We are pleased to announce a new social enterprise from SSI – SSI Legal, a law practice specialising in immigration matters.

Through a long history of working with newcomers to Australia, we have identified the need for more ethical, trusted legal services to support people navigating Australia’s ever-changing and complex immigration system. We’ve established SSI Legal Pty Ltd to meet this need.

SSI acquired Mary Hanna Lawyers, a Melbourne-based migration law practice with extensive experience and a highly regarded reputation for delivering quality services in this space.

The transition of Mary Hanna Lawyers to SSI has enabled Mary Hanna to accept an appointment with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, while her clients, practice and team have all transitioned seamlessly to the new legal practice with SSI.

We are proud to continue to build on the respected work of Mary Hanna and be led by the same values and principles of our wider organisation, committed to putting people first with a focus on ethics, honesty and respect.

For more information or to speak to one of our dedicated immigration lawyers, visit About SSI Legal – SSI.

Aged care providers across Australia know firsthand the impact of the ongoing workforce shortages. Some aged care homes are working below capacity, meaning seniors needing care have no option but to remain in hospitals for extended periods. Overcoming this staffing gap is a collaborative effort across the sector.

As part of our Home Care Staffing Support (HCSS) initiative in NSW and the ACT, we’ve partnered with Hireup Australia’s largest NDIS-registered platform of support workers. Together, we’re working on cost-effective and flexible ways to connect more aged care providers with qualified care workers.

Focus Care Australia’s Service Operations Manager, Maria Paul recently shared insights into the benefits of the HCSS. She highlighted how key challenges are being solved to get more workers into jobs to care for Australia’s seniors.

Impact in action

“Focus Care provides in-home aged care, dementia care and disability support. We’ve experienced many different recruitment support programs across many regions. SSI and Hireup have been the ones that have made us the most hopeful by being the most effective solution for us,” Maria said.

She continued, “We’re a medium-sized company and passion is one of our biggest drivers – we thrive off it and promote that! The program has allowed us to be very responsive and given us the ability to maintain the consistency of our support to clients.”

Since joining the HCSS in June 2023, Focus Care has worked with approximately 30 different support workers, each helping to address their resourcing needs and working closely with case managers and Focus Care’s head office.

“Resourcing has been the biggest benefit for us. Our focus is always on building quality services, especially in terms of supporting our workforce as they carry out community care,” Maria said.

“Hireup makes that so much easier to do and has ensured our existing workforce isn’t spread too thin.”

“There are also financial benefits. SSI allows us to submit a 50 per cent rebate for the cost of paying Hireup support workers and with the money we’re saving, we can allocate more into helping both the people we support and our workers,” she added.

In a broader sense, the collaboration has given Focus Care a wider range of diverse expertise and personalities who can support clients. It has improved the quality of care that seniors receive and ensured that cultural contexts are considered when support workers provide aged care services.

Maria explained, “Almost 1,000 hours have been covered over the space of a few months. To us, that’s an unbelievable amount. If you think of it this way: without that workforce, that would be 1,000 hours where elderly people in our community would have gone without the fundamental care they need.”

In tandem with the Home Care Workforce Support Program (HCWSP), the HCSS has given aged care providers and workers a greater degree of flexibility in the hiring process and prompt job placement. The HCWSP ensures that all workers are trained and job-ready, while the HCSS pairs workers with providers in need of staff, both directly addressing staff shortages.

“Giving us options or solutions to tackle workforce challenges confidently – unbeatable! That’s what the HCSS has done, it’s a great partnership,” Maria said proudly.

How it works

As part of the government-funded HCWSP program, the HCSS provides flexible resourcing options for eligible Aged Care Providers by giving them access to the thousands of care workers seeking work via the Hireup platform.

SSI provides eligible aged care providers with a subsidy to cover 50% of the wages of casual workers hired through the Hireup initiative.

At the core, the initiative creates more opportunities and shifts for support workers. The knock-on effect is a job-ready pool of carers available to look after senior Australians.

Since partnering with Hireup in March 2023, we’ve seen both the HCWSP and HCSS continue to grow and actively contribute to the industry’s workforce shortage.

Over the past few decades, we have witnessed the national narrative about January 26 gather in intensity and evolve from a straightforward day of celebration to a milestone that triggers debate on the duality of our nation’s complex history and experiences.

Personally, January 26 has always had special significance as the day new Australians become full citizens and are able to participate in all aspects of our society. It was also the day that, three years ago, I was made a member of the Order of Australia.

Yet there is a growing awareness and consideration among Australians, like me, of how this date also marks a historic trauma for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people— the arrival of the First Fleet, and the beginning of the loss of Indigenous land, people, and culture.

In the wake of the deeply disappointing failure of the Voice referendum, it is more important than ever that we respectfully take personal accountability to look outside ourselves and listen to First Nations experiences and voices.

