Older Persons Advocacy Network

What Older Persons Advocacy Network does

Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) is Australia's federally funded national peak body for aged care advocacy, providing free, independent, and confidential information and advocacy support to older people seeking or receiving government-funded aged care services. Established as a coordinating body in 2017 and operating a national hotline (1800 700 600) and in-person services, OPAN delivered 52,206 instances of information and advocacy support in FY2024-25 — an 18% year-on-year increase — through a network of nine member organisations covering every Australian state and territory. Its core products are service-based rather than software-based: the Aged Care Advocacy Line, Self-Advocacy Toolkit, Supported Decision-Making Toolkit (aligned with the Aged Care Act 2024), an eLearning platform for aged care professionals (covering Supported Decision-Making, Diversity, 'Talk to Us First' for Quality Standard 2.6 compliance, Abuse of the Older Person, and Responding to Sexual Assault facilitator courses), free information sessions, and a portfolio of Presenting Issues Reports that convert case data into systemic advocacy recommendations to government.

OPAN employs 11-50 staff at the national level (per firmographic data), supported by 19 specialist financial advocacy officers across its member network and a 34-member National Older Persons Reference Group established in March 2020 to bring lived experience into reform discussions. Its business model is single-funder: 100% of operating revenue derives from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care through the National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP), with all services provided free of charge to end users. A Rural and Remote Service Delivery Pilot (with DCLS and ALPA) extends culturally appropriate advocacy into remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities using local 'champions', and the Statement of Rights poster has been translated into four First Nations languages. Key partnerships include COTA Australia, the Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission, Services Australia, Dementia Australia, Go Gentle Australia, and large providers such as BaptistCare and Anglicare. The November 2025 commencement of the Aged Care Act 2024 has generated a 51% quarter-on-quarter surge in home care-related advocacy cases, positioning OPAN at the centre of Australia's rights-based aged care framework.

Name

Older Persons Advocacy Network

Legal name

Older Persons Advocacy Network

Website

https://opan.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OPAN is Australia's federally funded national peak body providing free, independent aged care advocacy and information to older people navigating government-funded services, delivered through a national network of nine member organisations across all states and territories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aged Care Advocacy Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Social Assistance (624), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Care Navigation & Service Coordination (Medical, Social, Community) (HSABAIAB), Caregiver Support & Education Programs (Center-Based) (HSABANAN)

Keywords

• Aged care advocacy
• Elder rights support
• Financial advocacy services
• Aged care training
• Older persons support

Headquarters

HQ city

Surry Hills

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (National Aged Care Advocacy Program): OPAN is funded by the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care through the National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP). The organisation's information and advocacy services are provided free of charge to older people. OPAN does not generate commercial revenue.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

OPAN provides free, independent, and confidential advocacy support to older Australians seeking or receiving government-funded aged care services. Delivered through a national network of 9 member organisations across all states and territories, services include a national phone advocacy line, self-advocacy and supported decision-making toolkits, financial advocacy to challenge incorrect aged care fees, in-person education sessions, eLearning for aged care professionals, and systemic advocacy driven by annual Presenting Issues Reports.

Product overview

OPAN (Older Persons Advocacy Network) is a national nonprofit organization providing free, independent advocacy services for older people seeking or receiving government-funded aged care services. Rather than a unified software product, OPAN operates a service-based model consisting of the Aged Care Advocacy Line (phone support), Self-Advocacy Toolkit, Supported Decision-Making Toolkit, eLearning programs, webinars, publications, and a National Older Persons Reference Group. OPAN is funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care through the National Aged Care Advocacy Program and coordinates a national network of 9 member organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aged Care Advocacy Line

