Let's Get Acquainted
Welcome to Let’s Get Acquainted, a modern guide to ageing well at home. This five-part series is a conversation most families avoid until a crisis, like a fall or sudden diagnosis, forces a decision made in panic.
Hosted by Julie McBeth and featuring Fiona Somerville, Managing Director of Acquaint, we unpack the realities of aged care. Designed for those who value quality and dignity, this podcast challenges assumptions about government-funded care and presents a thoughtful alternative: becoming the CEO of your own life with personalised, private support.
Episode 1: Luxury care in your own home
The conversation about care often sits at the back of our minds until time runs out. Fiona discusses the psychology of families who wait for a medical emergency before acting, often because they view their parents as infallible. We explore why the default answer from hospitals, moving into a nursing home, is not always the best option for those who want to maintain their own garden, their routines, and their independence.
Episode 2: You get what you pay for
Money and the costs of ageing are often shrouded in jargon and bureaucracy. Fiona unpacks the massive shifts caused by the November 2025 Aged Care Act, revealing how self-funded retirees are now being asked to contribute up to 80% of the cost for free government services. We discuss how to weigh the trade-offs between hiring independent contractors versus a fully managed, nurse-led premium service.
Episode 3: Behind the scenes
While the news is full of stories about national labour shortages in aged care, Acquaint receives thousands of applications for every role. Fiona explains the Swan Analogy: the client sees a beautiful, smooth experience while a flurry of expert coordination happens beneath the surface. We go behind the curtain of the recruitment ratio and the values, candid, smart, playful, and kind, that drive every hire.
Episode 4: What we see when people start needing care
Care shouldn't mean a loss of independence; it should be a lifeline to getting back into the world. This episode focuses on the joy of re-ablement, sharing stories of clients who returned to markets, visited long-lost cousins, and even (via our younger clientele) took up nursing after witnessing the impact of quality care. Fiona challenges the solitary room narrative of ageing, showing how support can help someone spring back to life.
Episode 5: How families make good decisions
There is a dangerous assumption that once you need care, your life becomes small. Fiona highlights clients who still attend the ballet, the opera, and other fabulous events. We discuss the CEO of the household mindset, where the client calls the shots and the care adapts to their lifestyle, not the other way around.
About the Host and Guest
The Host: Julie McBeth
Communications Expert & Moderator
Julie McBeth is a professional host and communicator dedicated to facilitating honest conversations about the topics families avoid. In Let’s Get Acquainted, Julie guides the discussion through the complexities of the 2025 Aged Care Act, the emotional landscape of care decisions, and the practicalities of luxury in-home support. Her goal is to provide listeners with clarity and confidence, ensuring that planning for the future is met with strategy rather than panic.
The Guest: Fiona Somerville
Managing Director, Acquaint
Fiona Somerville is a leader in the Australian aged care industry with over two decades of experience across nursing, clinical leadership, and management consultancy. Starting her career in nursing at St Vincent’s in Melbourne, Fiona has spent 20 years rethinking the way we approach ageing. With an MBA and a background in commercially focused, entrepreneurial organisations, she brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and business rigour to private care. Fiona is a fierce advocate for maintaining independence, famously stating that every client should remain the CEO of their own life.