The newly updated edition is free and available online now. It brings together practical tools, in-language information and reliable reference material to support inclusive and responsive service delivery. The toolkit is organised into four key sections: Aged Care Information in Language, Resources for Service Providers, Translating and Interpreting Services and Care Information in Language.

A key update has been for the section on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to reflect recent developments. With the new Aged Care Act coming into effect on 1 November 2025, new resources have been developed and published to provide reliable and up to date information for providers and consumers. While some materials are still in the process of being translated, TIS National remains available to support communication and assist in explaining services to clients when required.

All registered aged care service providers, allied health professionals, and Australian parliamentarians and their staff are eligible to access a free Interpreting Service. Providers should contact the PICAC NT Manager to learn more about how to access and use this essential service effectively. Aged care service providers can also access free cultural awareness training for new staff during their induction period and refreshers for more experienced employees.

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Media Contact: Sue Shearer, CEO of COTA NT and Cecilia Chiolero, PICAC NT Manager

Email: ceo@cotant.org.au / picac@cotant.org.au   Phone: 08 8941 1004 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 3pm)

• The Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) initiative, established in 1997, supports aged care services in meeting the unique needs of older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. 
• The updated Caring for CALD Seniors Toolkit is available for download from https://www.cotant.org.au/picac/cultural-background-resources/

Thank you and Merry Christmas from all at COTA NT

As 2025 draws to a close, on behalf of myself, the Board and the COTA NT team, I want to personally thank everyone who has been part of our year.

This has been one of the organisation’s busiest and most rewarding years. None of our achievements would have been possible without the dedication of our volunteers, the support of our partners and sponsors, and the engagement of our members and community.

Throughout the year, we advocated on issues that matter most to older Territorians, including housing, concessions, safety, elder abuse, digital literacy and voluntary assisted dying legislation. Seniors’ voices were kept front and centre through our Seniors Voice publication, media engagement and social media presence.

We delivered a wide range of programs and activities, from regular fitness and social groups to three Seniors Expos, Grandparents Day, International Women’s Day events, and Seniors Month celebrations across Darwin, Palmerston, Berry Springs and Alice Springs. We also introduced new initiatives, including trivia quiz lunches and a rural, expo-style event, all of which were very well received.

I would also like to recognise and thank the many Territory businesses who have supported the Seniors Card program — some for more than 25 years — helping us expand and strengthen this important service. It was wonderful to meet so many of you at our Recognition Awards evening.

These achievements reflect the spirit of connection, inclusion and collaboration that defines COTA NT’s work. We return from the Christmas break on 5 January 2026, with exciting initiatives already underway and to come. Keep an eye on our news, newsletters and social media for updates.

On behalf of the team, I wish you a safe and joyful Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year. Thank you for your continued support — I look forward to what we may achieve together in 2026.

Warm regards
Sue Shearer
Chief Executive Officer, COTA NT

ABOUT THE MOVIE: Written by Alan Bennett and directed by Nicholas Hytner. 
1916. As war rages on the Western Front, the Choral Society in Ramsden, Yorkshire has lost most of its men to the army. The Choral’s ambitious committee, determined to press ahead, decides to recruit local young males to swell their ranks. They must also engage a new chorus master, and despite their suspicions that he has something to hide, their best bet seems to be Dr. Henry Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes) – driven, uncompromising and recently returned from a career in Germany. As conscription papers start to arrive, the whole community discovers that the best response to the chaos that is laying waste to their lives is to make music together.

An awesome and well-loved cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Roger Allam, Mark Addy, Alun Armstrong, Robert Emms and Simon Russell Beale.

Take a peep at the trailer below.

Seniors Card Holders

Remember to show your NT Seniors Card to buy seniors-priced tickets when you’re visiting one of the cinemas in the EVT Group. Click the links below to see locations and offer conditions.

• BCC Cinemas Casuarina
• Event Cinemas Palmerston

Remember to follow their Facebook pages too and you’ll be kept up to date with all the new releases.

