Media Release: Contact Card

Last Updated: 15 April 2026, Hits: 24

Sector Support Development Program

Contact Card

Improving information flow to better support health providers and community aged care recipients.

Members of the Riverina-Murray Region Aged Care Community Network have worked together to resolve a missing piece of communication between hospital and community service providers to support a smooth transition for older people being discharged from hospital.

On Tuesday, 14th April, the launch of the "My In-Home Support" Contact Card at the Community Aged Care Network Meeting in Griffith. “Service Providers have been thrilled with the initiative”.

The Contact Card is the size of a Medicare card and will provide key information, including My Aged Care ID number, emergency contact, current in-home support and service provider contact details.

It was identified that people receiving aged care supports in the community are often not familiar with their service details when accessing clinical care, either in hospital or with a specialist service. This concern has identified a potential gap for participants when returning home after hospital discharge and the commencement of their in-home services.

The Aged Care Community Network is made up of members from the local aged care and health sector who provide services under the Commonwealth Home Support Program and the new Support At Home service, including Community Transport, Meals on Wheels, and providers from Care Partners, Murrumbidgee Local Health District, Care Finder. The network is supported by Intereach and IDEAS through the Commonwealth Sector Support and Development Program

The ‘My In-Home Support’ Contact Card will establish a contact point for health professionals to understand what services are already in place and the contact details to assist with ongoing care needs when people are returning home.

 Martin Heng, IDEAS Chair, said: “IDEAS is pleased to partner with Intereach for this project. The Contact Card will be very useful and will hopefully allow better continuity of care upon discharge”.

The contact card is being rolled out across the Riverina Murray, in partnership with Sector Support and Development at Intereach, Loddon Mallee and IDEAS in Riverina Murray. This project is supported by the Australian Government Department of Health Disability and Aged Care.