Altaira continue their support of Southern Cross Care Foundation, helping older people access vital services within the community

Adelaide, February 2022: Labour hire agency Altaira have signed on for their second year of supporting Southern Cross Care Community Foundation‘s Care Car program, helping older South Australians gain access to vital services within their communities.

The renewal of the 12-month sponsorship of Southern Cross Care’s two current Care Cars will help to support the ongoing sustainability of this important community service which provides safe, affordable and age-friendly transport to clients so that they can attend Southern Cross Care’s Community Health & Wellness Centres, GP appointments, shopping trips, and visits with family and friends. It’s designed to be affordable for everyone, including those with and without government funded transport support. This service allows older people to maintain their independence and mobility and has been well received within the community since the initiative was first launched in 2018. Just in the month of January 2022, the two Altaira-supported Care Car’s completed 316 rides, and there are currently 78 clients that regularly access the service.

Director of Altaira Jelena Giro said the Altaira team is very proud to continue helping the Southern Cross Care community be Better for life.

“We are proud to continue our support of the Southern Cross Care Community Foundation’s Care Car program as we recognise it to be a crucial initiative that helps to combat the loneliness and isolation that seniors are at a higher risk of experiencing,” highlighted Jelena.

“I also would like to congratulate and acknowledge the 12 active volunteers who currently drive the Care Cars. It’s with their commitment that this initiative can make such an important impact on the experiences of older people in our community. I hope that through Altaira’s ongoing and valued partnership with the Southern Cross Care Community Foundation, we can all work together to reduce loneliness and isolation and improve wellbeing for our valued older Australians.”

Since its commencement in 2018, the Care Car program has already completed over 20,000 rides for members of our community. With friendly volunteers at the wheel, the program currently operates from depots at The Pines in North Plympton and The Philip Kennedy Centre in Largs Bay, with future plans to expand the service into other regions.

Chair of the Southern Cross Care Community Foundation, Michele McCormack, said the ongoing sponsorship is testament to the strong and fruitful relationship between Southern Cross Care (SA, NT & VIC) Inc and Altaira.

“Southern Cross Care and Altaira have been partnering to meet the workforce needs of our sites and services for many years. We are very thankful for Altaira’s ongoing support of our Community Foundation and Care Car service,” shared Michele.

“This sponsorship will help our Community Foundation to continue building better lives free from loneliness and isolation.”

Read more about the Southern Cross Care Community Foundation here.