In early 2026, we will have a vacancy for an Events & Activities Organiser. This is a fast-paced, hands-on role that involves organising most of COTA NT’s events and activities alongside our dedicated staff team.

We’re looking for a mature person with:

• Proven experience in planning and coordinating events
• A minimum of 1-2 years of event planning experience
• Experience organising community events
• Strong time management, organisational and communication skills (both verbal and written)
• The ability to work in a busy, active environment with plenty of physical involvement
• Candidates must be capable of moderate lifting and standing as part of regular duties
• Confidence using a variety of computer programs
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, event management software, database systems, social media platforms, and design software
• Willingness to learn event management software with training provided
• Basic design software skills for creating promotional materials
• An understanding of the political and economic landscape of the Northern Territory (an advantage, but not essential)

This is a rewarding opportunity to be at the forefront of planning and delivering activities that make a real difference in the community.

Australian work rights are required for this position. Previous applicants need not apply.

To apply

Applications through Seek, click here. Job ad closes 15 January 2026.

COTA NT Christmas Hours

COTA NT’s head offices (including the NT Seniors Card office) will be closed from Friday 19 December 2025 at 12pm, re-opening on Monday 5 January 2026 at 9am. During this time, the telephones will not be monitored. You are advised to contact us online. However, staff will not be available to respond to your messaging until Monday 5 January.

Finding information on our website: If you are looking for information on our website, you can use the ‘search’ tool located in the top right corner of each page (under our telephone number). Enter your keyword/s in the search box. Results showing pages from our website will be displayed. You can then click on a page to view its contents.

Numbers to Keep:

• Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636              
• Lifeline 13 11 14
• Police / Ambulance / Fire Brigade / Health – Emergency 000
• Police Assistance Line – Non Urgent 131 444
• Victims of Crime 24 HOUR SUPPORT – 1800 672 242

It is about creating a sustainable sector, where aged care providers are accountable for how they manage their expenses, income and budget. You can see how much providers are spending on care, food, staff and accommodation on the Find a Provider tool on My Aged Care.

This information can help you compare providers and decide which one best suits your needs.

You can also prepare questions to ask providers if something isn’t clear or if you would like to know more. Making this information publicly available creates greater transparency and gives you peace of
mind.

It’s all designed to put you at the centre of your aged care.

Information is provided by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Download information on Disability Parking Permits.

Terms and conditions

On-street parking in Darwin

To park in a marked disabled parking bay

• Display the disability parking permit at all times.
• Follow the time limit shown on the sign.
• If the sign says “PAID” or “PAY & DISPLAY”, permit holders need to pay for half of the allowed parking time.

To park in a regular timed bay

• Display the disability parking permit at all times.
• Under the Australian Road Rules, permit holders are entitled to double the amount of time stated on the sign.
• Permit holders must pay for the entire time the vehicle is parked.

Off-street parking in Darwin

West Lane and Dragonfly carparks:

• Display the disability parking permit at all times.
• Follow the time limit shown on the sign.
• If the sign says “PAID” or “PAY & DISPLAY”, pay for half of the allowed parking time.

Open-air off-street carparks

• Display the disability parking permit at all times.
• No payment is required.
• These carparks include:
  • McMinn Street
  • Woods/Daly Street
  • 96 Mitchell Street
  • Mitchell/Daly Street
  • McLachlan Street
  • Darwin Oval
  • Nichols Place.

Aged care homes receive an Overall Star Rating between 1 and 5.

• More stars mean an aged care home is delivering higher quality care across the 4 key areas of measured performance:
• Residents’ Experience: based on an aged care home’s results in an annual survey reflects the overall experience of their residents.
• Compliance: based on how providers are performing in relation to government regulations and standards about the safety and quality of care.
• Staffing: based on whether the home meets or exceeds their care minutes targets.
• Quality Measures: based on information about 5 crucial areas of care, including falls and major injury, unplanned weight loss, pressure injuries, medication management and the use of restrictive practices

Star Ratings are updated regularly to help you make informed decisions about the aged care homes you might be considering.

