Joint Media Statement
|
The Hon Justine Elliot MP
Minister for Ageing |
The Hon Jim McGinty MLA
Minister for Health |
Exmouth residents, on the North-West cape in Western Australia, will receive improved aged and community care through the Exmouth Multi-Purpose Service (MPS) with the Federal Government allocating annual funding of $278,000 to the service.
The aged care service run from the MPS is provided under a partnership between the WA and Federal Governments to support regional communities which do not have nursing homes or other services for older Australians.
The Exmouth MPS serves a population of more than 2,000 and provides a flexible in-home high care place and six flexible community care places.
In future, the program will bring even more benefits, providing two residential aged care places on the hospital campus, one low-care place and additional health services including acute and allied health care.
Renovations are currently under way at the hospital that will see these residents cared for in rooms refurbished to create a home-like environment.
WA Health Minister Jim McGinty welcomed the funding from the Federal Government and said the care offered through the program could be tailored to the needs of the individual.
“An individual might require services such as high-level nursing or personal care in their home, social support, respite care, home maintenance or meals on wheels - the MPS program has the flexibility to cater for the individual’s needs,” Mr McGinty said.
“Under the MPS program rural and remote residents get tailored care and they don’t have to move to another town - they can stay close to family, friends and their own community.”
Federal Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot said this was a commonsense approach to providing assistance to older Australians in rural and regional areas.
It is also about the Commonwealth and State Governments working together in partnership to provide better services to older Australians.
“This is about making sure that older Australians are able to maintain their independence and remain in their communities,” Mrs Elliot said.
West Australians are to benefit from additional funding totalling more than $14.27million in Home and Community Care allocations in 2008-09 to boost services for frail older people, people with disabilities and their carers.
The increase brings total funding for WA in 2008-09 to $180.656million with the Federal Government contribution totalling $100.979million, and the State Government the remaining $79.677million.
The announcement follows the agreement by the Federal and Western Australian Governments on the three-year plan for the Home and Community Care Program.
The plan sets out the priorities for the Home and Community Care program in WA and will provide around $588million in funding over the next three years.
Almost $357million of this will be contributed by the Federal Government and almost $231million by the State Government.
More than $20million is being provided to Western Australia by the Federal Government through the Multi-Purpose Service Program in 2008-09, with the State Government contributing over $5 million.
At June 30, 2008, there were 117 multi-purpose services operating throughout Australia. Thirty multi-purpose services are within the WA Country Health Service (WACHS), the first starting in 1993.
Federal Minister for Ageing office - (02) 6277 7280
State Minister for Health's office- (08) 9422 3000
