Care close to home: Penelope’s story
Living in Moonta Mines on South Australia’s scenic Copper Coast, 73-year-old Penelope treasures the sense of belonging that comes with being part of a close-knit regional community. While she loves the lifestyle and connections that come with living outside a metropolitan area, accessing healthcare close to home hasn’t always been easy.
Penelope has spent much of her life navigating complex feelings around food and weight. With no private practitioners nearby, support often felt out of reach, especially without the time, energy or finances to travel long distances. She describes herself as having been “big all her life” and says that experience shaped not only her relationship with food and her body, but also her interactions with the health system.
Despite weight loss interventions over many years, weight remained something she continued to struggle with. More than anything, she wanted guidance that felt realistic, respectful and supportive – not judgemental or overwhelming.
She first heard about the supports available through Sonder from a friend. After a conversation with her GP, she was referred to Sonder’s Integrated Primary Care (IPC) program in November 2024. Within three days, the team had made contact.
“That early phone call made such a difference,” Penelope says. “I felt welcomed straight away – not rushed or judged, but genuinely listened to.”
Starting with a conversation
Penelope’s first conversation was with Catherine, Sonder’s Care Coordinator based in Kadina. Rather than focusing immediately on services or appointments, Catherine took the time to understand Penelope’s story – her medical history, her past experiences with weight management, her current challenges, and what she hoped might change.
“Penelope came to us with a long history around food and weight,” Catherine explains. “It was really important that she felt heard and respected from the very beginning.”
Together, they identified dietetics support as a helpful place to start. Catherine explained how the IPC program worked and handled the logistics, making the process simple and stress-free for Penelope.
“A big part of my role is taking the pressure off,” Catherine says. “We manage the referral process from intake to closure with regular contact throughout their episode of care, so people aren’t left trying to navigate the health system on their own.”
For Penelope, that sense of continuity made a real difference. She didn’t feel like she was being “handed off” between services, but supported by a team that knew her story.
Local care that feels accessible
Penelope attended her first appointment at Sonder’s Kadina centre, where she met dietitian Bonnie. Based in Minlaton, Bonnie travels across the Yorke Peninsula and other regional areas to support Sonder clients, as well as offering telehealth appointments.
“The IPC program is designed so people don’t have to travel to Adelaide to get quality care” Catherine says. “Bringing services closer to home can make support feel possible instead of overwhelming.”
Through the IPC program, Penelope received four fully funded dietetics sessions over a 12-month period, including a final check-in toward the end of 2025. As a pensioner with a healthcare card, she says she simply wouldn’t have been able to access this level of support otherwise.
From the moment she walked through the door, Penelope felt at ease. She describes Bonnie as approachable, kind and completely non-judgemental.
“Bonnie never told me what I ‘should’ be doing,” Penelope says. “She listened.”
The sessions focused on education, encouragement and understanding – not blame or restriction.
Rebuilding a relationship with food
During her dietetics sessions, Bonnie worked with Penelope on weight management in a way that felt achievable and compassionate. They explored food choices, portion awareness, and nutrition quality, but also talked about habits, emotions and the role food had played in Penelope’s life over many decades.
One of the biggest shifts for Penelope was becoming more mindful around eating. After several sessions, she noticed she was doing less “mindless” eating and felt more aware of what her body needed.
“I started making more thoughtful choices,” she says. “Not because I felt like I had to, but because I understood things better.”
Alongside changes to her diet, Penelope gently increased her movement. She set herself a goal of walking two to three times a week and rediscovered gardening as a way to stay active – something that also brought her joy and purpose.
While weight loss was never framed as the sole measure of success, these changes supported slow, steady progress. Just as importantly, Penelope describes developing a kinder, more forgiving relationship with herself around food.
Feeling supported, not judged
Reflecting on her experience, Penelope speaks highly of Sonder’s IPC program and the people who supported her along the way. She says she felt listened to and respected by everyone she encountered, from care coordination staff through to service providers.
She describes the IPC team as helpful, polite, professional and friendly, always welcoming whether she was attending appointments in person or calling over the phone.
“Bonnie was very easy to talk to, and very personable and non-judgmental,” Penelope says. “The IPC staff were helpful, professional, and friendly, and always welcoming when I came to the office for appointments or called with a question.”
For Penelope, access to local, fully funded and genuinely supportive services has made a meaningful difference to her everyday life. It’s helped her feel more confident, informed and at ease with food, her body and her health, proving that compassionate care, delivered close to home, can be truly life-changing.
“The Sonder IPC Program is a wonderful service,” Penelope says. “I would happily recommend it to anyone.”
About the Integrated Primary Care program
Sonder’s Integrated Primary Care (IPC) program supports people living with chronic medical conditions to better manage their health and wellbeing through coordinated, person-centred care.
Working closely with a participant’s GP, our Care Coordinator helps advocate for individual health needs and brings together a team of allied health professionals to provide practical, tailored support.
Through IPC, participants can access free allied health services, including:
- Diabetes education.
- Exercise physiology.
- Respiratory education.
These services are designed to help people understand their condition, build confidence in managing their health, and make sustainable changes that suit their lifestyle.
What makes IPC unique is its team-based and coordinated approach. Rather than navigating the health system alone, participants are supported by a dedicated Care Coordinator who works alongside their GP and allied health providers to ensure care is connected, responsive and focused on long-term wellbeing.
The program is available to people living in the Yorke Peninsula, Mid North, Lower North, Lower Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island regions who are living with, or at risk of developing, a chronic medical condition. By reducing barriers to care and strengthening collaboration between services, IPC helps people take positive steps toward improved health and quality of life.
This program is supported by funding from the Country SA PHN through the Australian Government’s PHN Program.