November 1 - 30, 2025: Issue 648

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Sam Rae on big changes to aged care

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

This weekend, the aged care sector will see a major shakeup that’s been a long time coming. The reforms include a statement of rights for older people who are receiving publicly funded care, as well as putting the system on a more sustainable financial basis, given the growing demands of an ageing population.

The Albanese government’s reforms have been broadly welcomed. But there are questions about the impact of the changes, including increased costs for better-off retirees.

To talk about how the new changes will affect older Australians, we’re joined by the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Sam Rae. He explains why the funding overhaul was needed, as well as what some pensioners will now have to pay for.

We’ve seen an 800% growth in government expenditure on in-home aged care over the last decade. And so as we transition to support at home, we bring in the co-contribution model.

Now, people who are already receiving care and who are part of that care system prior to September 2024 will have their arrangements grandparented, such that they won’t change.

But people who are newer to the system – that is, since September 2024 – they are going to be asked, where they have the means to do so, and that will be means-tested, to make a co-contribution to some of the care.

Now the government will continue to pay for 100% of the clinical care for every single Australian. But when it comes to independence-related care, a full pensioner will be asked to make a 5% percent co-contribution to the cost of those services provided. But we will have very strict and robust guardrails around that, including provision for hardship if people aren’t unable to make those payments to ensure they have continuity of care always.

Showering and gardening are among the “independence-related” care services that some pensioners will be asked to help pay for. Asked why showering isn’t being entirely funded as a necessity, Rae says:

We’ll be monitoring this very closely […] We want to make sure that every single older person gets the care that they need and that they deserve. So there are very modest co-contributions associated with some services, such as showering, that we are asking people who have the means to contribute to to do so.

On the long waiting list for home care packages, Rae says around 120,000 Australians were waiting for a package in September this year – and “that has been rising” over recent months.

Nevertheless, 99% percent of those people who are currently within the national priority system are either already receiving a home care package at a lower level than they are necessarily waiting for at this stage, or they’re eligible to receive home care assistance under the Commonwealth Home Support Program.

[…] Many of the people who are waiting for aged care assessments may not ever require home care. They may either require a lesser level of care or a greater level of care. There are also many who are already in the home care system, but who are also waiting for additional assessment for one reason or another, depending on their evolving circumstances.

Rae says the changes are designed to try to keep up with Australia’s ageing population.

Five years ago we had about 150,000 people receiving in-home care. We now have over 300,000 people receiving in-home care. So that’s a doubling in just five years.

As you would be aware, we’re in the process at the moment of rolling out 83,000 additional home care packages just this financial year, in order to try and address some of that increasing demand.

[…] One of the really important features of the new support at home program, which comes into effect from Saturday, is that it has an inbuilt growth component to it. So it draws upon the Treasury modelling of our ageing population and demand for in-home care and has an annualised growth component associated with it, so that we don’t have to rely on ad hoc increases to the supply of home packages. We will be able to meet that demand moving forward.The Conversation

Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Price-gouging tactic used by private health insurers must end: AMA

October 28, 2025
Regulatory loopholes must be closed to put an end to private health insurance product ‘phoenixing’ — a sneaky tactic used by insurers to price gouge new customers, the AMA has stated.

The Australian Medical Association said it welcomes proposed amendments to legislation to outlaw this deceptive practice, which involves insurers closing an existing product offering before opening an almost identical one at a higher price outside the regulated premium round process. This is done to circumvent the requirement for ministerial approval of the higher-priced premiums.

In a submission on the proposed amendments, the AMA supports changes that would force insurers to use only the annual premium round to seek approval for the pricing of new products, unless in exceptional circumstances.

The AMA argues those “exceptional circumstances” must be clearly defined in legislation to prevent any possibility of insurers finding loopholes to implement product phoenixing. The term “public interest” — already used in the legislation to guide ministerial decisions on premium increases — should also be clearly defined.

AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said private health insurers had enjoyed extraordinary profits for many years with few consequences for poor behaviour.

“Private health insurance premiums have outpaced wages and inflation in recent years, all while insurers’ management expenses and profits continue to soar,” Dr McMullen said.

“The widespread practice of phoenixing is a major factor in consumers struggling to access the level of cover that meets their needs, and it is eroding public confidence in the private health system.

“Private hospitals play a vital role, especially as more Australians seek care outside the overwhelmed public sector. But unacceptable conduct from insurers threatens the integrity of our entire healthcare landscape.”

The AMA welcomes the federal government’s commitment to outlaw product phoenixing, which Health Minister Mark Butler described as an “underhanded” and “sneaky” practice in December 2024. 

The AMA calls for serious penalties to apply for insurers that continue product phoenixing once legislative changes are implemented.

“There are just a few insurers that dominate the market in Australia, and given their extraordinary financial resources and profitability, severe penalties must be in place to deter illegal behaviour,” Dr McMullen said.

Dr McMullen said the issue also highlighted the need for a Private Health System Authority to better regulate the sector and drive long-term reform. 

“There are multiple bodies involved in regulating the private health sector, and the absence of a coherent approach has clearly been a contributing factor in allowing this practice to go on for far too long,” she said.

Silver Surfers: at Manly + Palm Beach

Who is this lesson for?
Taking place at either Palm Beach or Manly Beach, Seniors and over 55s are invited to join a Bodyboarding and Ocean Safety Clinic, designed to help you connect with the ocean and boost your confidence in the water. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from the best and join a welcoming community of ocean lovers.

What’s Included:
  • Lessons: Learn bodyboarding and essential ocean safety skills from experienced instructors.
  • All Equipment Provided: Wetsuits and bodyboards will be supplied for the session.
  • Morning Tea: Enjoy a delightful morning tea and connect with others after the session.
Important Info:
Arrive 30 minutes early to change into the provided wetsuits before the session starts.

Sponsored by Surfers for Climate, MWP Community Care, and Manly Surf School, you don’t want to miss these bi-weekly bodyboarding sessions. This is a great chance to meet others in the community, enjoy the surf, and embrace the ocean with confidence.


Lesson Times
Keep an eye out for upcoming FREE events on the calendar:
  • 14th November 2025 – Manly 10am
  • 28th November 2025 – Palm Beach 10am
  • 12th December 2025 – Manly 10am
Cost: FREE!


Silver Surfers group Photo: Manly Surf School

AvPals Term 4 2025

Avalon Computer Pals is back for another term of friendly, hands-on computer classes for seniors 55+. Whether you're a total beginner or keen to brush up your tech skills, we’ve got you covered. Learn at your own pace, meet great people, and feel more confident online.

Come along to Newport, where small groups make learning relaxed, social and fun!  To book in visit: www.avpals.com

The Chanterelle String Quartet with special guest Ben Jacks – French horn

Wyvern Music Forestville is delighted to present an afternoon of evocative chamber music featuring the acclaimed Chanterelle String Quartet and special guest Ben Jacks - French horn.

This is Wyvern Music Forestville's final concert for 2025 and will run on Sunday 9th November at 3pm, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Forestville. 

The program offers a compelling blend of classical refinement and contemporary vitality, opening with Mozart’s delightful String Quartet K168 in F Major followed by Mozart’s Rondo from the Concerto in E-flat for Horn and String Quartet – a sparkling arrangement that showcases classical elegance and virtuosity. The enchanting Three Preludes on Welsh Hymn Tunes for Horn and String Quartet by Ralph Vaughan Williams, blend pastoral lyricism with spiritual depth. A trio of passionate tangos by Astor Piazzolla – Libertango, Oblivion, and La Muerte del Ángel – bring the concert to a striking conclusion.

The Chanterelle String Quartet, with violinists Fiona Ziegler and Leone Ziegler, violist Jane Hazelwood and cellist Adrian Wallis, made its debut in 2010 performing at the Spring Festival Chamber Music Series for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The players are all accomplished and well-respected members of the SSO with extensive experience in chamber music.

Ben Jacks is one of the most accomplished horn players of his generation, celebrated for his artistry and technical excellence. For 25 seasons, he served as Principal Horn with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. More recently Ben has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle and Daniel Harding, the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the Australian World Orchestra.

Join us for an afternoon of vibrant and expressive music, performed by outstanding Australian musicians in an inviting and intimate setting.

Ben Jacks 

When: Sunday, 9th November, 2025 at 3:00pm
Where: Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 9 Currie Rd, Forestville
Tickets: Full:$35, Concession:$25, Students:$20, Children under 16 Free
Enquiries: Wyvern Music Forestville Tel: 9416 5234

The Chanterelle String Quartet

90 years of Monopoly: how the ‘new craze’ morphed from socialist critique to capitalist dream

© Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
Lisa J. Hackett, University of New England

Monopoly is the best-selling licensed board game of all time, popular since its 1935 release when “the new craze” swept the world.

It has remained a staple, with over 390,000 copies sold in Australia to date.

Its transformation from an economic critique to a capitalist icon highlights its historical evolution and adaptability.

A game with a message

Monopoly’s roots trace back to The Landlord’s Game (1903), created by Elizabeth Magie to critique monopolistic land ownership.

