About Medi-Aid Centre Foundation

Medi-Aid Centre Foundation (Medi-Aid) is a PBI (Public Benevolent Institution) a non-profit Charity incorporated in 1973, at Eastwood, by Dr John F Knight AM and his late wife Noreen V Knight, a Registered Nurse.

Our mission is helping the elderly, across all socio-economic levels, but with emphasis on those who are frail, have no family support, no home and do not have back up funds from other sources.

In all about 500 persons currently are cared for. Of these, about 30 per cent assist in funding called “resident funding housing”. This is similar to the system used by most churches, community and similar groups although Medi-Aid is much more generous than most.

Accommodating elderly persons suffering financial hardship

Mission Statement

Undertake and assist in undertaking benevolent assistance for aged men and women irrespective of creed, class or colour, within the Commonwealth of Australia and without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing provision shall have power to do or to assist in doing any or all of the following things namely:

  • To establish and maintain living units for the accommodation and care of elderly or elderly-infirm people.
  • To assist the general good of all old people in the Commonwealth of Australia by carrying out and assisting the work of statutory authorities and voluntary organisations engaged in respect of old people in providing facilities for physical and mental recreation, developing physical improvement, furthering health, relieving sickness, or in pursuing any objects which are benevolent.
  • To organise co-operation in the achievement of the above purposes and to that end bring together in committee representatives of the authorities and organisations engaged in the furtherance of the above purposes or any of them within the Commonwealth of Australia and to carry out a variety of enterprises to help operate and fund their activities within the framework of its Memorandum of Association.
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What We Do

Medi-Aid Centre Foundation Limited’s core activity is provision of housing accommodation for elderly persons living in Australia. Although this is applicable to persons 55 years and older, in practice this usually involves persons in their seventies and over. There is no upper age limit, and historically many have been in their eighties.

There is an emphasis on needs. The majority of residents ( often called “delegates) have no funds, do not own a home and do not have access to accommodation from friends or relatives or the government. Most rely solely on the old aged pension. They are often frail and may suffer from health disabilities, although majority can still care for themselves day by day. However, may also require basic domestic care, linen laundry, emergency call service and provision of meals.

A certain number of residents assist with the funding of their accommodation. However, the majority do not, and gain their housing as a direct outcome of benevolent activity.

Social interaction of residents is considered to be important, and a variety of events are carried out to achieve this. It is believed that social isolation can only breed unhappiness and depression with is resultant negative outcomes ( especially ill health). A large number of these are provided on a benevolent basis.

Medi-Aid also provides other services to its target group. This involves a range of initiatives, provision of certain medical devices or procedures, or other specific requirements that would normally be unavailable to the elderly person.

DAVID KNIGHT

CEO