Whether you recognise the day as ‘Australia Day’ or ‘Invasion Day’, January 26 is a day of mourning for our land’s traditional custodians. In recognition of this, I will not be celebrating next Friday. Instead, I will be taking the time to reflect on our nation’s Blak history and hold space to listen to the experiences of First Nations artists, storytellers, and leaders.

Many people making this shift personally is beginning to trigger businesses, organisations, and communities to reflect on their response to the day.

In 2022, only four councils across Australia chose not to hold Australia Day citizenship ceremonies. A year later at least 81 councils nationwide announced they would not be holding citizenship ceremonies on January 26.

Retailers are adapting too. Due to a gradual decline in demand, major retailers Woolworths, Aldi, and Kmart have decided not to stock Australia Day merchandise this year, alongside several other major chains.

And many organisations are changing their policies to allow staff to make their own decision on if they want to take part in the public holiday or work and choose another date to have time off.

This year, we are also working towards having flexibility around significant days like January 26 to reflect the values of the organisation and employees and needs of clients and communities.

Listening to First Nations communities and making these options available is important to me personally, and an important part of SSI’s reconciliation journey. As was taking an organisational stance to support The Voice.

SSI took a formal position to support the Voice because it strongly aligned with our mission—to empower individuals and groups to achieve their full potential—and that is what The Voice to Parliament was all about.

The disappointment of the referendum results has not deterred our commitment to reconciliation. SSI and I will continue to work with First Nations peoples to realise ‘Makarrata.’

As the duality of Australia Day becomes more evident, it is imperative that we navigate this complex terrain with empathy, openness, and a commitment to reconciliation.

By celebrating our strengths and acknowledging Australia’s complex history and its ongoing impacts, we can pave the way for a more inclusive, and cohesive national identity and future.

A career in home care offers many benefits for flexible work, a range of work options, and the potential to build a meaningful career.

We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions and answers to help clarify what home care work can look like for you.

Home care is in-home professional daily living support for seniors.

Home care workers support seniors with simple tasks inside and outside the home. These include shopping, social outings, light household work, cleaning, helping with medications, cooking and food preparation, and ultimately, helping seniors to live at home for longer.

Working in home care is perfect for people looking for a fulfilling long-term career. You won’t need any prior qualifications and our free workforce support program will guide you through every step of the way.
If you have soft skills like empathy and patience, enjoy the company of seniors, and you live or can work in NSW or the ACT, a career in home care could be for you.
We also help you with gain requirements including;
● Driver’s licence
● First Aid training
● Connect you with a registered training organisation for additional training options such as Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability).

Home care roles can be full-time, part-time or casual. You can take on a workload best suited to your lifestyle and work fewer hours if needed. There are also roles available in a wide range of locations including regional suburbs, giving you the freedom to work where and when you want to work.

You don’t need any to begin, but SSI can support you with gaining new ones, including:
● Professional mentoring and career coaching
● Free accredited and non-accredited training
● Access to specified Home Care Traineeship, including a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) or Health Services Assistance.

Home care offers many different opportunities to progress in your career. We can help you upskill and move forward in:
● personal care work
● administration
● home care management
● nursing
● counselling
● care coordination
● allied health – health practitioners who are not doctors, dentists, nurses or midwives. e.g. psychologists, podiatrists, physiotherapists, pharmacists
● speech pathology, and many other career paths.
You can download our Home Care Career Roadmap to view an outline of the different development pathways and find the right one for you.

Following a decision by the Fair Work Commission, as of 30 June 2023, direct carers and certain senior food services employees nationwide have received a 15 per cent wage increase.
This means that working in home care is recognised for the value and quality of the work, while also matching the growing cost of living.

Home care offers the chance to do meaningful work that has a positive impact.
You can expect flexible working hours and the option to either work full-time or part-time. There are also positions available in many different locations, including regional areas, meaning you can work near where you live, work on a schedule that suits you and be able to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Through SSI’s Home Care Workforce Support Program, you can also receive a complimentary 12-month My NRMA membership that allows you to access discounts on fuel, electricity, dining, insurance and much more.

Yes, but SSI supports you with this process. Our team will walk you through the entire process and even reimburse the cost of Working With Children Checks and National Police checks.

Our Participant Service Delivery team supports you in the registration process and covers NDIS costs and background check costs. Where needed, we will also refer you to our training team for any further accreditation you may need.
We also assist with obtaining a driver’s license and car insurance, making sure you’re ready for the job.
We create a Care Profile for every participant that gathers information on your lived experience related to care and helps generate a one-page snapshot of who you are and what your skills are.

Within 24 hours of your initial query, our team will respond via phone, email or text to begin the eligibility screening process.
Depending on the provider, the placement process can take approximately six to eight weeks, however, we work tirelessly behind the scenes to expedite it as much as possible.
We also provide post-placement follow-up calls at one, three, six and twelve-month intervals that track your progress once you are paired with a provider.