It featured two sets of rules – one emphasising wealth accumulation, the other wealth distribution. The aim was to demonstrate how different policy levers, taxing income versus taxing land, affect economic outcomes of players.

It was based on economist Henry George’s proposition for a “land value tax” or “single tax”. Under this regime, people would keep all they earned, with public funds raised from land ownership instead.

An old board game.
The board for Elizabeth Magie’s 1906 version of The Landlord’s Game. Wikimedia Commons/LandlordsGame.Info

The two sets of rules in the Landlord’s Game demonstrate how wealth is either concentrated in the hands of landlords (taxing income) or is more fairly distributed across society (taxing land).

In 1935, a man named Charles Darrow removed the game’s socialist critique (the version that taxed land), renamed it Monopoly and sold it to Parker Brothers. The game was now focused on the accumulation of real estate until one player remained, having bankrupted their fellows.

The game thrived during the Great Depression, offering an escapist fantasy of financial success.

Photograph of an old man with a Monopoly board.
In 1935, Charles Darrow reworked the game to become Monopoly. The Salem News Historic Photograph Collection, Salem State University Archives and Special Collections, CC BY

In 1935, Parker Brothers paid Magie US$500 (US$11,800 today) for the rights to her game, ensuring their ownership of Monopoly was unchallenged. As part of the deal, they released her original game, but it failed to gain traction with players.

Not everyone welcomed its capitalist themes – Fidel Castro famously ordered all Monopoly sets in Cuba destroyed in 1959

Playability and house rules

Philip Orbanes, former vice president of research at Parker Brothers, argued a good board game must have clear rules, social interaction and an element of luck. Monopoly ticks all three boxes.

Despite this, Monopoly is notorious for causing arguments. Hasbro (who bought out Parker Brothers in 1991, acquiring Monopoly in the process) found that nearly half of Monopoly games end in disputes, often over rule interpretations. Monopoly is the game most likely to be banned, or see a particular player banned, on game nights.

Four men around the board.
A group of sunbathers having a smoke and playing a game of monopoly at an open air pool, 1939. Fox Photos/Getty Images

Monopoly’s rules have been adjusted and manipulated as players have sought to overcome the inequities in the game. Another of Hasbro’s surveys found 68% of players admitting to not having read the rules in their entirety, and 49% said they had made up their own rules.

These “house rules” include things like cash bonuses on Free Parking or modifying auctions to make the game more engaging.

Identity and nostalgia

Monopoly’s use of real-world locations makes it adaptable to local markets.

The original version reflected Atlantic City’s socio-economic hierarchy. When Waddingtons released the English version in 1936 under license (the same version which would go on to be released in Australia in 1937), Atlantic City’s wealthy Boardwalk and working class Mediterranean Avenue became London’s Mayfair and Old Kent Road, respectively.

The game can also serve as a bridge to former geographies. The 1980s Yugoslav edition remains a link to the past for those who lived through that era, recording changing political geographies and cultural shifts.

People at tables on train platforms.
More than 240 players compete for the British Monopoly title at Fenchurch street station, London, in 1975. WATFORD/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images

Monopoly is a flagship brand for Hasbro, worth an estimated US$272m in 2018. Part of Monopoly’s success lies in its licensing strategy. The board layout is extremely flexible, allowing for localised adaptations to be made to suit different markets, without any substantial change to the game play.

There are believed to be over 3,400 different versions of Monopoly issued, from classic city street layouts to popular culture imaginings.

It is this aspect that attracts collectors; world record holder Neil Scanlon owns 4,379 sets of Monopoly (he is still searching for the Cronulla Sharks set).

Monopoly reflects the world’s economic systems, embodying both the dream of wealth and the realities of financial inequality.

It has been studied by economists and educators as a tool for understanding capitalism, wealth accumulation and market control.

The game originally meant to critique monopolistic practices became a celebration of them. Each player has the opportunity to accumulate vast wealth, reflecting the promise of capitalism: where anyone can enjoy riches as long as they work hard enough.

Magie’s message was leveraged by Federal MP Andrew Leigh in his 2023 critique of the growing concentration of business monopolies in Australia. Leigh noted how monopolies affected Australian families and how the Albanese government had “increased penalties for anti-competitive conduct, and banned unfair contract terms” with the aim of creating a fairer society.

Enduring popularity

In 2025, Hasbro introduced digital banking versions – though many players lament the feel of physical wads of cash.

The game continues to be a favourite, ranking as the top childhood game among Baby Boomers, Gen X and Millennials – and fourth for Gen Z. The sense of nostalgia was strong among all groups, not surprising as board games were found to be an integral part of family bonding.

Monopoly has evolved from an anti-capitalist critique into a commercial juggernaut. While it has faced criticism for erasing its socialist origins and its reliance on luck, its ability to reinvent itself has ensured its lasting appeal.

As both a cultural artefact and a competitive game, Monopoly remains firmly embedded in board game culture.The Conversation

Lisa J. Hackett, Senior Lecturer, Sociology & Criminology, University of New England

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

People with this rare visual condition see illusory faces more often, new study shows

BitsAndSplits/Getty
Jessica Taubert, The University of Queensland

When you look at clouds, tree bark, or the front of a car, do you sometimes see a face staring back at you? That’s “face pareidolia” and it is a perfectly normal illusion where our brains spot faces in patterns that aren’t actually faces.

For most of us, these illusions are harmless. But my new research, published in Perception, suggests people with visual snow syndrome – a rare neurological condition that causes constant “visual static” – experience this phenomenon more strongly and more often.

This finding offers a unique window into how an overactive brain may amplify the erroneous illusory patterns it sees in the world. It also shows how perception isn’t a perfect mirror of reality.

What is visual snow syndrome?

Visual snow syndrome is characterised by the persistent perception of flickering dots, like television static, across the entire field of vision. People with the condition often report the dots never go away, even in the dark.

The cause of this syndrome remains unclear, but recent evidence points to hyperexcitability in the visual cortex, the region of the brain that interprets what we see. In essence, the neurons responsible for processing visual information may be firing too readily, flooding perception with noise.

Many individuals with visual snow syndrome also experience migraines, light sensitivity, afterimages or visual trails that linger after motion. These symptoms can make everyday visual experiences confusing and exhausting. Yet, despite growing awareness, the condition remains under-diagnosed and poorly understood.

Testing how ‘visual snow’ shapes perception

To test whether this hyperactive visual system changes how people interpret ambiguous visual input, our research team invited more than 250 volunteers to complete an online experiment.

Participants first completed a short questionnaire to determine whether they experienced symptoms of visual snow. They were then shown 320 images of everyday objects, from tree trunks to cups of coffee, and asked to rate, on a scale from 0 to 100, how easily they could see a face in each image.

In total, 132 people met the criteria for visual snow syndrome, while 104 formed a control group matched for age. We also tracked whether participants experienced migraines, allowing us to compare four subgroups.

A collection of fruit and vegetables, half of which are covered in static.
People with visual snow often report the dots never go away, even in the dark. Francesca Puledda, Christoph Schankin, & Peter J. Goadsby/Wikipedia, CC BY-NC

The brain that sees too much

The results were striking. People with visual snow consistently gave higher “face scores” to each and every image than those without the condition. This suggests they were more likely to see faces in random textures and objects.

Those with both visual snow and migraines scored highest of all.

This pattern was remarkably consistent. In general, the groups agreed on which images looked most like faces, but the visual snow group reported seeing illusory faces more vividly.

In other words, the same objects triggered a stronger illusion.

The results align with earlier theories that the visual snow brain is hyper-responsive. Normally, our visual system generates quick, low-level “guesses” about what we’re seeing, followed by slower checks to confirm those guesses.

When that feedback loop is disrupted by excessive neural activity, an early “false alarm”, such as mistaking an object for a face, may be amplified rather than corrected.

Why migraine makes it stronger

Migraine and visual snow have been frequently linked, and both involve abnormally high levels of cortical activity. During a migraine, visual neurons can become hypersensitive to flicker, light and contrast.

Our data suggest that when migraine and visual snow occur together, the brain’s sensitivity to illusory faces increases even further. This may reflect a shared neural pathway underlying both conditions.

Future research could use this relationship to develop new diagnostic tools. Face pareidolia tests are quick, accessible, and could be adapted for children or nonverbal patients who can’t easily describe what they see.

A new way to understand perception

Face pareidolia isn’t a disorder — it’s a side effect of a perceptual system that prioritises social information. Evolution has biased our visual system to spot faces first and ask questions later.

For people with visual snow, that system may be dialled up too high. Their brains may “connect the dots” in visual noise, interpreting ambiguous input as meaningful patterns.

This finding supports the idea that visual snow is not just a vision problem but a broader disturbance in how the brain interprets visual input.

By understanding why some people see too much, we can learn more about how all of us see at all.

Why it matters

Visual snow syndrome is often dismissed or misdiagnosed, leaving patients frustrated. Linking the condition to a measurable illusion such as face pareidolia gives clinicians a tangible sign of the altered brain activity behind the symptoms.

