$11.4 million funding boost for aged care in Hinkler

Older residents in the Hinkler electorate will benefit from an additional $11.4 million in funding for aged care services under the Federal Government’s 2016-17 Aged Care Approvals Round.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt has welcomed the funding boost and said it would provide an additional 174 residential care places:

• 144 residential care places – The Lakes Aged Care, Bundaberg (new service)

• 30 residential care places – Kalkie Residential Care Service, Bundaberg (additional places)

“The Lakes Aged Care and Kalkie Residential Care Service will be funded to provide new aged care services or to enable them to expand their current facilities,” Mr Pitt said.

“With our rapidly ageing population, the Australian Government is committed to providing a sustainable aged care system that meets the needs of our older Australians,” he said.

“Hinkler is one of many rural and remote regions across Australia that will benefit, with 27.4 per cent of all residential places allocated to non-metropolitan areas.”

The new residential aged care places follow the announcement of 475 Short-Term Restorative Care places made available through the 2016-17 Aged Care Approvals Round in February 2017.

These Short-Term Restorative Care places, worth an estimated total expenditure of up to $34.7 million a year, provide flexible aged care options that will help older people remain in their own homes for longer after injury or illness.

“Australians want greater choice and control over the care they receive and these changes do exactly that,” Mr Pitt said.

Information about the 2016−17 Aged Care Approvals Round outcomes, including details of the successful approved providers, is available on the https://agedcare.health.gov.au/2016-17acar/results.