunteering can get under your skin and become a lifelong passion.

“Across ACH Group we have more than 120 remarkable volunteers who, like Luisa, do such much to foster companionship and support social connection.”

Thinking of volunteering? ACH Group offers volunteering opportunities within our community, residential, social, health, and housing programs and services as well as special events.

Captured in photos, Luisa is seen with Art Lead Sylvia Reitenbach in Milpara’s Art Room, sharing a moment with Bessie, one of Milpara’s talented artists, and with Charlotte Carmody, Volunteer Services Manager.

It’s Primary Health Care Nurses Day! On Wednesday, 5 February 2025, we celebrated the incredible contributions of nurses in primary health care, including aged care and community, highlighting their valuable role in supporting the health of Australians outside of the hospital setting.

At ACH Group, we thank our team of over 300 dedicated nurses who support good lives for residents and customers. Among them are Registered Nurses Mani Singh and Helen Banh who highlight the vital and diverse roles nurses have in aged care.

Mani, a Care Manager at ViTA Residential Care Home, ensures residents’ care plans are delivered.

Helen, a Clinical Nurse Consultant, leads a team of 11 nurses who provide care in customers’ homes, including wound care, cognitive testing, and medication support.

To celebrate Primary Health Care Nurses Day, Mani and Helen have shared their passion for nursing and the impact they make on the lives of older people.

Why did you embark on a career in nursing?

Helen: “I think just about every nurse, no matter the setting, would say that you only get into this profession because you want to help people.”

Mani: “My passion for supporting older adults stems from a personal connection I felt I was missing growing up. Having never known my grandparents, I often found myself envious of those special relationships others had. This desire to form those connections led me to aged care.”

How does working in aged care differ from a hospital setting?

Helen: “The great thing about community nursing is that it focuses on improving and maintaining health in the long-term. We work with some customers three times a week for a year, so we have the privilege of really getting to know people and building meaningful trust and connection.”

Mani: “What I appreciate the most about working in aged care is the ability to work as part of multidisciplinary teams, collaborating with dementia care specialists, mental health professionals, general practitioners, and more.”

Why is your role rewarding?

Helen: “There is nothing quite like the feeling that you get when you know the care and support you have provided has made a positive difference in someone’s life. When you have those wins and you are able to put everything in place so that someone can continue to live in their own home safely – it really is a special feeling.”

Mani: “Every day, I wake up eager to come to work knowing that my efforts directly improve the residents’ lives.”

Thank you again to our amazing nursing staff!

Are you a nurse looking for a rewarding career in aged care? Explore our current job opportunities and join ACH Group today.

Thank you for being part of our community as we continue to support older people to live good lives.

From everyone at ACH Group, we wish you a very happy and safe festive season.

Contact us

Our dedicated staff are on hand to take your call on 1300 22 44 77 between 7am – 6pm (ACST) every day, even on Christmas Day.

Health Studio

ACH Group Health Studios will close from Wednesday 25 December 2024, reopening on Thursday 2 January 2025.

Social groups and experiences

All regular  social groups and experiences will pause from Friday 20 December 2024, recommencing Monday 6 January 2025.

Rescheduling services

If you would like to cancel or reschedule services over the festive period – please call 1300 22 44 77.

Making payments

To make payments during this time, call 1300 22 44 77 with your credit card details.

Contact us for more information.

ACH Group is making good health and wellbeing an easy choice for residents.

Over the past year, significant investments have been made to upgrade the health studios across all nine residential care homes. These studios are modern, welcoming, and fully equipped to support a wide range of physical abilities.

Health Services Team Leader Luke Mapunda explained, “We now have all the equipment needed for resistance, balance, and cardiovascular training. Regardless of residents’ physical ability, we can further focus on creating tailored programs for each individual.”

Residents benefit from both group exercise classes and personalised programs, using equipment that ranges from total-body NuStep cross trainers, recumbent bikes to balance beams and dumbbells.

Luke emphasised, “Our balance classes and individual sessions run across all homes. While many balance exercises require minimal equipment, having access to such a variety allows us to get creative and continually challenge residents as they progress.”

A powerful example comes from Highercombe Residential Care Home, where Physiotherapist Khanh Ta recalled a time when Margaret, one of the residents, experienced a fall, which led to a decline in her confidence and made it harder to stay active.

Through regular support, Margaret regained her confidence and rejoined social and gym activities.

Margaret shared, “The health studio has been a real turning point for me. Now, I have the motivation to stay active.”

Luke added, “At ACH Group, we focus not only on providing exercise but ensuring it’s delivered with the right intensity and progression to achieve meaningful results. With dedicated staff, advanced equipment, and tailored programs, we make sure residents are continually supported on their path to better health.”

ACH Group’s health studios represent a meaningful investment in resident wellbeing, showcasing the organisation’s commitment to fostering healthy, active, and connected lives for older people.

We’re launching a refreshed brand and logo!

Our new logo is a fresh, modern look – reflecting the high-quality care and innovation ACH Group is known for.

Current core elements remain including the distinctive green and the page turn image that symbolises looking to the future and the possibilities for all as we age. These elements make the ACH Group brand well-known, resonate with our community, and reflect our purpose – Good Lives for Older People.

The colour palette has also been expanded, strengthening ACH Group’s ownership of green and distinguishing us from many aged care providers.

The refreshed look introduced from mid-October 2024, replaces the former logo and branding that was developed 14 years ago. The need for a new logo was identified due to the evolution of ACH Group and the change in the aged care sector in the last decade.

You’ll see this new look on tv, social media, cinema screens, your way to work, and more.

Maggie Brown’s mailbox vigil is over with ACH Group’s latest Social Experience Guide for October – March now hitting letterboxes.

The bi-annual guide offers a series of day tours, getaways, and regular social experiences for older South Australians.

For the past two years, Maggie has been a regular participant on day tours and getaways and has established a close-knit group of friends who regularly go away together.

“Just before the guides get released, our little group is constantly in touch to see who gets it first so we can get together and plan the trips we want to take,” she said.

“We always put on an afternoon tea and sit around the table and plan our getaways for the next six months.

“Guide delivery day is a great time of the year.”

The day tours and getaways in the guide are curated by ACH Group Event Planner Nichole Reilly who worked in the travel industry for more than five years with Flight Centre and Contiki Holidays.

Nichole said exciting new additions to the latest edition of the guide include a getaway to Broken Hill, Gather Round in the Barossa Valley and a five-night trip to Ballarat, Sovereign Hill and Daylesford.

“We put a lot of effort into curating our social offerings because we know how much joy it brings customers,” Nichole said.

“There is always a balancing act between bringing back old favorites and adding exciting new experiences and I think we’ve got the mix spot on in this edition.

“I can’t wait to hear stories from customers attending the experiences.”

Maggie said since becoming aware of ACH Group’s Social Experience Guide the travel bug had bitten her hard.
“Every trip I’ve had has been faultless and every part of the experiences I’ve been on have been five stars,” she said.

All experiences in the guide can be subsidised through the Commonwealth Home Support Program or funded by a Home Care Package.

To book, call 1300 22 44 77 and select option three from the voice menu. Please select this option even if you are an existing ACH Group customer.

The new Social Experience Guide is now available to view or download.