It also humanises the experience. People with visual snow aren’t imagining their perceptions – their brains are genuinely processing the world differently.

Beyond diagnosis, this research contributes to a bigger question in neuroscience: how does the brain strike a balance between sensitivity and accuracy? Too little activity, and we miss the signal. Too much, and we start to see faces in the snow.The Conversation

Jessica Taubert, Associate Professor, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Concession car parking at NSW Health public hospitals

Patients and carers may be eligible for concession rates on parking at NSW Health public hospitals. 

To be eligible you need to be:
  • requiring treatment over an extended period
  • attending hospital more than twice a week (including carers of long term patients who visit frequently). 
  • ongoing cancer treatment
  • treatment more than twice weekly
  • daily dressing changes
  • cardiac rehabilitation or health promotion classes
Concessions are also available for holders of a: 
  • Transport for NSW Mobility Parking Scheme permit
  • Pensioner Concession Card
  • Department of Veterans' Affairs Gold Card
  • Health Care Card.
Hospitals provide communication to patients, carers and visitors about the availability of concessional car parking rates, this includes:
  • clearly displaying and publicising concessional rates
  • streamlining the concession application process with designated points of access
  • validating concessional parking for the duration of a course of treatment. 
For detailed information on eligibility and concession fees, visit NSW Health webpage:

Learn Something New: Australia MOOCs And Free Online Courses

There is a full range of everything your heart, mind and body wants to learn more about, presented and conducted by Australia's best universities.

Manly Sailability Needs Volunteers

We have a fantastic team of volunteers who help us with a range of jobs. A roster system ensures that we don’t overdo things but many of our volunteers nevertheless are there even when they’re not on the roster. We set up a marquee for shade, put out the urn for tea and coffee, bring the boats out from the shed, set up the boats and put them into the water, sail the boats, ensure that everyone signs in, operate the radio, observer on the safety boat, and at the end of our day’s sailing, do all this in reverse.

You don’t have to be a sailor to be a volunteer, landlubbers are most welcome too. And some of our volunteers are themselves disabled.

Volunteering for Sailability Manly will give you many amazing personal rewards… for starters, what better way of spending a few hours on a Saturday than on Manly Cove? And you’ll find that you will grow as a person through meeting and interacting with a diverse range of wonderful and inspiring people with various disabilities. 

If you’re not a sailor don’t let that stop you – we have numerous things that need doing on the jetty and we’re happy to take you for a sail or even train you to become a sailor if you wish. 

Please help us share Freedom on the Water, regardless of ability, by getting involved and  contact secretary@manlysailability.com.au

2024 Seniors Card Discount Directory

NSW Seniors Card is pleased to provide members with the 2024 Seniors Card Directory, your guide to the best discounts and special offers from thousands of participating businesses across the state.

The directory includes discounts from each region in NSW. The regions are: Sydney & Surrounds, Central Coast & Hunter, Northern NSW, Southern NSW and Western NSW.

View our regional map below to determine which region you are in.  You can view the directory online in your browser or download and save to your computer for quick reference as you need. 

Each year five directories are released, one for each region in NSW. The regions are: Sydney & Surrounds, Central Coast & Hunter, Northern NSW, Southern NSW and Western NSW.

To download your copy, please click the link below:
Copies of the 2024 directory are also available for pickup from Australia Post Outlets, Service NSW Centres, MP Offices as well as participating local Councils and Libraries across the state. Please click here to find a location near you.

Hotline to report food quality in aged care now live

Australians now have a simple and efficient way to report food concerns in aged care, with the launch of a dedicated Food, Nutrition and Dining Unit hotline at the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

The hotline is active and callers will have access to experts in the areas of food, nutrition, and dining, including dietitians and speech pathologists.

A good meal with good nutrition is crucial to quality of life for everyone but especially older people.

The Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline is also available to aged care providers to access food and nutrition advice, support and education to deliver improved food, nutrition and dining experiences for older people in their care.

Older people, their families and carers, providers and aged care workers can call the Food, Nutrition and Dining Hotline on 1800 844 044.

The hotline builds on the Federal Government’s grant to the Maggie Beer Foundation to build the capability of aged care chefs and cooks working in aged care.

The first free online training modules are now available: https://lms.maggiebeerfoundation.org.au/.

Profile Bayview Yacht Racing Association (BYRA)
1842 Pittwater Rd, Bayview
Website: www.byra.org.au

BYRA has a passion for sharing the great waters of Pittwater and a love of sailing with everyone aged 8 to 80 or over!

 COTA – NSW - cotansw.com.au

ABOUT US

The Council on the Ageing NSW (COTA NSW) is the peak organisation for people over 50 in our state. We’re an independent, non-partisan, consumer-based non-government organisation. We work with politicians, policy makers, and service providers as well as media representatives to make sure your views are heard and your needs are met. COTA NSW works to empower and engage people over 50. For decades, we’ve shaped the policies and programs that change lives.

Since our beginning in 1956, COTA NSW has introduced policies and programs that make a real difference to peoples’ lives. We have proud record, having created: ■Meals on Wheels, ■Retirement Village Residents Association, ■Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association, ■Seniors Clubs, ■Seniors Information Service, ■OM:NI – Older Men: New Ideas, ■Grandfriends, ■Grandparents, Relatives and Kinship Care Alliance, ■Medication Management for Older People, and the ■Mature Employment Line

NSW Seniors Card program: Translated Resources

If you're from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background, and would like more information about the NSW Seniors Card program, translated versions of the Membership Guide brochure are available here:
Available for download in 13 different languages.
Profile: Avalon Soccer Club
Avalon Soccer Club is an amateur club situated at the northern end of Sydney’s Northern Beaches. As a club we pride ourselves on our friendly, family club environment. The club is comprised of over a thousand players aged from 5 to 70 who enjoy playing the beautiful game at a variety of levels and is entirely run by a group of dedicated volunteers. 

Country Pensioner Excursion ticket: NSW Public Transport

Parents missing out on REAL face time? If they have a Pension Card, sign them up & they could get unlimited $2.50 Country Pensioner Excursion tickets*.
Call 13 22 32 to sign up.

Country Pensioner Excursion ticket (CPE)
A Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) ticket is an affordable ticket for eligible pensioners and seniors to travel by train in regional NSW and the ACT.

For $2.50 you can book an economy class seat on a NSW TrainLink 

Regional train service. You will need to book 7 days or less in advance

Apply for the Seniors Energy Rebate

A new rebate for independent retirees who hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card to help with electricity costs. The Seniors Energy Rebate is available for eligible independent retirees to help cover the cost of their electricity.

To be eligible you need to hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC).
CSHCs are means-tested concession cards issued by Services Australia and the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA). 

The Seniors Energy Rebate is now $200 per household, per financial year.

If your application is successful, the rebate will be paid directly into your nominated bank or Credit Union account.

Note: Gas accounts are not eligible for the rebate.

What you need
  • your valid CSHC from Centrelink or the DVA
  • the most recent electricity bill for your current primary place of residence
  • your contact details
  • your bank or Credit Union account details
How to apply
  • Check you meet the eligibility requirements.
  • Select the 'Apply online' button.
  • Enter the required details.
  • Submit the application.
If you're unable to apply online, visit a service centre or call us on 13 77 88.
If your application is successful, you'll receive payment within 5 working days into your nominated bank/Credit Union account. Service NSW will contact you if there are problems issuing your payment. 

Tech Savvy Seniors

Tech Savvy Seniors provides free or low cost digital skills training on how to use computers, tablets and smartphones to keep in touch with family and friends, access essential services, conducting personal business and discover more about the things you are interested in.

Join the thousands of people over 60 who have already completed this fun, practical training and made new friends in the process.

With over 150 training locations across NSW as well as resources online it has never been easier to build your digital skills and confidence, with training available in a range of languages. To find out more about training sessions available near you, visit the Tech Savvy Seniors website to find your local library or community college provider.

For here: 
  • Northern Beaches Council Library at Glen Street, Mona Vale, Warringah Mall 02 9976 1720 
  • Northern Beaches Community College Inc at Narrabeen, Brookvale, Mosman (02) 9970 1000 enquiries@nbcc.nsw.edu.au
The Tech Savvy Seniors website also contains a great range of ‘self-teach’ videos and free digital literacy training resources available to make it easy to learn at your own pace to develop your digital skills from the comfort of your home.

Tech Savvy Seniors is a NSW Government initiative in partnership with Telstra.

Spectacles Program

The NSW Spectacles Program provides glasses and visual aids to eligible recipients who might be at risk of a preventable decline in their eye health.

If you're eligible, you can receive free of charge in any 2-year period:
  • one pair of single vision glasses, or
  • one pair of bifocal glasses.
Contact lenses, tinted lenses or low vision aids may be provided in certain circumstances.

