Mapping the funding and communication practices of aged care services in a regional Australian community

The population of Australia is ageing and as a consequence higher demands are being placed on aged and community care services. The current research aimed to examine the funding sources and communication links between aged and community care services within a regional centre in Central West NSW. Sixty-three age and community services were identified and contacted. Each were asked questions about sources of funding and whether or not they communicated, either formally or informally, with other services in the area. The results revealed a complex pattern of funding whereby most (49%) were funded by multiple sources at varying levels of government, or by for-or not-for-profit organisations. This pattern of funding discourages communication between services which, in turn, can lead to duplication of services. The aged-care system in this region remains a fragmented system that urgently requires changes be made to the way it is funded.