Living Well
Living Well brings together Community Transport, Aged Care, Involve social groups, participant engagement through ACPAG and community development to support people to age well. Services connect around each person’s goals, strengths and preferences, helping participants maintain independence, access practical support and stay connected to community life. This coordinated approach helps identify changing needs earlier and supports smoother pathways between services for participants, families and carers.
During 2025–26, Living Well delivered 30,311 transport trips, 13,094 support hours and 28,400 social group support hours. CRCS strengthened workforce capability, participant education and readiness for aged care reforms commencing on 1 November 2025, embedding rights-based practices across Living Well. CRCS also refined its service offering, discontinuing Home Care Package services to expand Community Transport capacity and strengthen Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) services.
Participant feedback continued to shape service delivery and Involve activities, with ACPAG providing opportunities for older adults to influence decisions and help keep services responsive to their needs and interests.
Connection and Belonging
Living Well supports older people to age well in their community by maintaining independence, supporting health and wellbeing, strengthening social connections and reducing reliance on higher-intensity support services.
Connection and belonging are central to this work. Living Well programs help people maintain relationships, build new connections and continue participating in community life. Transport removes practical barriers to staying involved, Aged Care provides companionship and support at home, and Involve Social Groups offer welcoming opportunities to connect through shared interests.
Community Transport
Community Transport helped participants reach social activities, shops, community services and events that may otherwise have been difficult to access. Reliable transport supported people to maintain routines, relationships and involvement in the places and activities that mattered to them.
77%
said CRCS helps them connect to and engage with their community most of the time or always
Aged Care
Individual social support provided companionship and helped older people remain connected to family, friends and community life. Flexible assistance also enabled participants to attend appointments, complete everyday tasks and take part in social activities.
Participants received
2,348
hours of individual social support appointments.
Involve Social Groups
Involve Social Groups gave participants regular opportunities to meet others, build friendships and share activities and experiences. New cultural groups and supported outings expanded the ways people could connect, including through language, culture and common interests.
78%
said CRCS helps them connect to and engage with their community most of the time or always
Purpose and Wellbeing
Purpose and wellbeing are closely connected. For older adults, having meaningful activities, staying connected to community life, maintaining independence and trying new experiences can make a significant difference to confidence, mental health and quality of life. Through aged care, community transport and social groups, Living Well supports older people to remain active, pursue their interests and continue doing the things that matter most to them.
Survey results show strong improvements in wellbeing, life satisfaction and participants’ ability to stay engaged with their communities.
Participants reported high levels of confidence in CRCS services, with 93% saying they get the services they need most of the time or always and 96% trusting CRCS to do the right thing by them. These benefits extend to families and carers, who reported greater peace of mind knowing their loved ones were receiving trusted support, maintaining independence and staying connected.
Life satisfaction among surveyed aged care participants increased from 77.67 to 90 out of 100, compared with a Canberra average of 76.1.
Community Transport
Reliable transport helps people stay independent, connected and engaged in everyday life. During the year, CRCS Community Transport enabled participants to complete 18,114 medical journeys, supporting access to healthcare, essential services and activities that contribute to wellbeing.
Aged Care
Living Well Aged Care helps older adults maintain independence, pursue personal goals and continue living the life they choose. Participants reported improvements across multiple wellbeing measures, including health, achievement and overall life satisfaction.
Participants reported improvements across key wellbeing measures, including health (71.5 to 80), achievement (77.2 to 85) and life satisfaction (77.7 to 90 out of 100).
Involve Social Groups
Activities supported wellbeing through social connection, movement, creativity and learning. Gym and yoga programs built confidence, encouraged activity and strengthened social connection, Creative projects like A Moment in Time enabled participants to share their stories in a meaningful, lasting way.
Participants received more than
28,399
hours of support through Involve Social Groups, activities and individual opportunities.
Community Assistance and Temporary Supports (CATS): Participants’ overall emotional wellbeing improved by 44%, while the proportion feeling active and energetic increased by 103%. Participants reporting their daily life was filled with interesting things also increased by 81%.
Participant Voice
Living Well services are shaped around each participant’s needs, preferences and goals. Employees build trusted relationships with participants, families and carers, creating opportunities for people to share feedback and influence decisions. Across Living Well services, 91% of surveyed participants said employees always or most of the time followed up when they raised feedback or concerns.