You are eligible if you:
  • receive a full Centrelink pension/benefit
  • have no other income other than the Centrelink payments
  • have financial assets less than $500 (if single) or $1000 (if married/partnered or parent/guardian)
  • are a low-wage earner who earns less than:
  • the JobSeeker Payment if you're under 65, or
  • the aged pension if you're over 65.
People living in regional/remote areas and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples may also qualify for the subsidy. At your appointment, your provider will use the program’s online portal to check your eligibility using the information you've supplied.

Visit Vision Australia for more details on the program, your eligibility and how to apply, at:
 MWP CARE (previously known as MWP Community Aid) is a local not for profit organisation that was founded by Daphne Elsworthy, a Collaroy resident, 52 years ago and we are still going strong! 

In 2022 our programs focus on assisting older people aged 65 years and older, we also assist younger people with a disability and their carers.  We are funded by the Australian Government Dept. of Health through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (known as CHSP). Pittwater Online News PROFILE

These services may be eligible for government subsidies. Call us on (02) 9913 3244 for a confidential discussion. Alternatively you may call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to discuss your needs. To access our services (and all other CHSP provider services) you must be registered with My Aged Care – the portal for all things related to Aged Care Services 

We provide services aimed at helping people to stay independently living in their own homes.

Our programs cover:

  • Transport – to medical and social appointments
  • Shopping – Escorted Shopping, Shop By List, Group Social Shopping
  • Visiting – a volunteer visits a client in their own home for social support
  • Individual Activities – visit a friend, the library, the beach, local garden, and nursery, go for a coffee & chat, attend community activities etc.
  • Social Group Bus Outings – our mini bus and experienced staff coordinate a calendar of bus outings to interesting venues
  • CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) social groups/outings  – Chinese, Italian, Korean , Filipino, Serbian
  • Home Maintenance Modification Service – provided to individual home owners at reasonable cost. Services provided by trusted tradespeople can include Plumbing, Carpentry, Handyman, Electrical, Modifications (ramps, rails etc.)

Visit our website for more at: www.mwpcommunityaid.com.au  and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mwpcarelimited

RSPCA's Community Aged Care Program

RSPCA NSW understands that to an elderly owner, a pet can mean everything. Our Aged Care program aims to keep pets and their elderly owners happy, healthy and together in their own homes for as long as possible. To do this, we assist elderly pet owners over the age of 65, Indigenous pet owners over the age of 50 and palliative care patients of any age.
  • services our Aged Care program offers include: temporary foster accommodation and/or emergency pet boarding if the owner requires medical treatment, respite or other assistance
  • assistance with veterinary treatment
  • home visits to assist the elderly with basic pet care
  • assistance with pet grooming
  • assistance with transport to and from the local veterinarian
  • a volunteer network to assist with dog walking and short periods of in-home care if the owner requires medical treatment, respite or other assistance
Please note that due to high demand for this program, we ask that pet owners first ask family and friends whether they are able to assist with their pet’s care.

This community program was previously known as Pets of Older Persons (POOPs).

For more information please contact the RSPCA Community Programs helpline (02) 9782 4408.

The helpline operates Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. During weekends and public holidays contact the RSPCA Contact Centre on (02) 9770 7555
Aged Care Program FAQs

Computer Pals for Seniors: Northern Beaches - Technology made easy for Seniors

Have you ever struggled with the demands of modern technology? Come and join our friendly club and learn at your own pace. 

Computer Pals for Seniors Northern Beaches is here to help you master your device, be it Android/Apple tablets and phones, Apple/Microsoft/Chromebook laptops.

Each lesson is one-on-one for an hour each week during term times.

We are based at The Tramshed Arts & Community Centre, 1395a Pittwater Road, Narrabeen, close to the B-Line bus stop.

If you would like further information please contact Anne - Tel: 9984 0604 or email anne.computerpals@gmail.com. 



Avalon Scottish Country Dancing

Avalon Rec. Centre
Thursday 3pm to 5pm
Most Saturdays 2pm to 4pm
(contact Margot Fenelon 0419 122 455 to confirm Saturday class)
COST:  $5 - first visit free
WHAT TO WEAR: Casual clothes and soft soled shoes


Bilgola plateau Probus Club

We meet on the first Friday of every month at the Newport Bowling Club; 2 Palm Road Newport.  Our membership is full at the moment, and our waiting list is full.  However, visitors are always welcome.  

If you have any questions, please contact our Membership Officer, Mary Wearne:  mary_wearne@hotmail.com



Pensioner's Concessions: Council Rates

Did you know that Pensioners are entitled to concessions on their Council Rates?

Concessions are available for eligible pensioners. To be an eligible pensioner you must receive a pension from either Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and be entitled to a pensioner concession card issued by the Commonwealth Government. You can only claim a concession on the property if it is the sole or principal place you live.

If you are eligible, you are entitled to:
  • Half of the total of your ordinary rates and domestic waste management service charge, up to a maximum of $250.
  • Half of your water rates or charges, up to a maximum of $87.50.
  • Half of your sewerage rates or charges, up to a maximum of $87.50.
To apply, you need to complete a pensioner concession application form. You can obtain these forms from your council - download our area's one HERE

Seniors Toy Repair Group needs your help

Volunteers are sought to help out on Wednesday mornings (7.30am to midday) at the group's workshed in Ingleside. Volunteers need their own transport and be willing to sort and clean toys that are picked up at different collection points on the Northern Beaches. 

Prospective volunteers can call Terry Cook on 0410 597 327 or email him. Find out more about this great community group HERE


Meals on Wheels 

Meal preparation and delivery: Benevolent Society
Our food services include meal preparation, and delivery of hot, frozen or chilled meals as part of the Meals on Wheels NSW program. This service is currently provided in the Northern Beaches area of Sydney.

Assistance to prepare food at home is available as an activity to help stay active and independent.
To find out if you or someone you know is eligible for this service, call our friendly staff. 
Call 1800 236 762

Also:
Pittwater; 6 Jackson Road, WARRIEWOOD, NSW 2102
Phone: 02 9457 3900

Manly & Warringah; Manly Seniors Centre, 275 Pittwater Road, MANLY, NSW 2095
Phone: 02 9976 1469

My Aged Care

If you need some help around the house or think it’s time to look into aged care homes, My Aged Care is here to help.
My Aged Care is the Australian Government's starting point on your aged care journey. Find and access the government-funded services you need.

Learn about different types of care
If you are just starting out on your aged care journey, this is your first step. You can see what services are available to help you stay in your own home, or what to expect in an aged care home.

Get assessed
If you’ve had a look at what services might be available and you want to know if you are eligible, this is your next step. Read about how to apply and what’s involved in the assessment process.

Find a provider
If you’ve been assessed and are ready to find a provider and set up your new services, start here. Find out what to consider and get information about service providers near you.

Manage your services
If you are receiving services and want to check what you’ve got in place or make some changes, head to this section.

Need some help?
If you need some help, the My Aged Care team can answer most of your questions over the phone. Call 1800 200 422

Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN)

Older Persons Advocacy Network offer free, independent and confidential services that focus on supporting older people and their representatives to raise and address issues relating to accessing and interacting with Commonwealth funded aged care services.

Older Persons Advocacy Network  seek to ensure that aged care consumers understand and exercise their rights and participate, to the maximum degree possible, in the decisions affecting their care.

Older Persons Advocacy Network achieve this through the delivery of individual advocacy support, information and consumer and service provider education.

Nine State and Territory based organisations form the OPAN network. Older Persons Advocacy Network is funded by the Australian Government to deliver the National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP), providing a national voice for aged care advocacy.

ADVOCACY
Older Persons Advocacy Network organisations offer free aged care advocacy services that are independent and confidential

INFORMATION
Older Persons Advocacy Network organisations provide free information about aged care service provision, referrals and the rights and responsibilities of consumers

EDUCATION
Older Persons Advocacy Network organisations offer free information and education sessions to consumers and providers of Commonwealth funded aged care services

The Senior Newspaper Online 

HERE

On Facebook

Home Instead Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches

We are a provider of quality home care and companionship services for seniors in the Northern suburbs of Sydney. 

To you, it’s about finding trustworthy care for your ageing loved one. To us, it’s about providing the highest-quality in-home care services to fit you and your family’s needs.
To Us, It's Personal.

We provide services to all areas and suburbs in the North Shore and Northern Beaches of Sydney.
Telephone: (02) 9144 2322

Disclaimer: These articles are not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Pittwater Online News or its staff.

New Aged Care Act starts Saturday

The new Aged Care Act marks the start of a new chapter in aged care. The Federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing stated this week: ''We are here to support you during the transition.''

The new Aged Care Act begins Saturday, 1 November.

The new Act puts older people at the centre of aged care, creates a safer and fairer system for everyone and ensures they have the quality of life they deserve.

What’s different on 1 November
The new Act addresses 58 recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. It does this through:
  • a Statement of Rights ensuring older people remain active care system participants in their own care
  • the new Support at Home program, improving access to services, products, equipment and home modifications
  • strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards improving the quality of care
  • new regulatory model encouraging stronger working relationships, transparency and engagement
  • simplifying the registration process and giving clear provider obligations
  • funding culturally safe, trauma-aware and healing-informed services for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • updating our digital systems to support high-quality, better-connected care.
We are staging out the reforms from 1 November. This will minimise disruption to how you operate and guarantee continuity of care for older people.

