PDF printable version of $3.4m boost to Tasmanian Home and Community Care (PDF 36 KB)
Joint Release
The Hon Christopher Pyne MP
Australian Government
Minister for Ageing
The Hon Lara Giddings MHA
Minister for Health and
Human Services
24 April 2007
CP 35/07
Frail older people, the younger disabled, and their carers will benefit from $41.9 million in funding delivered through 61 Tasmanian Home and Community Care (HACC) service providers.
The investment was announced today by the Minister for Ageing, Christopher Pyne, and the Tasmanian Minister for Health and Human Services, Lara Giddings.
“This is an increase of $3.4 million, or 9 per cent on 2005-06 funding,” Mr Pyne said.
“In particular, it will mean more funds for personal care, home modifications, domestic assistance and community transport services,” Mr Pyne said.
Ms Giddings said the funding would provide much-needed services across the state.
“As our population ages there is growing demand for services which support older people to maintain their independence in their local community,” Ms Giddings said.
“These services include personal care, household assistance, community and non-urgent medical transport, all of which assist older people and those with disabilities to participate in the life of their community,” Ms Giddings said.
“Home and Community Care is a central element of the Australian Government's vision for a world-class aged-care system that delivers high-quality, affordable and accessible care to meet the individual needs of older people, younger disabled and their carers,” Mr Pyne said.
“By funding these services we are helping to create caring communities. We are also helping Tasmanians who have functional disabilities to live as independently as possible in their own homes – which is what most want.
“For these people, Home and Community Care services can provide a higher level of independence and a viable alternative to moving to residential care.”
Among the services that will receive additional funding, Anglicare will receive $315,000 to provide about 12,000 additional hours of personal care a year, Family Based Care North will receive $115,000 (5,100 hours), Family Based Care North West will receive $60,000 (1,800 hours), and Community Based Support South will receive $255,000 (8,500 hours) to provide personal care.
Other organisations have been allocated a total of $350,000 to provide more than 17,000 hours of domestic assistance across the state.
Funding will also be provided for one-off capital projects, including the purchase of 19 vehicles to provide non-emergency medical transport for people who live outside metropolitan areas.
Innovative projects have also been funded, including staging an aged-care expo in the Central Highlands, funding volunteer “mates” to develop better skills for HACC clients to manage low-maintenance gardens, and developing and extending services for people with dementia.
The Australian Government is contributing over $928 million to the HACC program in 2006 07, bringing the total funding available for the provision of HACC services nationally to more than $1.5 billion.
Media contacts: Adam Howard (Minister Pyne’s Office) 0400 414 833
Andrew Rhodes (Minister Giddings’s Office) (03) 6233 2757
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