A-Z Index | Contact the Department | Search Advanced Search

Home > Ministers > The Hon Justine Elliot MP, Minister for Ageing > Media Hub > Helping Bundaburg and Fraser Coast residents remain independent and in their own homes

View by date:

• April
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December

• 2013
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004

Previous Ministers

PDF printable version of Helping Bundaburg and Fraser Coast residents remain independent and in their own homes (PDF 23 KB)

Joint Release

The Hon Justine Elliot MP
Minister for Ageing

Senator the Hon John Hogg
Queensland
President of the Senate

15 February 2010

Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot and Queensland Senator John Hogg, today visited staff at the Churches of Christ Community Care in Bundaberg who are providing services to older residents of the Bundaberg and Fraser Coast areas, helping them remain independent and in their homes.

Funding provided through the joint federal and state government Home and Community Care (HACC) program, has allowed the service to offer practical assistance to older people in their own homes.

HACC provides older people and people with a disability help with household chores, home maintenance and modification, transport, meals, personal care and allied health and nursing care.

Minister Elliot said: “Through funding from the Home and Community Care program two new station wagons worth $70,000 will be added to the service as part of a $240,000 package for the region, which includes funding for more home maintenance, domestic assistance and allied health care services.

“The vehicles will be used to assist in the provision of home maintenance services such as window cleaning and rail installation and personal care services like showering, transport and respite.

“People tell me that as they age they want to remain in their own homes and communities, close to their families and friends.

“The services provided by Churches of Christ Community Care are the sort of practical assistance that older people need to allow them to remain in their home and retain their independence,” Minister Elliot said.

Senator Hogg said: “Last financial year more than 862,000 people nationally, and more than 157,000 people in Queensland, benefited from Home and Community Care services.

“As a result of this funding an additional 54 people in the area will benefit from a variety of home-based care services.

“The program supports older people who want to remain independent and living at home, people with a disability, disadvantaged people, and carers,” Senator Hogg said.

In 2009-10 the HACC program will receive $1.9 billion in funding nationally, with almost $1.2 billion of this contributed by the Australian Government.

In addition to providing funding for HACC services, the Rudd Government also provides funding for community care packages that deliver care services in the home to older people who need assistance.

In this year’s Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) an additional 95 packages are on offer for the Wide Bay region. These packages will build on the 180 community care places that are currently operational.

“The Rudd Government is providing more service to more older Australians than ever before,” Minister Elliot said.

During their visit to the region, Minister Elliot and Senator Hogg also met with and listened to local seniors at forums in Bundaberg and Harvey Bay.

For more information on the services offered by Churches of Christ Community Care, provided through Gracehaven Lutheran Homes, should contact phone (07) 4153 8000.

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