What you can do
There are actions providers can complete before and after 1 November. You can:
  • review the Priority Actions List so you know what you need to do after 1 November
  • complete any mandatory reporting in the Government Provider Management System, My Aged Care Service and Support Portal and Aged Care Provider Portal
  • talk to your workers and older people, their families and carers to reassure them.
We will continue to support you throughout the reform journey. There are eLearning materials and other resources tailored to you available on our website.

New Aged Care Act marks important turning point for older Australians

October 31, 2025
The new Aged Care Act, taking effect on 1 November, represents an important step towards a system that finally recognises and upholds the rights of older Australians, COTA Australia says.

COTA Australia Chief Executive, Patricia Sparrow, said the introduction of the Act is a defining moment in aged care reform – one that must now deliver meaningful change on the ground.

“The new Aged Care Act provides a solid foundation to build the quality aged care system all Australians deserve,” Ms Sparrow said.

“The Statement of Rights is a key element of the new Act. For the first time, older people are placed firmly at the centre of the system – not as passive recipients of care, but as individuals whose rights must be respected and upheld.”

“We will also see strengthened standards and the commencement of the Support at Home Program which offers more packages, higher levels of support, and features such as restorative care pathways.

Ms Sparrow said bringing the Act into effect was a vital step, but what matters now is its impact – and COTA will be watching that very carefully.

“No system is perfect from day one, and change of this scale takes time, but this Act gives us the tools to create a care system that truly supports older Australians,” Ms Sparrow said.

“We will be monitoring the changes closely to ensure the new system delivers on its promise to older Australians.

“Older Australians need confidence that the Government’s commitment – that no one will be worse off – will be honoured.

“We remain deeply concerned that showering has been excluded from clinical care under the new Support at Home program. We’ve raised this directly with Government and will continue to advocate strongly for this to be addressed.”

“The Government has a clear mandate to ensure the new system delivers care that is accessible, affordable, and equitable for every older Australian – regardless of background or postcode.

“The introduction of this Act is a cornerstone reform – providing the strong foundation needed to deliver the aged care system Australians deserve. The focus now must be on making sure the implementation works for everyone.”

20,000 fast-tracked home care packages delivered

October 20, 2025
The Australian Government states it has delivered on its promise to allocate 20,000 new Home Care Packages before the next step in the once-in-a-generation aged care reforms on 1 November.

As of today (October 20), the Government has now assigned every single one of the 20,000 Packages being brought forward ahead of 1 November, when the new Support at Home program begins, an issued release states. 

''A further 63,000 new packages will be allocated before the end of this financial year, helping thousands more older people to continue living in their homes and communities with confidence and the dignity they deserve.'' the government said

Just as 1 November does not mark the end of the Government’s reforms to aged care, it won’t be the end of additional packages rolling out to those that need them.

With the start of the Support at Home program, the Government will continue to help more older Australians to get a higher level of care and support so they can live at home for longer, close to loved ones and community.

This Saturday marks a huge step in the transformation to deliver rights-based, dignified aged care that works for older Australians, for workers and for providers – but we know there’s more to do.

After the new Act comes into effect, we’ll continue to make sure aged care is meeting the demands of an ageing Australian population and delivering truly equitable, sustainable and high-quality care.

Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, the Hon Sam Rae said: 

“These packages are giving thousands of older Australians and their families the support they need to live at home for longer with dignity and joy. 

“The countdown to the new Aged Care Act and the Support at Home program is on – and only Labor is delivering it.”

Aged care at home is changing. Here’s what you’ll pay for and how to plan

Maskot/Getty Images
Anam Bilgrami, Macquarie University

A growing number of Australians want to stay at home rather than moving to a residential aged care facility when they need extra support.

But availability of home care packages has slipped far behind demand. As a result, more than 120,000 older Australians are already waiting to be assessed for aged care at home. Another 87,000 have approval but no package yet.

After a delayed start, a new Support at Home program will begin on November 1 2025. It aims to improve care at home, with more categories of support and 83,000 new places being added over the next year.

A contested component of the new system is that older Australians will be required to pay for more of their non-clinical care. This includes support for personal care such as showering, as well as everyday living costs such as cleaning, gardening and meal delivery.

Here’s what’s changing, what you will pay and how to prepare.

What’s changing?

Support at Home will have eight budget levels, called “classifications”. This is up from four package levels under the current system.

More levels should mean support that better matches needs, including for higher care needs.

This table shows the budget for each of the eight new packages
There will now be eight classification levels, up from four. Department of Health 2025

You will receive quarterly budgets that can be used across three broad service groups:

1. clinical care. This includes services such as nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy

2. independence support. This includes personal care such as showering, getting dressed and help with hygiene, transport and social support such as assistance to participate in social interactions (in-person or online)

3. everyday living assistance. This is for cleaning, gardening, shopping assistance and meal delivery.

You can save any unused funds between quarters to cover unplanned needs. The carryover cap is 10% of your quarterly budget or A$1,000, whichever is higher.

In addition to the eight levels, there will also be three short-term, needs-based funding options:

  • Restorative Care Pathway. This aims to help maintain or improve independence after an illness or injury, mainly through allied health support ($6,000 for 16 weeks, or up to $12,000 if eligible for extra support)

  • End-of-Life Pathway. This helps older Australians remain at home in the last three months of life ($25,000 over 12 weeks)

  • Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme. This is separate funding for products, equipment and home changes. It has three tiers: low (under $500), medium (up to $2,000) and high (up to $15,000). More may be available with a prescribed need.

The Department of Health has published the list of services that Support at Home will fund, and the items covered under the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications scheme.

So what will you have to pay for?

Clinical care will be fully funded by government. You will not pay for clinical care.

If you get a Support at Home package for the first time after November 1, you will contribute to any independence support and everyday living services you use.

These new fees replace the current basic daily fee and income-tested care fee.

Your percentage contribution will depend on your income and assets and on the type of service. Everyday living services will have the highest contribution amounts.

This table shows contribution different groups will pay for the three categories of care.
Independence support includes personal care (showing) and transport, while idependent living support is for cleaning, gardening and meal delivery. Department of Health 2024 and 2025

Around 75% of Support at Home recipients will be full pensioners. If you are one, you will contribute 5% toward independence support costs and 17.5% toward everyday living.

Around 4% of recipients will be self-funded retirees without Commonwealth Seniors Health Cards. If that is you, you will contribute 50% to independence support and 80% for everyday living.

There is a lifetime cap of $130,000 on your contributions across aged care to protect people who receive care for a long time. This cap includes non-clinical contributions in residential aged care.

What if I’m already receiving a home care package?

Current Home Care Package (HCP) recipients will move across automatically. From November 1, you will shift to a “transitioned Support at Home classification” and keep the same funding you receive now.

This table shows the amount those in the transition scheme will receive.
Current recipients will keep the same funding. Department of Health 2025

The ‘no worse off’ rule

If you already receive a Home Care Package or were approved for one before 12 September 2024, your fees under Support at Home will be the same or lower. You will not be worse off, even if you are later re-assessed as needing a higher Support at Home classification.

If you had no fees on your Home Care Package as at September 12 2024, you will never pay fees under Support at Home. Your lifetime Home Care Package cap of $82,018, indexed, will also remain.

5 ways to plan for these changes

The new system starts on 1 November 2025. Here are some simple steps to prepare now.

1) Know how your budget will be managed

Under Support at Home, your budget will be held by Services Australia, so you won’t need to manage expenses yourself. Your provider will work with you to decide how to use it across approved services.

2) See what your monthly statement will look like

Download the official Support at Home monthly statement template so you know how budgets, services and carryover will be shown.

3) Look at some case studies

The government has published some case studies for what cost contributions could look like for:

4) Estimate your own potential out-of-pocket costs

Use My Aged Care’s Support at Home fee estimator to see likely contributions based on your income and assets, to help budget ahead of time.

5) Check indicative service prices

The Department of Health has released a summary of indicative Support at Home prices for common services such as nursing, personal care and domestic assistance. This can help you understand typical hourly rates and compare what different providers charge.

If you can’t afford to pay your fees or contribute to your aged care costs, financial hardship arrangements are available.The Conversation

Anam Bilgrami, Senior Research Fellow, Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy, Macquarie University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Grattan on Friday: Albanese government hasn’t walked its talk about accountability and integrity

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

The government used to be quite cosy with independent ACT senator David Pocock. That was back at the start, when it needed his vote.

In its second term, Labor only requires the Greens or the Coalition to pass contested legislation in the upper house. Now Pocock has become an irritant for Labor, as he and other crossbenchers need to demonstrate their relevance in changed circumstances.

Pocock is calling out the government’s gross lack of transparency. “When the numbers were crunched on the last parliament they were more secretive than the Morrison government,” he says, describing this as “one of the most secretive governments in the last 30 years”.

