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Joint Release

The Hon Justine Elliot
Minister for Ageing

The Hon Kristina Keneally, MP
NSW Minister for Ageing
NSW Minister for Disability Services

29 April 2008

Nine new dementia day-care centres worth a total of $11.86 million will be built across New South Wales, making life significantly easier for people with dementia, their families and their carers.

Federal Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot and NSW Minister for Ageing and Disability Services Kristina Keneally today announced nine new centres that will be jointly funded by the Federal and NSW Governments under the Home and Community Care (HACC) program, to provide much-needed dementia services to people across the state.

Mrs Elliot said the nine centres are the first of 16 purpose-designed dementia-specific day-care centres that are planned to be built across NSW.

“The focus on dementia-specific facilities is a response to the increasing incidence of dementia associated with the ageing of the population.

“In 2006 there were over 73,000 people living with dementia in NSW. By 2050 it is estimated the number will increase to 227,000.

“This is about the State and Federal Governments working together.

“It is also about preparing for Australia’s future challenges.

“That’s why we are joining with the NSW Government to make this multi-million dollar investment in purpose-designed new or renovated dementia day care facilities across the state

“These centres will not only provide services for people with dementia, but also will provide support for carers. The carers of people with dementia are everyday people doing an extraordinary job,” Mrs Elliot said.

Dementia day-care centres can provide outings, day trips, diversionary activities, nursing and allied health services to people with dementia. These services also assist their carers to continue in their caring role.

Ms Keneally said: “The new facilities will help people with dementia to live as independently as possible in their own homes, which is what many of them and their families have told us they want.

“The centres will also provide a day-care service, they will also provide respite for carers — a much-needed break to the carers of people with dementia who use the services at the centres.”

Mrs Elliot said the HACC program was a key element of the Australian Government’s policy and vision for a world-class community-care system.

“Through the HACC program we are delivering high-quality, affordable and accessible care to meet the needs of older people, people with a disability, and their carers,” she said.

“The funds available through the HACC program will continue to provide much-needed facilities in areas of large and growing demand, throughout NSW.”

In 2007-08 the HACC program received $1.652 billion nationally, $1.006 billion of this contributed by the Australian Government.

NSW alone received a joint contribution of close to $510 million; of this just over $305 million was contributed by the Australian Government and close to $205 million was contributed by the NSW Government.

The new facilities will be located across NSW, and provide a variety of services:

Cooma: The Cooma-Monaro Shire Council will be given $1.57 million to purchase land and construct the Werri-Nina Centre, a purpose-built dementia day-care centre, including new Meals on Wheels distribution facilities and office space for coordinating community care services in the area.

Central Coast: The Gosford City Council will receive $1.65 million to upgrade the dementia facility at Woy Woy. The centre will provide dementia day-care, food services and other HACC services.

Cumberland / Prospect: The Baulkham Hills Shire Council is to receive $1.65 million to refurbish two buildings on its Balcombe Heights Estate, providing dementia day-care facilities.

Central West: The Uniting Care Ageing will be given $766,000 for an extension to the Orange Community Care Dementia Day Care centre. The extension is specifically designed for the needs of dementia clients.

Far West: The Walgett Shire Council will be given $1.09 million to construct a new purpose-built dementia day-care wing to a recently built HACC services facility in Lightning Ridge.

Far North Coast: In Casino, the Uniting Church will receive $1.287 million to construct a purpose-built ground floor dementia-specific day-care centre The service will be located within the grounds of the Casino Uniting Church complex.

Illawarra: Anglicare will be provided $1.65 million to construct a new purpose-built dementia day-care centre on Anglicare-owned land at Fairy Meadow, north of Wollongong. The building will also include space for offices for managing the day-care service and other HACC services.

Northern Sydney: Willoughby City Council will be given $1.65 million to build a dementia-specific day-care centre on council-owned land at Willoughby. The building is designed as two discrete dementia day-care centres. The council will lease one area to a HACC service provider and the other to another not-for-profit dementia day-care provider.

New England: The Wee Waa and District HACC Association Inc. will receive $545,000 to renovate a community cottage facility that presently houses HACC offices, to provide a dementia day-care centre. Wee Waa town has no HACC facilities suitable for group activities and HACC day care and elders services are at present delivered from a licensed club and church halls.


For more information, contact Mrs Elliot's office on (02) 6277 7280