Quantifiable outcome

• 52,206 instances of information and advocacy support delivered in 2024-25, an 18% increase year-on-year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ADAAustralia (Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of OPAN's 9 national network member organisations covering Queensland. Provides aged care advocacy and information services to older people in QLD, including specialist financial advocacy officers. Advised by Heidri Brook (Financial Advocacy Officer) and Kirby Slade (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community advocate).
• ADACAScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPAN network member for the Australian Capital Territory. Delivers aged care advocacy and information services in ACT and contributed to supported decision-making resources for older people experiencing abuse.
• Advocacy TasmaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPAN network member covering Tasmania. Provides aged care advocacy services to older Tasmanians.
• AdvocarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPAN network member for Western Australia, also participating in the Rural and Remote Service Delivery Pilot with DCLS. Delivers advocacy services to older West Australians.
• Aged Rights Advocacy Service (ARAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPAN network member for South Australia. Contributed panellists to OPAN webinars on complaints handling and aged care reform.
• CatholicCare NTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPAN network member for the Northern Territory, operating in a unique context of remote service delivery. Contributed insights from its Financial Wellbeing and Capability Program that informed OPAN's Rural and Remote Service Delivery Pilot.
• Darwin Community Legal Service (DCLS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPAN network member for the Northern Territory Top End. Led the translation of the Statement of Rights poster into four First Nations languages (Eastside Kriol, Tiwi, Warlpiri, Yolŋu Matha) and runs the Rural and Remote Service Delivery Pilot in partnership with ALPA. DCLS advocate Ramnik Singh Walia won the 2025 Australian Human Rights Community Award.
• Elder Rights AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPAN network member for Victoria. Provides aged care advocacy including financial advocacy (Jane Sullivan, Financial Advocacy Officer) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community advocacy (Kirby Slade).
• Seniors Rights ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPAN network member for New South Wales. Provides financial advocacy (Stuart Barber, Financial Advocacy Officer who helped recover ~$1M in fees) and advocacy support for older people including Tammy Cabban (advocate for Lorraine in her rights case).
• Ageing AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPAN participated as a key exhibitor and presenter at the Ageing Australia National Conference 2025 on the Gold Coast (~2,400 participants). OPAN led plenary sessions on rights-based care and diversity, and launched a joint publication with Go Gentle Australia on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Residential Aged Care Homes.
• Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerALPA partnered with DCLS (OPAN NT member) in the Rural and Remote Service Delivery Pilot, recruiting three aged care champions (Hope Meatuai, Jacob Balbunhamirri, Gertie Nawia) to support older Aboriginal people in East Arnhem Land communities. ALPA's community development team enhances the cultural appropriateness and trust of advocacy services in remote communities.
• Aged Care Quality & Safety CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Commission's Complaints Commissioner (Treasure Jennings) participates in OPAN webinars on complaints navigation. The Commission is referenced as a key body for complaints handling, quality standards, and restrictive practices oversight. OPAN works with the Commission on provider compliance resources and the Serious Incidents Response Scheme (SIRS).
• COTA AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOTA Australia (Council on the Ageing) co-facilitated major OPAN webinars with CEO Craig Gear and CEO Pat Sparrow, and jointly advocated to government for the delay to the new Aged Care Act. Both organisations represent older Australians and work together on systemic advocacy.
• Go Gentle AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPAN and Go Gentle Australia jointly published the 'Voluntary Assisted Dying in Residential Aged Care Homes' report (April 2026), launched at the Ageing Australia National Conference. The report addresses access to end-of-life choice for older people in residential care.
• BaptistCareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaptistCare (a large aged care provider) participated as a panellist in OPAN's supported decision-making webinar, sharing perspectives on implementing the Aged Care Act 2024 from a provider perspective.
• AnglicareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnglicare (home care provider) participated in OPAN's Support at Home webinar with General Manager Steve Sellen as a panellist. Also contributed to the complaints webinar with a presentation on the 4A approach to complaints management.
• Services AustraliamajorOthersServices Australia administers the financial hardship assistance program for aged care, processes means assessments, and issues home care package letters. OPAN's financial advocacy officers support older people in navigating Services Australia's processes.
• Dementia AustraliaminorOthersReferenced as a resource partner for the supported decision-making webinar and toolkit, providing information on cognitive decline and decision-making ability through the Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre.
• Australian Aged Care Quality and Safety CommissionmajorOthersJoint resources and webinar collaboration covering restrictive practices, complaints handling, quality standards, and the Serious Incidents Response Scheme. The Commission's Senior Practitioner for Behaviour Support (Loren deVries) participated in OPAN webinars.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Carers Australia: Carers Australia is the national peak body representing unpaid family carers, providing advocacy, policy advice, and support across Australia. It is comparable to OPAN in operating a federated national network of state/territory carer organisations and engaging in systemic aged care advocacy.
• COTA Australia: COTA Australia (Council on the Ageing) is the national peak body representing older Australians through advocacy, policy, and education. It directly partners with OPAN on webinars and joint advocacy (e.g., delaying the Aged Care Act), serving a near-identical mission and audience.
• ADA Australia: ADA Australia (Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia) is one of OPAN's 9 member organisations and a direct advocate for older people and people with disability in Queensland. It is directly comparable as a state-level delivery vehicle for OPAN's national advocacy mandate.
• Elder Rights Australia: Elder Rights Australia is OPAN's Victorian member organisation, providing direct advocacy, financial advocacy, and First Nations community advocacy. It is directly comparable as an OPAN state delivery partner with similar services.
• National Seniors Australia: National Seniors Australia is a member-based advocacy organisation for Australians 50+ that conducts policy research, advocacy campaigns, and member services. It overlaps with OPAN in aged care policy advocacy and engaging older Australians on rights and entitlements.
• Seniors Rights Service: Seniors Rights Service is OPAN's NSW member organisation, providing free legal advocacy, financial advocacy, and elder abuse support. Directly comparable as an OPAN network member delivering the same advocacy services in NSW.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Human Rights Commission: The Australian Human Rights Commission is the national statutory body investigating human rights complaints, including elder rights. It is comparable in that it awarded OPAN's advocate Ramnik Singh Walia the 2025 Community Award, and it operates in overlapping elder abuse and discrimination advocacy territory.

Emerging players

• Go Gentle Australia: Go Gentle Australia advocates for voluntary assisted dying laws and access, and jointly published a report with OPAN on voluntary assisted dying in residential aged care. Comparable as a specialised advocacy organisation partnering with OPAN on end-of-life rights for older Australians.
• Dementia Australia: Dementia Australia is the national peak body for people living with dementia, their families and carers, providing advocacy, education, and information. It overlaps with OPAN in aged care advocacy for cognitive impairment and supported decision-making, and is referenced as an OPAN resource partner.

Others

• Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission: The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is the Australian Government regulator overseeing aged care provider compliance. It collaborates with OPAN on webinars and restrictive practices guidance, and serves as a complementary (not competing) body that regulates providers OPAN advocates against.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/opanaus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/opanau

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Older Persons Advocacy Network