Why cost-of-living?

COTA SA and The Plug-in team have continued to hear of the increasing pressures of cost-of-living. It has consistently ranked as the top concern COTA SA hears from older South Australians and has been a policy and advocacy priority for COTA SA since 2023.

In 2025, The Plug-in partnered with the Wyatt Trust to research and co-design supports for people aged 50+ experiencing cost-of-living challenges.

“When I went on the pension as my only source of income, it wasn’t too bad in the beginning but quickly escalated to dire around the end of Covid. With all the on costs of owning a house, the insurances, the rates and owning a vehicle… these things quickly were eating up all my pension.”
– Maddie, 70-74, regional participant

Cost-of-living experiences are different for people aged 50+.

There is deep frustration about the challenges older people face in finding out about current supports, concessions and rebates they are entitled to. Those struggling to navigate cost-of-living shared of the impact to their social connections, physical and mental health.

We heard of the compounding factors that add additional challenges:

  • Housing insecurity, rent stress and moving costs
  • Health challenges and medical expenses
  • Caring responsibilities
  • Increasing costs for insurances, groceries and petrol

Regionally, the cost-of-living experience is similar to metropolitan Adelaide, however there are additional costs associated with groceries and petrol, and the impact of travel required for health and medical care. In some regional areas, there are community barriers to seeking help.

Participants experiencing cost-of-living stress shared they need centralised information and support to navigate and understand options available. This will make a difference in the lives of South Australians aged 50+ struggling to traverse cost-of-living pressures.

 The insights + need

For people aged 50 to 67, the ‘missing middle’, we heard that ageism begins creeping in, hindering employment opportunities, house loans and earning capacity.  This is often exacerbated by caring responsibilities, either for children or as Grandcarers or carers of family members who are unwell. There are less supports available to this cohort.

For people of pension age, 67+, particularly those on a full pension, the ability to influence or change their income stream is limited. Full pensioners explained there is little money available from their income after paying mortgages, rent, and/or utilities to get through a fortnight.

Participants shared the overwhelming challenge of finding, accessing and applying for supports, concessions and rebates.

Each person we spoke with were incredibly resilient, had their own knowledge and ways of navigating cost-of-living pressures. It became evident in group workshop settings how different the experiences and knowledge of supports and concessions were between participants.

Participants shared the emotional and physical effects of cost-of-living challenges – it directly impacts mental wellbeing and physical health. In these times of stress, it becomes more difficult to navigate what supports may be available.

Significant trade-offs are made to manage budgets. Social connections suffer and is often the first sacrifice made to relieve financial pressure. Insurances are a significant cost and become optional, home and car maintenance becomes unmanageable, and the cost of physical, dental and mental health are a struggle to maintain.

For people who don’t have English as a first language, it is even more challenging to navigate supports. We heard of the difficulty in finding information and accessing translation services. There are specific population groups that have greater challenges in understanding entitlements and what might be available to them.

Many participants shared of their past traumatic experiences, the lasting impacts, and the difficulties this can present when seeking help.

Age and culturally appropriate, empathetic and trauma-informed navigation support is essential for people aged 50+ facing cost-of-living challenges.
COTA SA are experts in providing navigation programs and peer education. We can make a difference for older people struggling to access supports.

Co-designed ‘Cost-of-living Navigation Program’

Working alongside older South Australians, we have co-designed a Cost-of-living Navigation Program to be delivered by COTA SA, that will:

  • Centralise information sources to help connect community to concessions and entitlements
  • Provide 1:1 navigation support for people who are struggling to navigate systems and apply for supports
  • Increase community awareness through community-led, peer education
  • Strengthen partnerships to reach specific population groups

You can read more detail in the full report: Cost-of-living Navigation Program + Lived Experience report

Bella, 55-59Workshop participant
“You’re starting to realise that people are turning you down for things… so you may finally have enough money for a house deposit, but you’re too old to get a mortgage. It’s okay to be renting when you’re in your 20s but when you’re in your 50s, you’re looking towards the future and you’re thinking, how is this sustainable? If the work and the income isn’t going to be at a good level, how am I going to find money to pay the rent, let alone buy a house.”

COTA SA has been actively advocating and seeking funding for this co-designed Cost-of-living Navigation Program.

COTA SA will continue to speak with Ministers, government departments, and other partner organisations to establish the Cost-of-living Navigation Program and better connect and support people aged 50+ experiencing challenges in this space.

We are very thankful for the generosity of participants in sharing their stories and co-designing the Cost-of-living Navigation Program.

Contact us

You can contact The Plug-in anytime to learn more about partnering with us, participating in our projects and other opportunities to get involved.

08 8224 5526
email to: connect@theplugin.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/ThePluginAus

The information you share with us helps COTA SA and The Plug-in to understand what is important to older people.  Through your participation and contribution, you are raising the voices of older people and supporting the important work of COTA SA.