The project is an election commitment and fits into a broader plan to model social care and navigation services, with ongoing evaluation to optimize access for older people and families.

Health Minister Meredith Hammat calls the hubs a strategic shift to ease strain on the wider healthcare system and improve timely access to care for older Western Australians.

Dr. Wesseldine emphasizes a coordinated, person-centered approach where a connected team of professionals, including geriatricians, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists, delivers care in community settings.

The CEO of Council of the Ageing WA, Mark Kinsela, frames the hubs as progress away from hospital-based care, highlighting the goal of making care decisions in a home setting with family support.

Geriatrician Dr. Andrew Wesseldine notes the hubs aim to reduce hospital admissions by addressing chronic conditions and functional decline, while reiterating they are not substitutes for emergency departments for acutely ill patients.

The first Older Adult Care Hub in Cockburn, Western Australia, has begun accepting referrals ahead of its official opening as part of a staged rollout of three community health hubs intended to relieve pressure on hospitals.

Funded with 24.3 million AUD, the hubs will offer multidisciplinary, community-based services such as physiotherapy, memory and cognition support, rehabilitation referrals, and health navigation assistance.

The Cockburn hub is the first of three planned sites, with full completion expected in the coming months as the rollout continues.