Co-operative Care Wagin is a new community-owned entity to help vulnerable residents with aged and home care

A new home care service driven by a Wheatbelt community aims to bridge the gap in rural health care and support residents. Co-operative Care Wagin is a new community-owned entity seeking to provide vulnerable residents access to essential health and aged care and home services. Forecast to start in March, Care Wagin will fill an in-person support role offering help in areas of transport, medical appointments, navigating online services, pet care, grocery shopping, and companionship. Registered on January 13, Care Wagin was the first of nine projects granted a share of $7 million by the Care Together Program, an initiative of the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals tasked to launch education and support programs in the care economy. Co-operative Care Wagin convenor Wendy Pederick said the co-op hoped to attract home care workers to Wagin and increase care services so residents had the option to stay in town. “There are significant gaps in the services available to help people ageing in their homes, and what we are hoping to do is use the collective skills and strengths of our community to ease that burden,” Ms Pederick said. “Wagin is a remote community, and getting access to services sometimes might mean travelling 200-300km, which is often difficult without the right supports. “There are really good services available, yet accessing these can be difficult.” Ms Pederick said the co-op aimed to raise a “village awareness” and encourage community volunteers to assist with Care Wagin’s services. “It would be a community operating closely, being aware of each other’s needs and who could then meet those needs,” Ms Pederick said. “As our population ages, we want to be able to keep people in town rather than see them having to go out of town for help, particularly for residential care. “The longer we can retain people in town, the better it is for them, and the better it is for the town. “People, after all, are our greatest asset.” BCCM chief executive Melina Morrison said the organisation was excited for Care Wagin to begin. “We are excited that Wagin has progressed to a point where it can now start to deliver on its potential,” Ms Morrison said. “It is vital in a fair and just society that the key decisions are made by those people both receiving care and providing care.” Going forward, Care Wagin hopes to attract more care workers to the district.