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PDF printable version of $1.8m funding boost for Home and Community Care in the ACT (PDF 149 KB)

Joint Release

Senator the Hon Santo Santoro
Australian Government
Minister for Ageing

Katy Gallagher MLA
Australian Capital Territory
Deputy Chief Minister
Minister for Health
Minister for Children and Youth
Minister for Disability and Community Services
Minister for Women

14 February 2007
SS 14/07

The ACT’s older people, people with a disability, and their carers, will benefit from the $1.8 million funding boost for Home and Community Care (HACC) services announced today by the Minister for Ageing, Senator Santo Santoro, and the ACT Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher MLA.

HACC is a program jointly funded by both the Commonwealth and ACT Governments to assist those members of the community requiring home-based or community care, and their carers.

“Total HACC funding available in the ACT for 2006-07 will be $22.5 million, an increase of almost 8.5 per cent over funding in 2005-06,” Senator Santoro said.

“The HACC program is a central element of the Commonwealth Government's aged care policy, for without services such as respite and domestic assistance, many people would have to move prematurely into residential care,” he said.

Ms Gallagher agreed, suggesting the importance of HACC funding could not be underestimated, given that it benefited not only older members of the community but also those younger people with disabilities, as well as carers.

“The ACT Government recognises the importance of the HACC program, for both those members of the community that rely on it, and the tireless efforts of family and friends that also care for them. I am delighted we could provide greater funding to the program this year,” Ms Gallagher said.

Ms Gallagher said that in response to the Access Improvement Program: Improving the Older Patient’s Journey, funding had been provided to Community Options ACT Inc to deliver up to eight weeks of support at home following hospitalisation.

“Additional levels of personal care, social support, home maintenance and domestic assistance will be provided to HACC clients living in the community,” she said.

Examples of the services which will benefit from the new funding include:

• HandyHelp ACT Inc will expand its home maintenance services and Home Help Service ACT Inc will provide additional domestic assistance and personal care.
• Northside Community Service Inc will expand its Choice Care program with additional domestic assistance and personal care and the Northside shopping bus program will also expand in response to demand. Belconnen Community Service Inc will expand its community transport social support program to assist clients with shopping and friendly visiting.
• Younger people with a disability will receive additional social support through Centacare and Community Programs Association Inc.

Three pilot programs will now receive recurrent funding. These are:

• the Extended Home Visitors service provided by the Australian Red Cross ACT;
• the rural program supporting clients in Tharwa and surrounds coordinated by Woden Community Service; and
• the Dementia Links program at Alzheimers Australia ACT.

Funding has also been provided to Woden Community Service ACT Inc to purchase a 12-seat community transport bus, and the Alzheimer’s Australia ACT Friday Singing Group will receive additional social support.

Media contacts: Malcolm Cole (Senator Santoro’s office) 0408612603
Sean Costello (Katy Gallagher’s office) 0424369231