My Care My Way: Navigating your funded aged care journey with confidence

Navigating the Australian aged care system can feel like trying to find your way through a maze without a map. Where do you start? What funding are you eligible for? And how do you ensure your choices are truly respected?

My Care, My Way is the definitive, one-stop solution to the complex world of government-funded aged care. Designed to cut through the bureaucratic jargon, this essential guide answers the exact questions older Australians, their families, and decision-makers face every day.

Whether you are just beginning to explore your options or managing an immediate transition in care, this book provides clear, actionable steps to help you take control of the process.
Inside, you will discover how to:

• Demystify the System
• Make Informed Choices
• Avoid Common Pitfalls
• Advocate with Confidence

An invaluable resource for families and a trusted handbook for aged care health professionals alike, My Care, My Way replaces confusion with clarity and anxiety with peace of mind. Because it's your life, your future and your care, done your way.

FOREWORD BY Rachael Wass (CEO Meaningful Ageing Australia)

Cynthia Payne is a distinguished leader, director, and 35-year veteran of the Australian aged care sector. Her career has been singularly defined by an unwavering commitment to the Older Person Experience. As her "true north", this dedication has driven her focus on identifying, mitigating, and providing groundbreaking insights into harm-related risks for providers across Australia.In 2018, Cynthia founded the Anchor Impact Group which, through its key brands-Anchor Excellence, Sage Study Tours, and Impactful-Leaders-swiftly became instrumental in shaping contemporary best practices and governance in the sector. Over the past seven years, thegroup has impacted over 45% of the Australian aged care market, establishing Cynthia as a formidable authority and advocate for safe, high-quality care. Her work directly addresses the complexities of regulatory compliance, governance and ethical leadership required to safeguardindividuals' lived experiences in residential, home care, NDIS and retirement living settings.Cynthia's academic qualifications include an MBA and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Nursing. Her governance credentials are extensive: she is a Certified Aged Care Board Advisory Chair, a Member (MAICD) of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a Fellow (FGIA) of the Governance Institute Australia. Professionally, she is a Certified Practitioner of Balanced Scorecard, a Certified Practitioner of Team ManagementSystems (TMP, Quotient, LLP), a Fellow of the Manager and Leaders Institute, and a long-term member of the Australian College of Nursing. Additionally, she is a Cert IV qualified Yoga teacher (800HrRYT). Her current board roles include Independent Non-Executive Director (INED) for Painchek (a Listed Entity; since 2022), and INED for Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure.