February Newsletter

Mar 2, 2026

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Welcome to our February Newsletter 🍂

Autumn is just around the corner! With cooler temperatures, it’s the perfect season to get outside and meet new friends through our social activities. Don’t forget to check out our Autumn Calendar for a full list of seasonal outings.

The cooler weather may also bring rain causing slippery surfaces. Please take care and prioritise your safety during this seasonal change.

This month, we are providing free travel services to the NSW Seniors Festival Expo 2026 and the NSW Premier’s Gala Concert at the ICC Sydney in Darling Harbour. Due to limited ticket availability for the Gala Concert, we have 20 free tickets to be fairly allocated through a random draw. We will post a video of the draw on our Facebook page to announce the winners on 4 March 2026. Please keep reading for more details on how to enter and join us for these events!

This month, we celebrated the Lunar New Year with our clients and community. We enjoyed a great trip to Haymarket China Town, the heart of the celebrations.

We also gathered with our Vietnamese group for a special visit to the beautiful monasteries in Bilpin. Read the full story about this outing Click.

Vietnamese-Group-11_02_2026_Vietnamese-Monasteries-and-Local-Finds-66 (1)

Keep yourself Secure Online

The Australian Government is warning about Medicare card scams. Scammers are texting people claiming that their Medicare cards need to be replaced. DO NOT share your personal details. Read below for the red flags of Medicare scams and to learn more about how to turn your passwords into strong passphrases to secure your accounts.

Monthly News Update:

The Australian Government has expanded Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) bulk billing and launched the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP). Bulk billing means Medicare covers the full cost of GP visits, letting eligible patients access free care and save on out-of-pocket costs. Participating practices will bulk bill all eligible patients, but it’s best to check with your doctor beforehand. Find a bulk billed clinic near you click here.

Thank you for making us your preferred transport provider.

Michelle Newman

Holiday Closure Notice

The Access Sydney office will be closed for the Easter long weekend from 3 to 6 April (inclusive). Our office will reopen on 7 April. The State Government has also announced a public holiday for Anzac Day on Monday, 27 April.

Only essential services will be provided during these times

Please note that the additional Anzac Day public holiday may affect some of our outing programs. Our team is currently rescheduling the impacted outings and will contact you once the new dates are confirmed.

 

Access Sydney Client Fees review

Access Sydney fees will increase from 1 June 2026. As in the past, these increases will be kept to a minimum and further details will be provided next month.


March Special Events

We have secured 20 tickets to the prestigious NSW Premier’s Gala Concert on Wednesday 11 March 2026. Due to limited availability, tickets will be fairly allocated by a random draw. We will post a video of the draw on our Facebook page to announce the winners on 4 March 2026. 20 names will be drawn at random, and winners will be contacted. Call us to register your interest. See more detail about the Premier’s Gala Concert click here. – Free Travel.

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The NSW Seniors Festival Expo 2026 is coming on Thursday 12 March 2026 at the Tik Tok Entertainment Centre (formerly ICC) in Darling Harbour. Explore a variety of stalls, activities, and useful information for seniors. Afterwards, enjoy a sausage sizzle with the group for $5 (beef or vegetarian; no gluten-free option). Please let us know when booking. – Free Travel Call us to register your interest 0n 8241 8000


Keep Yourself Secure Online – Replacement Medicare Card Scam

The Australian Government warns about scammers sending texts pretending to be from Medicare or myGov. These messages claim your card is suspended or needs replacing and ask you to pay a “postage fee” via a suspicious link.

Do not click the link or provide personal details. The link leads to a fake website designed to steal your bank information. Medicare does not charge for replacement cards.

The scammer may contact you by text message and say:

  • your Medicare card needs to be replaced
  • your Medicare card has been temporarily suspended
  • you need to go to an online portal to complete the process
  • your online services may be suspended if you don’t replace your card.

If you have shared your financial details, contact your bank immediately.

Examples of Scam text:

Learn more about Medicare replacement card scams click here.


Use Passphrases To Secure Your Account

Your online identity is valuable. Protect yourself from cybercriminals by upgrading to strong passphrases to secure your accountsRead below to learn more.

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Making a whistle blower disclosure

You can report misconduct such as unlawful or unethical behaviour, without fear of reprisal. You can make a confidential report in person, via phone, online or e-mail to: Access Sydney or a responsible person or other employee of Access Sydney, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, a police officer, or an independent aged care advocate. You can also submit a report anonymously.  You can find more information on our website here.

Giving feedback

Your feedback is important to us. You can tell us if you are happy with our service or wish to suggest improvements. If you are not satisfied with our services, you can make a complaint without fear of it affecting your services.

For more information, or to provide feedback or make a complaint,
visit our website here.

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