Michael Foenander, Consultant
A dementia diagnosis changes more than one person’s memory: it reshapes families, neighbourhoods and the places people live. Michael Foenander urges sector leaders to design for identity, dignity and purpose, and to treat families as partners in care, not visitors.
Latest News
What it means to leave an aged care organisation well
Board changes at Southern Cross Care Queensland offer a timely reminder that succession is about more than governance. In a sector built on purpose and stewardship, knowing when to hand leadership to others may be one of a board’s most important responsibilities.
Support at Home provider under investigation over pricing
A Commission review of 25 higher-risk Support at Home providers found only four fully compliant. One now faces formal investigation over pricing practices, and boards that treat pricing as an operational detail should take note.
Marion Piper, Contributor
Retirement village capital investment meets the challenge of changing care needs
Billions in financing are supporting Australia’s retirement living sector via sustainability linked loans (SLLs). But as residents move in later and stay longer, operators must plan for changing care needs while relying on services beyond their villages to deliver additional support.
Hayley Campbell, Content Writer
The hidden cost of respite: Why Australia’s cheapest aged care investment may save the most money
Respite has long been viewed as a support for carers. A joint statement from Dementia Australia and Carers Australia says it’s something much bigger: preventative infrastructure that keeps older Australians at home, reduces hospital demand and delays residential aged care. The real cost will be continuing to underinvest.
Yvette Willison, Content Writer
Your in-house AI-built care app fails at 2am. Who fixes it?
When a home-grown AI tool fails on the night shift, someone has to fix it. Sonja Bernhardt OAM asks aged care leaders who carries that responsibility once the prototype goes live, and why software vendors must rethink what they sell.
Sonja Bernhardt, Contributor
Contributors
Michael Foenander - Consultant
"Michael Foenander (GAICD) is an executive leader, board member, and former chef who writes on gerontology, foodservice, and aged care operations."
Hayley Campbell - Content Writer
"Hayley Campbell is a mental health and healthcare copywriter who believes the best stories start with people."
Yvette Willison - Content Writer
"Yvette is an avid storyteller with a working knowledge base in the Allied Health, Disability and Aged Care sectors."
- Aged Care Hospitality Specialist
"Lindsey O’Grady is a chef and aged care hospitality specialist with 40 years’ experience."
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News
Beyond HELF: What boards should learn from aged care’s latest policy reset
Yvette Willison, Content Writer The latest HELF rule changes have prompted providers to review charging arrangements, but the bigger lesson extends well beyond one fee. Paul Sadler argues that governance during reform requires continual review, local judgement and the willingness to revisit decisions made in good faith.
Aged care respite hits record levels, but fewer stays lead to permanent care
Marion Piper, Contributor Respite care usage just hit a record high, but fewer of those stays are turning into permanent admissions than ever before. For providers banking on that conversion, new Mirus data suggests it’s time to revisit the FY27 occupancy forecast.
Aged care turnover isn’t a pay problem: it’s a visibility crisis
Marion Piper, Contributor New polling from Mirus Australia reveals aged care turnover is driven by workload, burnout, and culture – over pay. Leaders face a visibility crisis, leaving preventable resignations hidden in roster patterns and unmeasured morale.
Bupa’s $2 billion exit strategy: why buying aged care is cheaper than building it
Marion Piper, Contributor Four years after shelving its divestment plans, Bupa APAC is re-testing the market to sell its $2 billion ANZ aged care portfolio. The move highlights a stark sector reality: buying existing beds is now far cheaper than building them.
National alignment: Australia’s voluntary assisted dying (VAD) landscape
Marion Piper, Contributor With Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) now legislated across every Australian state and territory, aged care leaders face a critical operational shift. Here’s how the legal framework evolved, what you need to plan for, and how to balance compliance with compassion in care.
The $5.6 million payroll wake-up call
Marion Piper, Contributor The Fair Work Ombudsman’s $5.6 million audit recovery exposes a critical governance vulnerability for aged care leaders: basic payroll, rostering, and Award classification errors compound into massive compliance liabilities across large workforces.
What lies ahead for CHSP beyond the 2029 extension
Marion Piper, Contributor Australia’s Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) is extended until June 2029, avoiding a planned merger with Support at Home. While the certainty is welcome news, providers now face the crucial challenge of shaping the program’s long-term future.
Topic
Stuck in hospital, waiting at home: the reform gap
Grandmothers with no one to talk to. Fathers denied care for months. Michael Foenander believes Australia’s aged care crisis isn’t a workforce story: it’s a governance failure. And it’s one costing providers real money and reputation.
Time over tasks: inside Whiddon’s dementia care pilot
A resident who pushed everyone away now hugs staff. A man who slept all day now talks about his fears. Whiddon’s RBC Enrich pilot shows what emotional connection does in dementia care, and what leaders must change to sustain it.
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