News archive
An archive of news items from the home page.
03 July 2008
Australian Government to Increase Scrutiny of Aged Care Funding Claims
Commonwealth staff have begun a wide-ranging review of funding claims to ensure that Australian Government payments match the levels of care provided in nursing homes.
03 July 2008
Sunshine Coast and WA Country and Perth Women among Longest Life Expectancy in the World
Australian women on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Western Australia’s agriculture belt south east of Perth and Perth have amongst the longest life expectancies in the world.
02 July 2008
$136.4 million national plan to boost organ donation and save lives
The Australian Government has proposed a major new national reform package to establish Australia as a world leader in organ donation for transplantation. Further information about the proposed new national reform package is available here
02 July 2008
Rudd Government funds Penrith sports facilities upgrade
The Australian Government funds the upgrade of sporting facilities in Penrith including a double-sided grandstand connecting the southern end of CUA Stadium and Howell Cricket Oval.
02 July 2008
Australian Government's timely initiative on insulin pump subsidy
The rising incidence of Type 1 diabetes in children underlines the importance of the Australian Government’s decision to subsidise the cost of insulin pumps. According to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the incidence of new cases of Type 1 diabetes in children is rising at around 3 per cent a year.
01 July 2008
Comment On Petrol Prices and Home and Community Care Services
The Australian Government has a range of measures relating to petrol and community care, the Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot said today.
01 July 2008
Reply to Letter from the Queensland Aged Care Alliance from the Minister for Ageing - July 1
Open letter in response to the Queensland Aged Care Alliance.
01 July 2008
New Health Services From 1 July
From 1 July, families will have access to a whole range of new health services – including a $150 voucher for teen dental care; a free health check for kids about to start school; and a guide to kids’ health and development for parents.
30 June 2008
Annual Indexation Comes Into Effect on July 1 – A Further $163 Million – Invested Into Australian Residential and Home Aged Care
From July 1, the annual indexation for residential care, community care and flexible care comes into effect - adding more than $163 million in extra Commonwealth government funding. Payments to residential aged care subsidies and supplements will increase by $152 million and community care subsidies by $11 million.
30 June 2008
Hard work ahead to fix public hospitals
The State of Our Public Hospitals Report 2008, released 30 June 2008 shows they are under severe strain, with public hospital admissions increasing faster than population growth.
30 June 2008
Pensioners’ Rally statement by Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot
The Australian Government was committed to building a modern Australia capable of tackling the challenges of the 21st century.
30 June 2008
Record number of visits begin on July 1 – nursing homes
From July 1, the Australian Government‘s Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency – the independent watchdog – will undertake a record 7,000 visits to the nation’s 2,870 nursing homes during 2008-2009.
28 June 2008
Funding boost - transition care - helping older Australians retain their independence after a hospital stay
The Australian Government today announced the first stage of its $293.2 million transition care program to help older Australians recover and regain their independence after a major hospital stay.
27 June 2008
Nathan Jawai Drafted To NBA
The Federal Minister for Sport Kate Ellis today congratulated rising indigenous basketball star Nathan Jawai for his selection in the NBA draft.
26 June 2008
‘Apartments For Life’ innovative Dutch model lets 95 per cent of older people stay in their own homes
Minister for Ageing Mrs Justine Elliot met on 26 June with developers of an innovative Dutch housing model which allows 95 per cent of older people to live in their own homes until the end of their lives. This is known as "ageing in place".
25 June 2008
Helping Older Australians Enjoy the Movies: Accessible cinema June 25, 2008 – Federal Parliament – House of Representatives
In a statement to the House of Representatives on 25 June, Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot announced that the Federal Government will commit $350,000 in one-off funding to expand access to the cinema for some of the four million Australians with a hearing impairment under the plan “Helping Older Australians Enjoy the Movies: Accessible Cinema”.
25 June 2008
New Aged Care Advisory Committee Improves Consultation with Sector
Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot announced on 25 June a revamped industry advisory committee to improve consultation with the sector, workforce and consumers representing residents and older Australians. The new Ageing Consultative Committee includes commercial and not-for-profit aged care providers, consumer groups, professional and union bodies.
25 June 2008
Helping Older Australians Enjoy the Movies: Accessible Cinema
The Federal Government today announced a plan to improve smaller independent cinemas for some of the four million people with vision and hearing impairment with special audio description (AD) equipment and captioning.
25 June 2008
Communities invited to seek funding to fight binge drinking
Community groups across Australia can now apply for funding to fight binge drinking in their own towns and cities under the Federal Government’s National Binge Drinking Strategy. The Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Senator Jan McLucas, said $7.2 million was now available for the Community Level Initiative part of the Strategy.
24 June 2008
Minister for Ageing meets with Sir Moses Montefiore Jewish Home – and presents two Community Service Awards
The Federal Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot today meet in Canberra with Sydney Jewish residential aged care providers – the Sir Moses Montefiore Jewish Home congratulating them for delivering 119 years of care to older Jewish-Australians.