“It’s never to late to talk about aged care.” Janet Brown, ACN

ACN – Aged care access

In the Northern Territory, the Aged Care Navigators (ACN) program provides information and support for seniors, their families and friends about aged care services. However, since 3 January 2023* the service is delivered with preference given to currently financial COTA NT Members. (Members may be seeking support for their own care, that of a family member or person they care for.)

The program is delivered by COTA NT (also known as Council on the Ageing – Northern Territory) and aims to:

• Ensure the aged care needs of older people from all backgrounds are being met.
• That people have access to appropriate and relevant information before making decisions about aged care including but not limited to:
  • Up-to-date and relevant information about aged care options and the aged care system
  • Help to access aged care support
  • Your rights and choices regarding aged care
  • Changing aged care service providers
  • Making formal complaints about aged care.

Useful information

• Charter of Aged Care Rights poster
• Charter of Aged Care Rights Booklet
• Northern Territory Government Aged Care Services (nt.gov.au/wellbeing/health-subsidies-support-and-home-visits/aged-care-services)
• Commonwealth Government My Aged Care (www.myagedcare.gov.au)
• Commonwealth Government Department of Health & Aged Care (www.health.gov.au/topics/aged-care)
  • Learn about aged care (what it is, different types, costs, quality, laws)
  • Delivering quality aged care
  • Aged care reforms
  • Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety
• NT Aged Care Services and ACAT information 

Get help the way you need it

Contact an Aged Care Navigator directly to make an appointment (face to face, telephone or web conferencing).

• Janet Brown 0466 544 552 (Darwin)
• Debbie Pepper 0423 828 558 (Alice Springs)

Or call  COTA NT head office on (08) 8941 1004. We are here to help you navigate and access the aged care system.

*In December 2022, COTA NT was unsuccessful in its bid to win a Care Finder tender through the Northern Territory Primary Health Network (NT-PHN). Care Finder has superseded the Aged Care Navigator Program. However, COTA NT has made the decision to continue its support of Territory seniors needing help to access the aged care system specifically. Due to resource limitations, the service is offered to COTA NT Members preferentially over other community members (COTA NT membership is available to any Territorian aged 50+).

Page updated: 3 January 2022