“The best thing about CRCS is having people you trust with your care. The support is person-centred and empathetic.”
– Participant, Aged Care Supports
Community Transport
Community Transport is shaped around what matters to participants. Employees listen to individual preferences and feedback, adapting support to make travel easier and ensuring the service remains reliable, respectful and responsive to people’s everyday needs.
94%
said employees always or most of the time followed up when they raised something about their service
Aged Care
Aged Care support is built around each participant’s routines, priorities and goals. Trusted relationships with participants, and often their families and carers, help employees recognise changing needs and adjust support so people feel heard, respected and involved in decisions about their care.
76%
of participants said they received choice and control most or all of the time, and
80%
said employees always or most of the time followed up when they raised something about their service.
Involve Social Groups
Participants help shape Involve Social Groups. Their interests and feedback inform changes to existing groups and inspire new activities, wellbeing programs and outings. New cultural groups, expanded gym and yoga programs, and additional outings were introduced in response to participant feedback.
90%
of participants said employees always or most of the time followed up when they raised something about their service.
Highlights
Seniors Expo
Connected with current and prospective participants at the Canberra Seniors Expo, showcasing CRCS services and strengthening community awareness, engagement and pathways to social connection and support.
ACT Seniors Month
Celebrated ACT Seniors Month with a community morning tea and Involve Exhibition at Belconnen Community Centre, bringing older people together to connect, share stories and celebrate creativity and community participation.
Our programs at a glance
These highlights show the scale and breadth of our work during 2025–26. They complement the impact and outcomes shared throughout this report, providing a fuller picture of what we delivered.
Community Transport
CRCS delivered 30,311 trips for 1,162 participants, travelling more than 362,112 kilometres across Canberra in 2025–26. Participants accessed healthcare, shopping, social activities, community services and events across 124 suburbs. More than 16,700 trips supported people aged 75 and over. Beyond transportation, the service helped participants
maintain independence, sustain relationships and participate in community life.
Service feedback remained strong, with 94% of surveyed participants rating service quality as high or very high. All respondents said they were treated with respect and supported by skilled employees, while 97% trusted CRCS and would recommend the service.
- 30,311 transport trips (total)
- 18,114 medical trips
- 7,811 social and recreational trips
- 3,623 shopping and access trips
- 763 event-related trips
- 1,162 participants supported
- 124 suburbs travelled
- 16,700 trips for people aged 75 and over
Aged Care
CRCS Aged Care provided individualised support to help older people manage daily tasks and continue living safely and independently at home during 2025–26. All surveyed participants said employees were respectful and appropriately skilled. A further 93% trusted CRCS to do the right thing, while 87% would recommend the service.
- 7,338 hours of domestic assistance across 5,268 appointments
- 3,408 hours of home and garden maintenance
- 2,348 hours of individual social support across 1,405 appointments
- 606 hours of personal care across 922 appointments
- 175 hours of flexible respite provided to family and carers
Involve Social Groups
Involve continued to respond to participants’ changing interests and feedback, introducing Korean and Chinese cultural groups to better reflect the community’s diversity and create opportunities for cultural connection and belonging. The program also expanded gym and yoga sessions and added Winery Adventures and Golden Getaway outings. Alongside existing activities, these opportunities played an important role in reducing loneliness, helping participants stay active, build friendships and support one another, strengthen mental wellbeing and support healthy ageing.
All surveyed participants said employees treated them with respect, reflecting the program’s focus on accessible, welcoming and participant-informed services.
- 7,121 appointments and sessions
- 698 participants supported through Involve
- 28,400 hours of support to develop skills, achieve goals and engage in community life
- 423 hours volunteered to support Involve social groups.
Real People, Real Connections
Here, we share how CRCS services make a real difference in the lives of participants, families and communities.
David’s Life-Changing Day
After a devastating accident, CRCS Community Transport helped David access vital healthcare, supporting his recovery, independence and wellbeing while easing pressure on him and his young family.
Annie’s Journey: Staying Active, Independent and Connected
Discover how Annie used CRCS Involve activities to stay active and independent, rebuild confidence after a fall and form friendships that extend beyond the program.
Involve Quilt Project – A Moment in Time
Created by Involve participants, A Moment in Time brings memories, cultures and personal stories together in a vibrant celebration of community connection.