$17 million funding boost for aged care in Hinkler

Older residents in the Hinkler electorate will benefit from an additional $17.236 million in funding for aged care services under the Federal Government’s 2015 Aged Care Approvals Round.

Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said the funding boost would provide an additional 278 residential care places:

• 144 residential care places – Bupa Bundaberg, Avoca (new service)

• 90 residential care places – Regis Hervey Bay (new service)

• 44 residential care places – Anglicare SQ Meilene, Bundaberg East

Mr Pitt said more than 17,300 people would benefit from new aged care places nationally.

“There is a strong demand for aged care in Hinkler and these additional places are essential in ensuring our elderly receive the quality care they deserve.”

“I’m delighted Hinkler aged care providers – both new and existing – have been able to secure this funding, by successfully demonstrating their ability to deliver care, management experience and expertise.

“Apart from the obvious benefits for our aging residents and their families, this funding presents enormous opportunity for the local community more broadly.

“As the baby boomer generation ages and demand for quality aged care and retirement villages continues to grow, there will be enormous opportunities for employment in the construction industry, mobility retail sector, medical technology and innovation, pharmacy, nursing and allied health.

Mr Pitt said competition for the funding was extremely competitive.

“Nationally this year there were three applications received for every available residential care place and 19 applications received for every available home care place,” Mr Pitt said.

This is the last ACAR to include home care places. From February 2017 funding will follow the consumer not the provider, allowing people to choose the care which suits their individual needs, to then direct funding to that provider.

“Australians want greater choice and control over the care they receive and the changes to home care we’ve created do exactly that,” Mr Pitt said.

Applications for the 2016 ACAR round will commence in June and focus on the provision of residential aged care places and capital funding, as well as introducing, for the first time, short-term restorative care places.

Short-term restorative care provides an eight week programme, designed with the care recipient, which provides reablement and restorative care services in a home setting, a residential setting, or combination of the two.

More information about the results of the 2015 Aged Care Approvals Round is available at www.dss.gov.au/2015ACAR