On Wednesday Pocock led a spectacular revolt that united, in a rare display, the Coalition, Greens and other crossbenchers.

The immediate trigger issue was the government’s refusal to release a report by former public service commissioner Lynelle Briggs into jobs for mates. The government commissioned the report in 2023 – spurred by the fact one of the “teals”, Sophie Scamps, was planning a private member’s bill.

The report, titled Review of Public Sector Board Appointments Processes, was completed the same year. But it has been sat on ever since, presumably because it is embarrassing for Labor. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher says, improbably, that the government is still working on the report. If it is, it must have started the work very late and presumably will be accelerating it.

On Wednesday the non-government senators passed a motion to extend the Senate’s hour-long question time, until the issue is resolved, by about half an hour, with the additional questions all to be asked by non-Labor senators. (In a chaotic Thursday afternoon, question time ran three and a half hours.)

The government reacted furiously. The opposition said the Leader of the House of Representatives Tony Burke told Manager of Opposition Business Alex Hawke the government was considering depriving Coalition lower house members of their positions as deputy chairs on various committees.

Liberal frontbencher James Paterson said “the government’s response is more like that of a petty authoritarian government than a democratic one”.

Environment Minister Murray Watt lashed Pocock, on Thursday accusing him of “a dummy spit”. “David Pocock was always in here lecturing the rest of us about the importance of Senate tradition and Senate convention, and he’s just gone and chucked the toys out of the cot yesterday. So he should have a good, hard think about that.”

This incident is not just a bit of byplay. It’s a test of strength between the Senate and the executive. Politically it is important because it highlights a concerning feature of the Albanese government – its penchant for secrecy. While governments generally have secrecy as their default position, Labor came in promising to behave differently.

Observers believe Anthony Albanese is the main driver of limiting information. We know for certain he is not a fan of freedom of information – the current bill for changes to FOI that the government has before parliament would (further) inhibit access to information about what is happening at senior levels of government.

The inclination to secrecy is part of the government’s disappointing record more generally on integrity issues, highlighted this week by the Centre for Public Integrity, an independent research institute chaired by Anthony Whealy, a respected legal figure.

The CPI issued “The Albanese Government’s Integrity Report Card”, which showed poor results on various fronts.

The centre urges the government to “reset course – to honour its commitments to transparency, respect for parliament, robust checks and balances, and action to stamp out corruption and undue influence”.

The CPI accuses the government of “leaning into a culture of secrecy”, highlighting the flawed freedom of information bill.

It says the government has failed to rein in the power of lobbyists. One big thing that compromises both sides of politics is how political parties sell access to their senior figures, for large sums. Labor has its Federal Labor Business Forum; the Liberals their Australian Business Network. Companies sign up for meetings at party conferences and other events to get into decision-makers ears. It is surely a distortion of democracy.

For an opposition to hold a government to account requires resources. The CPI report criticises the government’s cut in the staff allocation it has provided to the opposition.

Albanese has been particularly arbitrary when it has come to resources for Senate crossbenchers. Instead of a general rule, some crossbenchers (including Pocock) have received more staff than others, according to prime ministerial preference. Labor defector Senator Fatima Payman was given minimal staff.

The CPI criticises that the scrutiny of Indigenous Affairs has been reduced by removing the previous dedicated day at Senate estimates to examine this area. The government also “continues to exempt major executive instruments from parliamentary review”.

On the issue of “frank and fearless advice” from the public service, the CPI points to the government ignoring key recommendations from the Thodey review, which reported under the Morrison government – notably recommending changes to the appointment and tenure of departmental secretaries. These would strengthen the independence of the public service, the CPI says.

And what of jobs for mates? The CPI says the government has made little progress on, and has little appetite for, “one of Australia’s most pressing integrity reforms”.

It quotes Gallagher’s words when she announced the Briggs inquiry – she said it was “all about putting an end to the jobs for mates culture that defined the previous Morrison government’s public sector appointments”.

Under the Albanese government “appointments continue to be made without sufficient guardrails”, the CPI says. It points to the recent choice of the new head of the Office of National Intelligence, Kathy Klugman, who went straight from the Prime Minister’s Office. (The government is enraged by this, seeing it as a slur, because she was a deputy secretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs seconded to the Prime Mnister’s Office.)

The CPI also notes legislation for the Australian Centre for Disease Control “establishes a major public office with no provision for merit-based appointment”.

The CPI calls for the release of the Briggs report and for the government to “legislate transparent, merit-based appointment processes across the public sector”.

The ball’s in the government’s court.The Conversation

Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

When you click on an ad in sales season, retailers get to harvest your data

Aayushi Badhwar, RMIT University

Earlier this year, the consumer watchdog fined three retailers, Michael Hill, MyHouse and Hairhouse Online, almost A$20,000 each for advertising “site-wide discounts” that allegedly never applied to all items on the website.

At first glance, this might look like a straightforward case of using allegedly misleading advertising for an economic benefit. Yet the implications go further.

Years of exposure to constant promotions have trained shoppers to chase a bargain, promoting “clickbaiting”: tactics designed to lure consumers into browsing.

Businesses spend heavily to secure the spot on your social media feed, and that investment has to be recouped. The most effective way is through personalised, persistent ad campaigns that quietly push consumers to buy more.

The way these ad campaigns currently collect data leaves consumers exposed. They also feed into broader concerns about overproduction, which in turn drives overconsumption. That benefits the retailers, but it fuels waste.

Bargains and the data you give away

When you click on an ad, whether it is on a brand’s website or its social media feed, you are not just interacting with the campaign. Behind the scenes, these platforms are collecting your data, analysing your behaviour, and using it to shape personalised ads designed just for you.

Australia’s discount season kicks off in November and extends through to January. With Australians ready to consume, buying gifts for family and themselves, marketing teams go into overdrive. They flood websites and social media feeds with discount banners.

Every time a consumer clicks on an ad, they are revealing something about their shopping patterns. This information is collected through data harvesting (gathering user data) and data mining (analysing patterns in that data). The platform records and shares this information with the business to show the effectiveness of the campaign and whether it led to a conversion (a purchase, sign-up, or other intended action).

Behind this, tracking runs much deeper. Ads use “cookies”, which are tiny digital files that remember your browsing activity such as which sites you visit and how often. “Tracking pixels” quietly collect details such as your IP address, geo-location, time zone, and the type of device used. Together, these build a profile that helps predict your preferences and target you with similar ads later.

A long list of companies have access to your data

Advertisers also gather demographic and behavioural data, such as, your age, gender, interests and browsing history. They can tap data from other apps in your phone that share information through “third parties”. This is one of the vaguest terms in privacy policies. It sounds harmless, but usually hides a long list of unnamed companies getting access to your data.

This information creates a pool of bigger data which allows brands to “re-target” consumers, showing the same or related ads repeatedly. This triggers what psychologists call the “mere exposure effect”: the more you see something, the more familiar and trustworthy it feels. Over time that familiarity can nudge consumers towards buying, not because they needed it but simply because they had seen it so often. This subconsciously promotes overconsumption.

Although marketing campaigns are designed to make consumers buy, even if they do not, they still give away something of great value. Every click, scroll, or view generates data that is later used or sold to monetise; shaping targeted advertising, influencing consumer behaviour and creating economic value.

US authorities described a “vast surveillance network” run by social media platforms.

Did we really consent to this?

A government survey in 2023 showed that Australians do not fully understand the data privacy implications.

The Privacy Act 1988 forms Australia’s main legal framework, and is currently under review. But it only applies to businesses with an annual turnover above A$3 million. While most large retailers easily surpass the threshold, what’s less clear is whether the third parties in the privacy policies do.

In Australia, implied consent is often considered sufficient. If a website states in its privacy policy that it collects data, simply browsing the site is considered consent. A site provides little control over individual cookies unless the user manually adjusts their browser settings. Clicking an ad on social media can also be taken as agreeing to data collection.

In Australia, you either do not see a consent box at all or instead encounter a line stating that “by browsing this site, you agree to our privacy policy”. In both cases, consent is implied.

Stricter rules

In contrast, a website regulated under European Union regulations must clearly explain what data it collects. Only essential cookies are active by default. Marketing and tracking cookies are switched off unless consumers actively choose to allow them.

The difference is stark. The EU imposes stricter rules on data ownership, profiling and behavioural tracking, with no tolerance for vague implied consent. In Australia, behavioural tracking and targeted advertising depend on implied consent, typically hidden in lengthy, jargon-heavy privacy polices that few consumers can navigate.

While data privacy laws are still catching up, educating consumers is crucial to helping them understand how their data is used to influence them into overconsuming.

So now you know what really happens behind every click or “agree” button; the question is, will you still fall for the trick?The Conversation

Aayushi Badhwar, Lecturer in Enterprise and Technology, RMIT University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

u3a at Newport Community Centre: 

About Our Courses and Activities
Sydney u3a comprises seven regions covering the greater Sydney metropolitan area. The local one is U3A Northern Beaches Region.

