Permanent Housing for Homeless: $16M Redfern Facility
A $16 million Australian Government funded aged care facility will cater for some of Sydney's most vulnerable and isolated.
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Joint Release
The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
Minister for Human Services and Social Inclusion
The Hon Mark Arbib MP
Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness
29 April 2011A $16 million Australian Government funded aged care facility will cater for some of Sydney's most vulnerable and isolated, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler announced today.
Mr Butler turned the first sod for the Mission Australia facility which will accommodate 72 homeless people including, for the first time in inner Sydney, elderly homeless women.
Mr Butler said the new service would more than double Mission Australia’s permanent accommodation places for elderly homeless people in NSW.
“It will improve the residents’ transition from homelessness and provide much-needed stability in their lives,” Mr Butler said.
“The new service will include an on-site registered nurse, access to doctors, pharmacists, psycho-geriatricians and other health support services for those experiencing homelessness.”
Senator Arbib welcomed the new Mission Australia facility that would house 72 people who are experiencing homelessness.
“Mission Australia does a fantastic job helping people experiencing homelessness around Australia and its great see this new facility in Redfern, the heart of Sydney,” Senator Arbib said.
“As part of the Australian Government’s response to the 2008 White Paper on homelessness, people who are homeless have been recognised as a special needs group under aged care laws.
“The Government has allocated funding for specialist aged care facilities for older people who are homeless every year since the 2008 White Paper was released.
Mr Butler said aged care reform continues as a priority for the second term of the Australian Government.
“In addition to the funding for Mission Australia, we have provided $7 million for
104 aged care places for homeless people in Dandenong, Victoria and Caboolture, Queensland.”
The Australian Government tasked the Productivity Commission to hold an inquiry to deliver suggestions for sustainable and structural reform of the aged care system.
The Commission’s Draft Report was published in January, with the Final Report due in June this year.
“While Australia has one of the best aged care systems in the world, we know that there are continuing pressures on the aged care system,” Mr Butler said.
“That’s why it’s essential to make the system more sustainable so we can continue to provide high quality, affordable care into the future.”
Mr Butler was joined by Tanya Plibersek, the Minister for Human Services and Minister for Social Inclusion at today’s ceremony.
Media Contacts:
Mr Butler’s office - 02 6277 7280
Minister Plibersek’s office - 0413 473 773
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