When Lesley Balkwill talks about care, she speaks from deep experience. After almost 17 years with Silverchain, Australia’s third largest Home Care Package provider, Lesley is now the General Manager of Care Service Delivery in Western Australia, using her down-to-earth, people-first approach to help Silverchain’s clients transition to Support at Home.
“What matters most to people is feeling confident and cared for in the place they are most comfortable in – their homes,” Lesley said. “That’s always been the heart of what we do at Silverchain.”
For Lesley, these conversations aren’t just part of her work – they happen in her everyday life. Her 86-year-old neighbour, Terry (pictured), often stops her for a chat about the changes ahead.
“Terry’s always asking, ‘Hey Lesley, what’s this Support at Home thing? What do I need to do?’” Lesley said. “He’s not one of my clients, but he represents so many older Australians who just want reassurance that their care will continue and that they’ll still have choice and control.”
To help more people like Terry feel confident about the reforms, Silverchain has launched a series of short videos called What’s that about? Through an edutainment approach that combines education with storytelling and humour, Lesley answers common questions about Support at Home in a clear, reassuring way – making sense of the change for older Australians and their families.
Lesley says preparing the workforce for the once-in-a-generation reform to aged care delivery is just as important as preparing clients. Silverchain is leading the way through Foundations in Mental Health – a free national training program giving aged care workers the skills to better support the growing mental health needs of older Australians.
“Mental health is a vital part of wellbeing as we get older. This Silverchain training program helps build confidence and capability across the workforce, so other providers can deliver Support at Home,” Lesley said.
“Support at Home is about more than just navigating a system – it’s about creating care that truly meets people’s needs, wherever they call home.
“At Silverchain, we’re committed to leading the way, setting the standard for quality, compassionate, person-centred care, and supporting our workforce so every older Australian can live with confidence, independence and dignity.”