Sydney u3a is managed and run entirely by volunteers who contribute time and energy to provide life-long learning and social activities for everyone.  Join in to enjoy the benefits of membership!  At the one affordable annual membership fee of $85.00 (less than $2 per week), you’ll get:
  • access to a wide range of courses and presentations
  • friendly and inviting social events in your region

Members can attend any course in any of the seven regions
  • Volunteers lead and administer the courses and talks
  • A wide range of topics is covered – from learning foreign languages to table tennis to history to book/movie clubs to philosophy to science related issues. There’s something for everyone!
  • Courses are held in a variety of local venues and via Zoom
  • Events, visits, tours and social activities are also offered
  • Full details of activities are listed each semester in the Course Book and on individual regional pages
From time to time there are changes to course details after publication of the Course Book. Please keep checking your region’s website or the website home page for updates.

u3a Northern Beaches Region
Our current newsletter includes up to date information on courses, events and any changes to the program.  Previous newsletters are available here if you missed any information or wish to refresh your memory.

Please note:  The newsletter is distributed to members by email at the end of each month. If you haven’t received the latest copy please check as it may have been captured in your Junk email folder. If this is the case, please adjust your settings so that you receive future newsletters as soon as possible. We also take this opportunity to issue a friendly reminder to contact us with your updated details if you change your home or email address. Thank you.

Walk & Talk: Narrabeen

The Belong Club invites anyone to come and participate in the Belong Club Walking Group!

Every Tuesday we walk along the pathway beside the Narrabeen Lagoon, from the Tramshed Arts and Community Centre to Jamieson Park and back. The route is about 1.8km each way, and is estimated to take 45 minutes.

The up and back walk allows for people of any walking speed to participate and enjoy the walk at their own comfortable pace. Walkers often split into smaller groups naturally along the route allowing everyone to go at their preferred pace. The aim here is for everyone to be included and to have an enjoyable walk.

Our meeting spot is to the right of the Tramshed Community Centre, between the basketball court and kids playground.

A Call to Volunteer Trainers and Students

Come and share your knowledge or learn more about your device! 
Computer Pals for Seniors Northern Beaches would love to hear from you. We are a not-for-profit organisation helping seniors navigate the wonderful world of technology.

We teach in term times Monday to Friday in a relaxed fun environment.

Common topics requested by Students are: Sending and receiving emails, discovering useful apps, safe banking online, learning how to take and store photos, avoiding Scams, and basically being able to operate their device with confidence.

We teach Android/Apple tablets and phones, and Apple/Microsoft/ Chromebook laptops.

We are based at the Tramshed Arts & Community Centre, 1395a Pittwater Road, Narrabeen, near the B-Line bus stop.

Why not give us a call on 0478 920 651



Active and Healthy at any age

Staying physically active is the single most important thing you can do to stay fit and independent, as you get older. Age is no barrier, research shows that exercise, at any age, is worth the effort. If you are in any doubt about exercise, please talk to your doctor.

This website (https://www.activeandhealthy.nsw.gov.au/) can help you find an exercise program in your local area and provides information and tools that can assist you to increase your physical activity.

Join Healthy and Active for Life Online!

Healthy and Active for Life Online is a FREE 10-week healthy lifestyle program for adults aged 60 years* and over.

The program will help you learn how to make small, sustainable changes in your lifestyle to improve your health.

The program covers lots of topics including healthy eating and physical activity.
No prior knowledge or exercise experience is required!
*Aboriginal people aged 45+ years can register. 

Healthy and Active for Life Online will help you to be active by:
  • Providing online exercise programs for you to complete in the comfort of your home
  • Providing you with an exercise manual and log to keep you on track
  • Helping you to create realistic goals and increase your fitness
Peninsula Bridge Club - Founded in 1967, we are a key community hub on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. We contribute strongly to our community: with both social connectedness for those who need it and opportunities to learn and train for those with competitive sporting goals. 

The Club is a vibrant organisation hosting up to three bridge sessions a day. We have 37 permanently set tables – that’s 148 players. We host over 30,000 player sessions every year. This includes prominent tournaments and education events attracting players from across the region. 

We pride ourselves on the friendliness of the club and our strong community spirit. We support local charities but even more importantly we support community members by providing them with social connection and mental stimulus – irrespective of age and mobility.

Our clubhouse is at Warriewood.

We have a new Beginners Course starting the end of September.

Each 2-hour lesson focuses on learning by playing, with a break for tea and chocolate biscuits mid-way. The course runs for 6 weeks and costs $100, which includes text book and support materials.

After the lessons we offer “Help with Play” sessions to practise what you’ve learned; Mondays 7-9pm; Tuesdays 2.15-4.30; Fridays 9.15-11.30. ($7 for members & $12 for visitors – membership

We also offer more advanced lessons each month so you can continue to improve your game if you want. 

If you are keen to learn this great game, please call or email Cath Whiddon (Director of Bridge Ed at PBC): 9979 5752 or cwhiddon@live.com.

If you already know how to play, take a look at our website to see what’s on offer this month: peninsulabridgeclub.org.au

Peninsula Bridge Club Facebook page: www.facebook.com/peninsulabridgeclub

Issacs's Gardening Services: Seniors Looked After 

Our neighbour's son (Isaac Loveday) recently started his own gardening business here.  He lives at Warriewood.

Isaac has 10 years horticultural experience with Flower Power.   His listed expertise is:
  • Horticultural advice
  • Mowing & hedging
  • Landscaping & fertilising
  • Planting & turf laying
  • Weed & pest control
No job is too big or too small, and seniors will be looked after.
I have attached his Brochure & Business Cards.
Do you have anywhere in PON that we can advertise his business.  He is a young man & enthusiastic about his work.
J.M.

assistance to pay your aged care costs

It’s now easier to get help if you need assistance to pay your aged care costs.
Services Australia have improved their Aged Care Claim for financial hardship assistance form and made changes to some evidence requirements. They’ve made these changes so it’s easier for you to get help.

You may get help if you can’t pay your aged care costs and you’re either:
  • in residential or respite care
  • getting a home care package.
You can claim for financial hardship assistance if all of the following apply:
If you get a Home Care Package, your care must have started on or after 1 July 2014.

Before you claim, you should update your income and asset details as well as your partners if you have one. You may also be eligible for other payments and services.

Next steps

Pensioner water rebate

If you receive a pension, you may qualify for a rebate on your water bill. 

To be eligible, you’ll need a:
  • Pensioner Concession Card from Centrelink or Department of Veterans' Affairs, or
  • gold Health Card (also known as a gold card) that shows:
  • war widow
  • war widower
  • extreme disablement adjustment (EDA)
  • totally and temporarily incapacitated (TTI)
  • totally and permanently incapacitated (TPI).
You’ll also need to be the owner and occupier of one of the following:
  • single dwelling
  • dual occupancy
  • strata or company title unit
  • unit in a retirement village with a life term lease.
If you own the property with someone who isn't a pensioner, you may still get a rebate. This depends on your relationship with the other owner(s) and your eligibility.

Rebates are applied to each bill. 

You can claim your pensioner rebate by selecting your water supplier from the following list:

Pittwater-Narrabeen Parkinson’s Support Group

The purpose of our group is to support seniors (55yrs +) living with Parkinson’s, their carers, relatives and those who have lost a partner to Parkinson’s, who live on the northern beaches of Sydney.

This support Group has been meeting for around 30 years on the Northern Beaches. Our meetings aim to help reduce the social isolation, and increase community connectedness for our members. Through guest speakers, discussions, and group activities, our meetings will support and promote mental health, healthy lifestyles and well-being.

Our Facebook webpage will be used to store resources and links, and provide another way to safely keep in touch, for those who want to use Facebook. We also have a website that is regularly updated https://wheresdot.wixsite.com/nbpdsupportgroup

We meet regularly and have been meeting at Jamieson Park, The Esplanade, Narrabeen.

Give Dot a call for more information: 0418 640 086 and join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1063258404504502

 

Contact Community Care Northern Beaches HERE

 Keep your Wits About You

A regular contributor suggests we all look at Lumosity to see if will suit keeping active mentally. Their website states: "improve Brain Health and performance. Designed by neuroscientists, Lumosity exercises improve core cognitive functions. Researchers have measured significant improvements in working memory and attention after Lumosity training. Dozens of research collaborations help improve the Lumosity training program and its effectiveness." You can visit their website to decide for yourself  at: www.lumosity.com/app/v4/personalization

Heartmoves is a low-moderate intensity exercise program. Regular participation in Heartmoves will help to: Better manage weight, blood sugars, blood pressure and cholesterol; Improve fitness, balance, co-ordination and flexibility; Enhance your quality of life and meet other people. Ingrid Davey is a qualified Older Adult Instructor and accredited Heartmoves Leader who will guide you through an exercise program that is fun, safe and modified to suit you. Tuesday 9.30am and Thursday 10.30am at Nelson Heather Centre, 4 Jackson Road Warriewood.  The cost per class is $10.00 casual now and $17.00 for two classes. Phone Ingrid to secure your spot on 0405 457 063. www.heartfoundation.org.au

MWP Care

We've been supporting the community for over 50 years! 
Our Neighbour Aid staff and volunteers are able to provide crucial support to vulnerable elderly residents during the lockdown. 