Since 1 November 2025, the way the Compliance rating is calculated is improved. After each aged care home is audited by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, it’s Compliance rating will be based on regulatory decisions and assessment against the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.

This improvement builds on changes already made to the Staffing rating from 1 October that require aged care homes to meet both of their care minutes targets to receive 3 stars or more for their Staffing rating.

Use the Find a Provider tool on My Aged Care to search for aged care homes and see their Star Ratings.

Learn more about Star Ratings and these changes.

Information is provided by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Click here for detailed information from the Northern Territory Government/SecureNT

Immediate financial relief for households – 72 hours without electricity supply

Financial assistance for individuals – Immediate Hardship

Financial assistance for primary producers and non-profit organisations

* Key points*

The priority at time of posting is for those eligible for immediate hardship grants. At this stage, Immediate Hardship Grants will be available only for eligible residents. This grant is not means tested.

Application forms will be online for other financial assistance in the next few days.

Immediate hardship

Or call 1800 888 901 for more information.

Some older people may want or need support to make their own decisions about their aged care. If you want or need help making decisions, you can choose someone you trust to support you. These people are called ‘registered supporters’. The registered supporter role is one of the changes in the new Aged Care Act. It promotes your right to make your own decisions and helps you to stay in control of your life.

A registered supporter can be anyone you trust, like a close friend or family member. You can have more than one registered supporter. Registered supporters can help you to make and communicate your own decisions about your aged care. This might include:

• supporting your daily aged care decisions
• helping you access, understand and communicate information with people like My Aged
• Care, assessors and aged care providers.

You don’t need to have a registered supporter if you don’t want one, but if you do, you can register a supporter:

• by contacting My Aged Care
• during your assessment process, including with an aged care assessor
• face to face with an Aged Care Specialist Officer through Services Australia
• by completing and submitting the registration form in your My Aged Care Online Account, if you have one.

Your prospective supporter can also make this request.
For more information, visit the My Aged Care website.

Information is provided by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

All is well at the COTA NT offices, although our staff numbers are a little reduced due to disruptions at home.

There is a tremendous clean up is already underway throughout Darwin and the region. 

For emergency assistance call NTES on 132 500 (storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).

• Power updates: Estimated to be finished today but there is no timlines on when power will be back to ALL customers. Check Power and Water outtages map for updates (here)
• Hospitals and medical centres: Are operational. Check if visiting limitations are still applicable.
• Driving conditions: Due to fallen trees and traffic light outtages, you are urged to drive to the conditions and with caution.
• Public buses: Operating today (please be patient with delays due to driving conditions etc)
• Airport: Up and running, but monitoring weather conditions carefully over the next few days.
• Supermarkets and businesses: Exepected to run as normal, but check before you leave home in case a particular workplace has ongoing safety concerns.

Darwin advice is based on ABC update 24 November 2025. COTA NT will not be publishing any more updates regarding Cyclone Fina.

Included is a round-up from CEO Sue Shearer which includes a welcome to new two new Board Members, advocacy and activities updates, membership news, articles, survey requests and update on activities. Plus, a look  ahead to key dates in 2026.

If you have any difficulties accessing your COTA NT News for Members newsletter, please let Ken Glover know on 08 8941 1004 during his office hours (Monday to Thursdays 9am to 3pm ex public holidays) or email him.

If you, or someone you know, is moving to Support at Home, it’s important to remember that there’s still time to sign your service agreement with your provider.

Here’s what you need to know:

• You’ll soon receive a letter from Services Australia with your individual contribution rate.
• Once you receive it, you’ll have up to 90 days to review and sign your agreement – giving you time to consider what’s right for you.
• You’ll continue receiving services after 1 November, even if you haven’t yet signed.
• Accepting services after 1 November does not mean you’ve accepted your new agreement.
• During this transition, your provider cannot stop your services just because you haven’t signed.

If you are concerned about the prices your provider is charging you can contact the Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission, and if your services are reducing you can apply to have a reassessment.

For more information about service agreements and the transition to Support at Home, visit: Support at Home service agreement resources

Source: COTA Australia