The translational pilot program is championing a community-led approach to end of life care that starts with connection
Frenchs Forest, NSW – 20 March 2025: Proveda is proud to launch the Compassionate Connector Program, the first of its kind in Sydney that is gaining national recognition for its scalable and adaptable model. The community-driven program supports individuals over 65 living with a life-changing diagnosis by fostering meaningful social connections. Unlike traditional clinical interventions, the program prioritises building social networks to reduce isolation and enhance quality of life for those nearing the end of life. The three-year translational pilot is jointly funded by the Sydney North Health Network and The Wicking Trust, reinforcing a commitment to compassionate, community-centred care. "There's growing national interest in socially-led approaches to palliative care—not just for its cost savings and decrease in pressure on the healthcare system, but for its potential to transform how we approach end of life care as a nation," said Kaz Dawson, CEO of Proveda.
Anna Petinsky, Manager of the Compassionate Connector Program stated further: "As we age, especially if you have a life-changing diagnosis, social circles shrink, increasing isolation. Living and dying well takes a village and connection to others is so important. The Compassionate Connector Program aims to build and rebuild networks at the end of life, hopefully leading to better mental health, fewer hospital admissions, and stronger support for families and carers."
To celebrate the program's launch, Proveda hosted a special event where community members in Sydney's North shared powerful stories about the impact of meaningful connections during times of need. The stories shared throughout the evening highlighted the positive impact even finding one connection can have on a person's healthspan*. Loneliness and social isolation play a huge role in an individual's healthspan, and recent research published by JAMA shows Australia is one of the countries with the greatest healthspan to lifespan gap (difference between years of good health versus years lived), sitting at 12.1 year.* One speaker at the event emphasised that "vulnerability is not a weakness, but what connects us," while another highlighted, "connection is best received through letting go." The program aims to connect individuals to the social support they need to improve their end of life care.
Proveda has long been a leader in end of life advocacy through its national Dying to Know public health campaign and as a champion of the Compassionate Communities movement, which encourages care and support for individuals navigating chronic illness, death, and grief, and advocates for the transformative power of community and connection.
"We're thrilled to help fund such a transformative initiative," said Susie Meagher, of The Wicking Trust. "We hope other organisations and communities embrace this model to improve outcomes for those with a life-limiting diagnosis."
Eugene McGarrell, General Manager Commissioning of Sydney North Health Network echoed this statement: "We're proud to be among the first health networks in Australia to champion a non-clinical, community-led program such as this. Strengthening social support through the Compassionate Connector Program will lead to better end of life experiences and ease pressure on the healthcare system in Sydney's north."
Proveda hopes councils and health networks across Australia will adopt the model, tailoring it to meet their communities' needs, and by doing so enable a nationwide shift in end of life care.
For those interested in learning more or getting involved, visit www.proveda.com.au/compassionate-communities/community-connector-program/
Additional Information about the Compassionate Connectors Program:
How the Program Works: Proveda will work with trained volunteers (called Connectors) and friends, family, or neighbours (called Willing Helpers) to support eligible participants who require social (rather than clinical) support to help carry out tasks many of us take for granted.
Is this the first time it has been run? No, there was a pilot in Western Australia run by the South West Compassionate Communities Network, led by Professor Samar Aoun, 2024 Western Australian of the Year.
Evidence the program works: There have been proven benefits to having community networks of support for seniors to rely on. Preliminary findings of a study on the Compassionate Connectors Program, part of the South West Compassionate Communities Network in Western Australia, demonstrated that the approach enabled significant declines (15%) in hospital admissions. Additionally, it showed that those who were admitted to hospital stayed for 28% less time, and there was 108% more use of community-based services, which are generally cheaper than hospital-based services. The benefits of an approach that focuses on the social over clinical not only can save Australia's healthcare system money, but help make a person's end of life journey a much more positive experience for not only the person, but their family, friends and carers.
Goal for the future of the program Proveda's hope is that other regions (including Councils and health networks) from across the Country will take notice and be keen to adapt the program to suit the needs of those in their communities. (Proveda is keen to collaborate with other parties to bring this program to life in new communities)