Help with going to the supermarket or shopping on your behalf from a list as well as transport to medical appointments. Please get in touch via our website for more information 

MWP Care is a not-for-profit organisation that assists frail aged and younger people with disabilities and their carer’s in the Manly, Warringah, Pittwater area to remain independent members of our community.

MWP Care provides support to people who cannot manage alone by providing a range of services. Many of Community Aid’s activities are made possible by the generous work of our wonderful volunteers. Please contact us for more information.


Australian Government Dept. of Health: Hearing Devices for Seniors

Australian Government's Hearing Services Program (the program), offers the option of being fitted with a hearing device if a hearing assessment identifies you have a hearing loss and a hearing device may assist you. 

You will be given a recommendation for a fully subsidised hearing device, and may also be offered the option of purchasing a partially subsidised hearing device. These devices have been approved by the Office of Hearing Services.

You can find out more about this program on the Australian Government's Department of Health webpage on the program here

Mah Jong returns to RPAYC

THURSDAYS 5PM - 7PM COMMENCING 4 APRIL

Everyone is welcome, from novices to experienced players! Sharpen your mind, connect with friends, learn a new skill or refresh your existing game. Mah Jong if fun for all!

For more information contact Leigh Hudson 0408 941 665.

Stay for dinner in Halyards - book your table online HERE 


council has a Home Library Service Available for Seniors

For those unable to visit the library because of age or disability, the Home Library Service maintains a vital connection with all that the library offers. Your Home Library Service Officer will help you select items for reading or listening. Volunteers or staff will then deliver and collect your library items on a regular basis.

Register for the Home Library Service
If you or the person you care for is unable to visit the library or carry library items home due to age, frailty or disability, please complete Council's Home Library Service Application Form or call us on 9942 2393. 

A medical certificate or statement signed by a doctor may be required to assess eligibility.

What happens next?
After staff receive your completed application form, a Home Library Service Officer will contact you to arrange a time to meet and discuss the service details with you.

Staff or volunteers will then select your items according to your borrowing preferences and then deliver them to you. During this visit you can return any items that you have finished with.

WIND, BRASS AND PERCUSSION PLAYERS!!!!!

Northern Beaches Concert Band is looking for flute, clarinet, saxophone, tuba and trombone adult players.  We cater for players from beginner to advanced and have a varied and exciting repertoire.  Come and join us during school term time at 7.30pm, Pittwater High School, Mona Street, Mona Vale. 
  
Details 9970 7131 or 0414 560 263.

Community Connect

Need help on where to go to find the community information and assistance you need?

At Community Connect Northern Beaches, our professional staff and trained volunteers are knowledgeable, friendly and approachable and we will be only too pleased to help you find the service you want. We provide information and support, as well as advocacy and referral to other non profit community services and government agencies.

If we can’t help you we will get you someone who can. If you are newly arrived or do not have an English speaking background we can offer individual advice and support. Or Why not come to Specialist Community Support Workshops: Family Law, Power of Attorney plus Wills and Executors; Domestic Violence Support and Prevention; Positive Community Integration ; Crime Prevention; Or  Our Free English Classes. 

We also provide information on: Family Services: Child Care, Personal Support & Counselling; Health (Including Mental Health) ;  Material and Practical Assistance ; Advocacy to access state and federal MP assistance; Accommodation and Tenancy (help with form filling); Legal and Financial Matters ; Consumer Affairs ; Multicultural Issues; Conservation and the Environment ; Employment and Education; Accessing Community Facilities  -You are welcome to call in for: Brochures, booklets and fact sheets on a range of topics; Service Directories e.g. Council Guides and Migrant Directories; Publications e.g. The Senior newspaper and Nova.

Access to our community information data base, internet, email, fax and photocopying.(Please note there is a small charge for photocopying and use of the fax to cover the cost of paper, toner and fax call).  We also offer: A Legal Referral Program - Monday 1pm to 2pm at our 30 Fisher Road, Dee Why office.  Taxation Assistance for low income earners and pensioners from July to October. 

What does it cost?: Our services are free, however we are always grateful for a small donation where possible. The program is supported by NSW Department of Family & Community Services (FACS). CONTACT US: Phone: 02 99317777.

Know Your Bones

CEO of Osteoporosis Australia, Greg Lyubomirsky says “bone health is an important part of your general health and anyone with risks for osteoporosis should be investigated.”

He has urged people to try the online self-assessment, Know Your Bones developed by Osteoporosis Australia and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. 

"Simply visit the website, complete the assessment in your own time and a personal report is generated which will outline potential risks and can be taken to your doctor if required.”

You can take the assessment here:  www.knowyourbones.org.au

NSW Seniors Website: Crosswords, Puzzles & Games

Did you know that the NSW Seniors website has a range of games and puzzles for you to exercise that great grey matter upstairs?

Recently new items have been added in and now the list is:


Just click on the links we've embedded next time it's too cold out for a stroll and exercise that other great asset you have - your mind!

Profile

EasyLink (formerly Easy Transport Manly Warringah Pittwater) - medical appointments, shopping trips, mystery tours and Saturday Lunch - this great non-profit organisation offers great ideas and solutions.

Visit: https://easylink.com.au

Avalon Beach Ladies Probus Club - Profile

Currently Avalon Beach Ladies Probus club is looking for new members - a great opportunity to spring into Spring by meeting up with wonderful local women for fun and friendship. Meets first Tuesday of every month at Club Palm Beach (Palm Beach RSL).

President Margaret White shares a few insights into this local ladies Probus club.

Media Releases concerning Seniors this week from National Seniors Australia

With around a quarter of a million members, National Seniors is Australia’s largest consumer organisation for the over 50s and fourth largest group of its kind in the world.

AvPals 

Avalon Computer Pals (AVPALS) helps Seniors learn and improve their computer skills. It is a not for profit organisation run by volunteers. 


Started in 2000 it now has 20+ trainers and many hundreds of students. At a really low cost (about $50 a school term) they can provide one-to-one training on most matters connected with computing and related technologies like mobile phones and digital cameras. From the smallest problem (how to hold the mouse!) to much more serious matters, there is a trainer who can help.

We offer “one to one” personal tuition or special short courses in the training rooms under the Catholic Church in Avalon. Training is conducted Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm. For more information visit AVPALS web site www.avpals.com or phone 02 8064 3574

Keep up to date on our Facebook page

Find out more at: www.avpals.com

NLA Ebooks - Free To Download

The National Library of Australia provides access to thousands of ebooks through its website, catalogue and eResources service. These include our own publications and digitised historical books from our collections as well as subscriptions to collections such as Chinese eResources, Early English Books Online and Ebsco ebooks.

What are ebooks?
Ebooks are books published in an electronic format. They can be read by using a personal computer or an ebook reader.

This guide will help you find and view different types of ebooks in the National Library collections.
Peruse the NLA's online ebooks, ready to download - HERE

Wellbeing Plus 

The Wellbeing Plus Course is a free, online treatment course for Australian’s aged 60 years+  
The course includes 5 lessons delivered over 8 weeks, with optional weekly support from a therapist via email or phone. It aims to help us understand symptoms of anxiety and depression, and practice helpful skills.    

Over 95% of people said they would recommend the Wellbeing Plus Course.  

If you're interested in learning more, visit www.mindspot.org.au/course/wellbeing-plus  


 Australian Ageing Agenda

Australian Ageing Agenda (AAA) is an independent and authoritative bi-monthly publication for people who work in or around the aged care and retirement sectors in Australia. It provides a broad range of news, education and opinion with an emphasis on knowledge sharing and research translation.

Each issue also contains regular updates on relevant business and financial issues along with a selection of well researched features on crucial systems and operations, clinical care, technology, built environment and other issues relevant to the ‘ageing sector’. AAA leads the way with the industry’s most comprehensive conference details and remains Australia’s number one source of news and information about ageing issues and aged care.

Have a look at their comprehensive website HERE

Aged Care Complaints Commissioner 

Any person can make a complaint to the Commissioner, including care recipients, family members, friends, staff, volunteers, or professionals.

Complaints may relate to any aspect of services including care, choice of activities, discrimination, catering, communication or the physical environment. The 1800 550 552 helpline is staffed 9am to 5pm (AEDST) Monday to Friday.

Out of hours callers can leave a message, or contact the Commissioner at anytime through the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner website.

________________________________________

In 2014-15, there were 10,924 contacts to the Aged Care Complaints Scheme. 3,725 were assessed as a complaint, 3,812 ‘other’ contacts includes non-compulsory notifications, own motion investigations and compliance referrals. There were also 3,387 out of scope contacts which were not related to an approved provider or an approved provider’s responsibilities under the Aged Care Act.