Start your journey in home care by registering for the Home Care Workforce Support Program here.

Australia’s growing ageing population and workforce shortages impact all generations, not only seniors.

Through strategic recruitment efforts and getting passionate workers into care jobs, we can help seniors across the country receive the support they need now and in years to come.

Australians are expected to live longer and healthier than ever before. The number of people over 65 is set to double in the next 40 years, according to the government’s latest Intergenerational Report.

While living longer and healthier is great news, data from the National Mental Health Commission also shows that seniors are more likely to experience loneliness. This is reflected in having fewer close relationships in retirement, health conditions, and living alone in their own homes. In fact, nearly one in five (19 per cent) of people aged 75 and older reported feeling lonely.

A core part of home care work is providing support to combat loneliness. For many seniors, care workers provide the added benefits of developing and maintaining vital connections on a regular basis and encourage a sense of participation with friends, family and in the community.

According to the data, addressing loneliness can even help prevent further chronic physical conditions like heart disease, stroke and even dementia.

Seniors are increasingly choosing to live independent lives at home. Research by National Seniors Australia showed 92 per cent of Australians want to stay at home as they age.

Focusing on home care can potentially reduce seniors’ need to prematurely enter aged care homes. Between 2012 and 2022, the number of Australians receiving Commonwealth-funded home care packages — support from the government to cover the costs of accommodation and specific care needs — nearly quadrupled from 55,000 to 216,000.

This rise in seniors requiring support needs to be met with a proportional rise in the availability of people trained to provide support.

CEDA forecasts the need for care and support workers will continue to grow, and by 2030 the Australian care sector will need at least 110,000 more support workers.

Remedying the workforce shortage starts with the simple step of getting more people engaged in the sector. The government-funded Home Care Workforce Support Program (HCWSP) aims to do so by attracting, training and recruiting more aged care workers.

We are delivering the free-to-join program in NSW and the ACT, helping aspiring care workers access opportunities, apply for the roles they are best suited for and upskill with free training where needed.

On an individual level, home care work offers a wide range of flexible work styles that can be both indoors and outdoors, and create a work-life balance with casual, part-time and full-time roles.

Home care is one of the unique careers where you can witness first-hand the positive impact of your work. That sense of fulfilment and knowing you have made a difference in someone’s life is what support workers who are already in the care sector say is the highlight of their work.

If you are considering a new career, changing industries, or looking to help someone and make a difference, working in home care might be a great fit.

Start your journey today by registering your interest in the Home Care Workforce Support Program here, or call us on 1800 849 010.

Kerry took a leap into home care after a rewarding 25-year career in community pharmacy, driven by her unwavering compassion for helping seniors.

Having already spent much of her career in the pharmacy assisting older people, home care seemed a perfect fit.

Looking back on her transition, Kerry said the decision to join SSI’s Home Care Workforce Support Program was easy and she felt supported every step of the way.

“It took me about a month from the time I contacted SSI to starting my job. They made it simple and were very helpful. The staff called me every few days to see what was happening,” she said.

The transition from a strict five-day workweek in pharmacy to choosing her own work hours at Catholic Healthcare was ideal for Kerry. She liked to do other things three days a week, and on those days she would begin work at one o’clock, which suited her lifestyle. Gradually Kerry shifted back to full-time work as she enjoyed her new role helping the elderly so much.

In addition to embracing flexibility, one of the most rewarding aspects of Kerry’s work is the social connection she provides to those she cares for. Many elderly individuals do not get the opportunity to interact with others on a regular basis.

“Just by helping them to continue to live at home, where they feel most comfortable, I can brighten their day with my visits,” she reflected.

Kerry also recognised that while many elderly individuals had given so much to others throughout their lives, they now needed assistance to keep their independence.

“They’ve worked hard all their life and it’s nice to give back,” said Kerry.

For these seniors, Kerry’s visits aren’t just about chores; they are a chance to share stories, make connections and even enjoy a simple cup of tea together.

She enjoys getting to know the seniors she cares for and finding out what they’re interested in.

“By introducing their interests back to them, it gives them a purpose,” she noted.

One of the seniors Kerry supports once revealed that his father used to teach budgies to whistle. Because he lived alone, she seized the opportunity to help him get a budgie of his own.

“When I recently visited him, he told me, ‘I’m so happy I got a budgie. It’s made me so happy. I wouldn’t give him away for anything’,” she recalled.

Prior to his new colourful companion, Kerry’s client rarely got out of bed. Having a sense of purpose and something to care for every day has, in her words, ‘made a big difference’.

Watch Kerry’s full story here.

Learn how SSI’s Home Care Workforce Support Program can help you to build a meaningful care career here.